Polylactic Acid as Biodegradable Plastic Material Based on Tofu Dregs
Mohammad Manarul Lubab(a*), Permata Maratussolihah(b), Zahratul Aflah Fatharani Rahimah Sudianto(a), Mustika Nuramalia Handayani(a)

a) Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education, Indonesia University of Education Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia
*lubabmanarul97[at]upi.edu
b) Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education Indonesia University of Education Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is an environmentally friendly plastic raw material. However, the synthetic lactic acid raw materials needed are relatively expensive. There is an alternative solution to produce lactic acid from other natural resources that are abundant and untapped, such as tofu industrial solid waste, namely tofu dregs. This study aims to explain the potential of tofu dregs as a raw material for Polylactic Acid. The data collection method used was literature review. It is known that Lactobacillus plantarum can hydrolyze the starch content in tofu dregs into lactic acid. Furthermore, lactic acid is polymerized into Polylactic acid by using the Ring-Opening Polymerization method to produce Polylactic acid. The starch content of tofu dregs is potential to be processed into Polylactic acid.

Keywords: Polylactic acid; Ring-opening polmerization; Tofu dregs

Topic: Innovations in Engineering and Education