BOIDEGRADABLE PLATES FROM AGROWASTES

Abstract

The present invention is a biodegradable disposable plate manufactured from agro waste of Watermelon rind and potato starch moulded and compressed to form a plate with inherent antibacterial and antioxidant properties .

Specification

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
1. TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is a Biodegradable product which are plates and Containers made of raw materials such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and potato starch. The Biodegradable plates are safe to be used by humans and chemical free, Sustainable .The compostable biodegradable plates are water proof and heat resistant suited for food takeaway possessing antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
2. BACKGROUND
Agro waste accumulation is increasing rapidly and more than 90 % of watermelon rind is dumped in the environment. Hence in this invention, it is reused for making the biodegradable plates. Currently the disposable tablewares are made of synthetic resins, pulps, sugarcane bagasses. However the products made from synthetic resins pose environmental contamination due to waste disposal and those made from pulp are treated with synthetic additives such as vinyl to avoid structural problems. So far the polymeric materials obtained from grains, wheat flour, crop residues also has the limitations of being heavy and easily destroyed. Thus this invention comprises the making of biodegradable plate with agrowaste like watermelon rind and potato starch mixed with thyme and honey by pulverization to make a dough and further compressing the mixture with a molding agent.
3. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
Production of chemical free, sustainable, water proof, heat resistant easily compostable biodegradable plates with inherent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties from the agrowaste Watermelon rind and potato starch.
4. SUMMARY
Biodegradable, food safe ,mechanically strong which could act as an alternative to the plasticbased plates are required for a clean, green, and sustainable environment .Hence in this invention the raw materials such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and potato starch are used in the ratio of 8: 2 to form a biodegradable plates which are safe to be used by humans and are also chemical free. Raw material is ground into a fine paste by retaining the moisture percentage to 15% in the presence of thyme and kneaded to form a dough which is then pressed under predetermined pressure and heat in the range of 150-170 MPa and 150 -250 degree Celsius to form a plate and then the molded product is allowed to harden.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Specifications
Biodegradable, food safe .mechanically strong which could act as an alternative to the plastic-based plates are required for a clean, green, and sustainable environment .Hence in this invention the raw materials such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and potato starch are used in the ratio of 8: 2 to form a biodegradable plates which are safe to be used by humans and are also chemical free. Raw material is ground into a fine paste by retaining the moisture percentage to 15% in the presence of thyme and kneaded to form a dough which is then pressed under predetermined pressure and heat in the range of 150-170 MPa and 150 -250 degree Celsius to form a plate and then the molded product is allowed to harden.
DESCRIPTION
This present invention refers to the Biodegradable Eco friendly disposable plates made from Agro wastes Watermelon and the method of forming the same. The standard disposable plastic plates have negative environmental impact and also the plates derived from com cobs, husks and sugarcane pulp has other deficiencies. Disposable paper articles provide diminished ecological returns and also have diminished thresholds for utility. In light of the above mentioned drawbacks, the present invention was conceived to a process of making a biodegradable plate with watermelon rind and potato starch .The _ raw material is ground into a fine paste by retaining the moisture percentage to 15% in the presence of thyme .The fine paste is kneaded to form a dough which is then subjected to predetermined pressure and heat in the range of 150*170 MPa and 150 -250 degree Celsius. No specific binders are added and the pressure is sufficient for the making of raw material into a solid substance and the moulded product is allowed to harden. Products formed according to the process described herein may differ significantly from the standard plastic or disposable or recycled paper plates and/or plastic utensils in both composition and utility. In addition, the articles themselves are bacteriologic ally safe because the process by which they are manufactured can destroy microorganisms that would otherwise be present in the raw materials.
We Claim
1. A method of making biodegradable plates comprising the use of watermelon rind with potato starch in the presence of thyme and honey at a predetermined pressure and temperature so as to produce a dough ;extruding the dough into a mold to form a plate and curing the molded article.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the article is a disposable biodegradable plate.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pressure and temperature is in a range of about 150-170 MPa and 150 -250 degree Celsius.

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