Effect of the Safety of Chitosan Additive to Biodegradable Plastic Quality Based on Cellulose of Bacterial Glycerol from Coconut Water (Cocos Nucifera)

Plastics are the most widely used polymer in life and cause global plastic pollution in the marine environment. Therefore research was conducted with the aim of making biodegradable plastics by utilizing bacterial cellulose produced by Acetobacter xylinum coconut water media with the addition of plasticizers namely 3.5% glycerol in the fermentation medium and soaking using additives namely chitosan with a concentration of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 10% on bacterial cellulose glycerol that has been formed. Bacterial cellulose fermentation was carried out to form a thickness of 0.5-1 cm and soaking bacterial cellulose glycerol in chitosan for 3 days. Plastic cellulose glycerol bacterial chitosan produced was characterized using water content test, tensile strength test, and crystallinity test (X-Ray). The test results of water content on chitosan bacterial cellulose glycerol plastic, the higher the concentration of chitosan, the smaller the percentage value of water content. The mechanical test results showed an increase in the value of tensile strength with the higher concentration of chitosan used. Analysis of the degree of crystallinity shows that immersion using chitosan can reduce crystalline percentage.