This document outlines activities exploring biodegradable materials. It describes comparing packaging materials and their degradation rates. Processing gelatin into films and testing mechanical properties is discussed. Designing a medicine release capsule that simulates drug delivery in the human body is proposed. A final project proposes biodegradable air packaging as an environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic packaging that degrades within 9-60 months. The document concludes that biodegradable materials can be broken down rapidly by microorganisms.

1. G A L A X Y
H A M A D S A A D A L B A D R
K H A L E D I B R A H I M A L B A D R
J A S S I M S A A D A L B A D R
AL-BAIRAQ
I AM DISCOVERING MATERIALS
BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS

2. OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Activity 1: Comparing packing materials (part A&B)
• Activity 2: Hunting for biodegradable objects
• Activity 3: Processing biodegradable materials and
comparing their mechanical properties
– Part A: Processing gelatin into a gel and films
– Part B: Testing mechanical properties
• Activity 4: Measuring the degradation rates of
biodegradable materials
• Design Project: Designing a medicine release capsule
• Product Idea: Biodegradable Air Packaging

3. INTRODUCTION
• What is biodegradation
• Biodegradation is the disintegration of materials by
bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. The term is
often used in relation to: biomedicine, waste
management, ecology, and the bioremediation of the
natural environment.

4. ACTIVITY 1: COMPARING PACKING
MATERIALS (PART A)
• White peanut degrade faster in water because it’s
biodegradable

5. ACTIVITY 1: COMPARING PACKING
MATERIALS (PART B)
• White peanut and green peanut both protect the egg, but
the white biodegradable peanut is better for the
environment

6. ACTIVITY 2: HUNTING FOR
BIODEGRADABLE OBJECTS
Biodegradable Materials Non-biodegradable Materials
The term ‘Biodegradable’ is used for
those things that can be easily
decomposed by natural agents like
water, oxygen, sun
Those materials which cannot be
broken down or decomposed into the
soil by natural agents

7. ACTIVITY 3: PROCESSING BIODEGRADABLE
MATERIALS AND COMPARING THEIR MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES
PART A: PROCESSING GELATIN INTO A GEL AND FILMS
• 1 capsule is 0.1 g
• Prepare 5% w/v film :
5 capsules + 10 ml HCl
• Prepare 10% w/v film :
10 capsules + 10 ml HCl
• Prepare 20% w/v film :
20 capsules + 10 ml HCl
• Procedure:
• Dissolve the capsules in the HCL on
60 Celsius degree
• Let dry for 2 days

8. ACTIVITY 4: MEASURING THE
DEGRADATION RATES OF
BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS
• Test the effect of pH, temperature and
concentration on the degradation rates of the
gel, films, packing material (starch), and gelatin
capsule.

9. DESIGN PROJECT: DESIGNING A
MEDICINE RELEASE CAPSULES
• Objective: Simulation of drug release and capsule degradation inside the
human body
• Procedure:
• Drop Sodium alginate into Calcium Chloride and wait for 10 minutes and then filter
the beads (capsules are ready)
• Soak the beads into colors (as medicine) and wait for 30 minutes and then filter
the beads again
• Now the medicine capsules are ready
• Drop the capsules inside Sodium citrate (human body) and notice what happens

10. DESIGN PROJECT: DESIGNING A
MEDICINE RELEASE CAPSULES
• Observations:
• We notices medicine release in the solution
• After a while, the capsules start to degrade
• Conclusion:
• Biodegradable materials are used heavily in medical and
industrial applications

11. FINAL PROJECT:
BIODEGRADABLE AIR PACKAGING
• Introduction and Rationale:
• Biodegradable air packaging is the next
generation of sustainable packaging for smart
looking to address the environmental concerns.
From manufacturing to disposal, Biodegradable
air packages are made to provide superior void
fill product protection while being
environmentally friendly packaging.
• Biodegradable air packaging is made from
100% recyclable material. Means that it will
decompose completely within 9 to 60 months in
the presence of microorganisms, whether they
are sent to a landfill or end up as litter in the
soil. It provides an eco friendly packaging
alternative to other protective packaging
materials.

12. BIODEGRADABLE AIR PACKAGING
AIM OF THE WORK (OBJECTIVES)
Design a cost effective, durable
Packaging that provides protection
while providing an environmentally
responsible product that is
lightweight, recyclable, reusable and
biodegradable.

13. BIODEGRADABLE AIR PACKAGING
BENEFITS OVER COMMERCIAL PLASTIC
PACKAGING
• Made from 100% recyclable material that is biodegradable
• Biodegrades in 9-60 months in the presence of microorganisms
• Will degrade in landfills, whereas plastic packaging will not degrade
in landfills
• Superior performing air fill
• Cost less than plastic packaging

14. BIODEGRADABLE AIR PACKAGING
MATERIALS AND METHODS
• Cellophane
• Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of
regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils,
greases, bacteria, and water makes it useful for edible
and non-edible products packaging.

15. BIODEGRADABLE AIR PACKAGING
RESULTS:
• Our Biodegradable air packaging void fill are made from 100% recyclable
material that contains a proprietary additive, which will allow the product to
degrade in the presence of microorganisms in 9 to 60 months. This additive
does not affect the performance or the shelf life of our product because
biodegradation only occurs in the presence of microorganisms which are
present in landfills, home and commercial composting, and other areas
where they exist in nature. These eco friendly packaging products will
biodegrade in aerobic (with air) and anaerobic (without air) conditions.

16. BIODEGRADABLE AIR PACKAGING
RECOMMENDATIONS:
• We recommend to replace the traditional old packaging
with our invented biodegradable air packaging product.

17. CONCLUSIONS
(OVERALL OF THE WHOLE MODULE)
Biodegradable materials are capable of being broken
down (decomposed) rapidly by the action of
microorganisms. Biodegradable substances include food
scraps, cotton, wool, wood, human and animal waste,
manufactured products based on natural materials (such
as paper, and vegetable-oil based soaps)

18. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Many thanks to AL-Bairaq team from Center for Advanced
Materials (CAM), Qatar University for supporting us during
our journey with a AL-Bairaq.
Also, I would like to thank the sponsors UNESCO, Qatar
National Commission, and Shell.