<p>Mr. Vishal Mahabir, lecturer at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry explained that his research project “deals with creating bioplastics from biomass waste, namely sugar cane bagasse, rice husk and coconut coir. These biomass wastes are rich in cellulose which can be acetylated to form thin plastic films.”</p>

<p>Sugar cane bagasse, rice husk and coconut coir plastic films were tested to determine their tensile strength, that is, the amount of stress a piece of plastic material can withstand before it breaks</p>

<p>Mr. Mahabir noted: “The results show plastic films from sugarcane bagasse give the highest amount of tensile strength followed by coconut coir and rice husk. These plastic films in terms of tensile strength are similar to those polymers that are used to make (conventional) plastics”</p>

<p>Mr. Mahabir encourages companies that are involved in making food packing materials,&nbsp;hospital supplies, automobile parts etc. to use environmentally friendly, cellulose rich, biodegradable plastic films as a replacement for conventional synthetic plastics.&nbsp;</p>
