How to Make Bio-Plastic Out Of Potato

The world's petroleum supply is depleting. That means petroleum products too are going to become sparse. But like bio-diesel we have a method of making bio plastic too. You can make it in your kitchen from the grocery.

You will need a potato and glycerin or premade potato starch, baking soda, white vinegar, a potato peeler, knife and a blender.

Instructions

1. Wash, peel and dice the potato. Now put it in the blender till it blends into an even paste.

2. Now strain with a tea strainer or coffee filter.
   You can use the starch right away or dry it.

3. To make the plastic you need to add 7 tablespoons of water, 1 table spoon of the potato starch, 2.5 teaspoons of vinegar and 1.5 teaspoons of glycerin.

4. Put this on the stove and cook it. When it begins to boil add a solution of 2 tablespoons of water and half a spoon of baking soda. Put the pot to heat and continue to stir until it starts getting drier.

5. You can pour this mixture on a flat baking sheet or in a mold of your favorite shape. To dry out the plastic you can put it in the oven at low heat for one or two hours or leave it out in the sun for the air to take away the moisture.

6. Once the plastic is dried it will become harder but will also retain a lot of its flexibility. The plastic may not look like much right now but it had a potential to replace the plastic made from petroleum.

7. We use potato starch because potato starch is a polymer. Polymers are large chains of molecules just like plastics. There is pectin in the potato starch which is broken down by the acidic vinegar. And the glycerin was used to make the plastic more flexible and soft. You could use this as a truly unique science or hobby project.