Montana student compares banana and plantain starch to make stronger bioplastic

A seventh grader in Montana compared banana and plantain starch to develop a stronger bioplastic. Rye Lynn Rost, a student at Baker Junior High School in Baker, MT, wanted to create plastics from natural materials that could break down without losing their durability too quickly.For her project, she studied bioplastics made from plantains (Musa paradisiaca) and bananas (Musa acuminata). She examined amyloplasts (plant cells that make and store starch) and measured the starch content of both fruits.According to the Society for Science, Rye found that plantains had more amyloplasts and starch. Their bioplastic also had higher tensile strength and breaking distance than the banana version.Rye compares bananas and plantains to make stronger bioplasticsRye said, “While there are many issues in the world that we can use STEM to solve, plastic pollution is the one that concerns me the most”. She explained that bioplastics are made from natural materials and can break down over time. However, she did not want them to break down too quickly.Rye said, “Bioplastics must withstand water, sunlight, and other environmental conditions without breaking down or losing durability”. She decided to co...