Turning Potatoes into Plastic

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  • Опубліковано 11 лют 2025
  • In this video I show how to make your own bioplastic from potatoes.
    If you enjoyed the video you can comment, like, and subscribe - I would really appreciate that :)
    If you want to further support my work and watch exclusive content here's my Patreon - / amateurchemistry
    Instagram - / amateurchemistry_
    TikTok - / amateur.chemistry
    Also, excuse me for my poor speaking, English is not my native language so I have some trouble with pronunciation, in case you don't understand something there are always subtitles made by me.
    0:00 Intro
    2:12 Making Potato Starch
    4:34 Making Oobleck
    6:43 Making Bioplastic
    10:46 Outro
    #chemistry
    #experiment
    #diy
    #plastic
    #ecofriendly

КОМЕНТАРІ •

  • @adamrak7560
    @adamrak7560 Рік тому +35

    Another one:
    Mix glycerol and citric acid at 1-1 molar ratio without any water (the correct ratio is _very_ important).
    If you cook/bake it slightly above 100C (effectively removing the extra water coming from the cross linking esterification reaction)
    you can get hard foam, or thin hard coatings. For hard coatings you need to start below 100C and very slowly increase the temp to prevent foaming (the entire process can last for a day).
    The resulting polymer is highly biodegradable, but if it is was baked long enough it can resist water for a _few_ minutes.
    (NaOH or KOH or even sodium carbonate can destroy the polymer it if boiled in water)

  • @6022
    @6022 Рік тому +25

    Something a lot of people don't really seem to consider is that one of the big problems with plastic is not just that it hangs around for a long time, but when it does break down into nanoplastics and microplastics, it ends up in the food web, and can cause all sorts of unforseen negative effects. If you have a plastic that breaks down into the same things as a potato, it's much less bad news if those by-products end up in an animal. Much better to end up with potato in your bloodstream, rather than polyvinylchloride.

  • @tayday424
    @tayday424 Рік тому +22

    Great videos! This channel is gonna blow up like me trying to do chemistry.

  • @MilesProwerTailsFox
    @MilesProwerTailsFox Місяць тому +2

    The accident you had is called biovinyl and its pretty good for stuff like plastic wrapped sandwiches

  • @jhoughjr1
    @jhoughjr1 Рік тому +18

    I think controlling the drying would be a way to improve.
    Maybe peeling the potatoes too as there is little starch in the pees and maybe the cellulose in the peels affects the polymerization?
    Or maybe it acts like a nucleation site helping the glucose form cellulose.

    • @Dovenchiko
      @Dovenchiko Рік тому +1

      My thought is somehow making it into a 2 part anhydrous resin because a lot of the volume is water causing it to shrink.

  • @jasonmorello1374
    @jasonmorello1374 Рік тому +4

    One thing, tho it may have added a few steps, the material you filter out right at the first is largely cellulose fibers, which would work similarly to starch, but have more long chains and some cross bridge chains.

  • @jhoughjr1
    @jhoughjr1 Рік тому +47

    cellohane was popular before petroleum plastics.

    • @MilesProwerTailsFox
      @MilesProwerTailsFox Місяць тому +2

      Fun fact
      Plastic made out of milk was widely used to replace teeth and make knife handles

  • @suwedo8677
    @suwedo8677 Рік тому +5

    Amazing work! I love your videos, you make me learn so much, you're overly underrated I wish you had more visibility!

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +2

      Thank you! I'm glad that you can learn something from my videos :)

  • @asgerthorndalkofod2366
    @asgerthorndalkofod2366 Рік тому +3

    Awesome video! Didn't know it was so easy. Another video exploring additives would be very interesting. Keep up the good work!

  • @philipoppenheim7688
    @philipoppenheim7688 4 місяці тому +1

    Question: Addition of acid does two things
    1) Hydolizes glycosidic bonds alpha(1-->4?)
    2) Ruptures and remodels hydrogen bonds
    3) There are not created any new covalent bonds, such as kondensation reactions

  • @EddieTheH
    @EddieTheH Рік тому +9

    Mum, can we get some Lego?
    We've got Lego at home!
    😂😂😂

  • @AssistantLeaflet
    @AssistantLeaflet Рік тому +3

    Great video. I wonder if there are some nontoxic processes to cure it into a quite hard plastic that can be used and casted into little jars for storing things. Maybe it could also be treated with those water proof sprays in order to hold wet things in it (not for human consumption of course). Maybe curing it in the oven would work with a higher concentration of Vinegar.

    • @DIYdoofus
      @DIYdoofus Рік тому

      without the glycerine it would form a hard plastic I think

  • @lordsqueak
    @lordsqueak Рік тому +6

    Would it be possible to make filament for a 3D printer.. I think that would make for an awesome video,, and awesome in general.

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +6

      The potato plastic unfortunately cannot be reheated, so it can't be made into a filament, however i have an idea of making PLA plastic from sugar in the future.

    • @tykokavaak5784
      @tykokavaak5784 Рік тому

      @@Amateur.Chemistry Not everything 3D printed needs to have thermoplastic properties, or be a filament. FDM can use many different materials. If I had an auger/hopper feed for my printer [and the space to set it up :( ] I would totally be playing with this. Oooh, I still have chitosan from when I was trying to make biodegradable plastic fish baits. 🧠⚙⚙

    • @EthanMckinnell
      @EthanMckinnell Рік тому

      @@tykokavaak5784 there is also the slow drying times to worry about, I have also heard it is rather inconsistent in texture and would get clogged in nozzle too easily

  • @nattsurfaren
    @nattsurfaren Рік тому +4

    I wish to see someone making it water-resistant. I did some research and this could be interesting:
    Reinforcement with natural additives: Incorporating natural additives like waxes, oils, or resins into the bioplastic formulation can help improve its water resistance. These additives create a hydrophobic barrier, reducing water permeability. Examples include beeswax, carnauba wax, or natural oils such as palm oil or soybean oil.

    • @AssistantLeaflet
      @AssistantLeaflet Рік тому +1

      High quality cold pressed linseed oil as a base layer could work. Good quality linseed oil or flax seed oil is used all the time for making food grade surfaces in wood working already since it’s a nontoxic drying oil. Putting it in the oven to cure the linseed oil @150f for 30min intervals over and over again till it’s dry and doing two coats of that I think would work well. I do oil painting and when I am feeling impatient I try to dry the paintings in the oven and it works well if I can’t use a quick drying medium like galkyd lite or liquin. Using a quick drying medium like liquin or galkyd lite would be good for curing the linseed oil quickly for a cup at room temp as an additive to the linseed oil coating but they are pretty toxic. It would avoid putting a linseed oil coated plastic in the oven from warping but it wouldn’t be food safe. I already have everything and it’d be simple enough with the methods in this video as long as I can get the plastic hard enough before hand and water free so I might try it.
      I wrote too much my bad.

    • @nattsurfaren
      @nattsurfaren Рік тому +1

      @@AssistantLeaflet That is indeed very interesting. I wonder why linseed oil is so different from other oils. Maybe it acts more like a resin? I just did research on natural resin and that could also work.

  • @sydneyrose6455
    @sydneyrose6455 5 місяців тому +1

    I’ve been interested in hemp made products such as hemp plastic. I think it would be nice to make boxes of bioplastic bags for when people buy more than they can carry in reusable shopping bags or zip lock food bags. I felt guilty wanting to order my groceries and stuff online for Walmart to bring it in a lot of shopping bags and running out of clean glass jars to put pizza crust mix or muffin mix into.

  • @HexaflexagonFan
    @HexaflexagonFan Рік тому +4

    pretty cool!

  • @tech_lover14
    @tech_lover14 22 дні тому +1

    We are making it from Gelatin, Glycerin, White vinegar and cornstarch pls tell us everything it is important or I would lose my job.

  • @photonik-luminescence
    @photonik-luminescence Рік тому +1

    Hi, its me again. The recipe actually works ! I am now experimenting but i will make a video and i will make sure to credit you for the recipe in the video !

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +1

      Hi, I am glad that the recipe worked for you! Also that's very kind of you to credit my recipe :)

  • @sidneyswerissen3910
    @sidneyswerissen3910 Рік тому +1

    8:10 at this point it’s children’s glue and can also be used as wallpaper glue

  • @treydean9843
    @treydean9843 Рік тому +2

    Nice. can you make a video for a beginning lab? I have all the basic glassware, just looking for some experiments to do. Single replacement, double displacement, synthesis and other things that are simple

    • @suwedo8677
      @suwedo8677 Рік тому +3

      Well you can try turning eggshells into calcium carbonate crystals, then you can use HCl to turn them into Calcium chloride. There's like TONS of simple experiments like this on the internet, I'll point you to a few different sources: ElementalMaker, NileRed, Cody's Lab, Extractions&Ire, Explosions&Fire, learn using these ressources! And then if you wanna learn the theory of chemistry there's Khan Academy courses for free which are AWESOME and super simple to follow along

  • @UserB_tm
    @UserB_tm Рік тому +1

    You had me at potato ASMR😂

  • @adelinyoungmark1929
    @adelinyoungmark1929 Рік тому

    you could probably add some sugar to the mix to purposely make it sweeter, so you could make a plastic candy kinda thing.

    • @adelinyoungmark1929
      @adelinyoungmark1929 Рік тому

      you'd have to dissolve it though to prevent it from being gritty

  • @terenceiutzi4003
    @terenceiutzi4003 10 місяців тому +1

    All plant fiber that is so important to controlling cholesterol and sugar levels are cellulose plastic. They are not making bioplastic they are just harvesting it.

  • @PeakOfHumor
    @PeakOfHumor Рік тому +2

    great experiment! What can be used instead of glycerine? And how to make it harder?

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +3

      Thanks! If you want to make it harder you must use less glycerin and more starch. When it comes to replacing glycerin i dont know what else would work that well.

  • @JTCF
    @JTCF 5 місяців тому +1

    Before watching the video, let me guess, PLA?
    Edit: nope. But PLA would be interesting too because it is also biodegradable and is widely used in 3d printing!

  • @Saleca
    @Saleca Рік тому +3

    Technically this can be plastic but will it get mold(fungus)? It would be nice to test a rigid type vs a rubbery type and see their strengths, how durable, if any are resistant to water and at what temperature limits. I can see myself making a mold with this if I knew a recipe that would resist mold (fungus) at least

  • @elmacho7561
    @elmacho7561 Рік тому +1

    Great work¡
    You have a new sub, good man.

  • @somtochukwummereole
    @somtochukwummereole 5 місяців тому

    How do I use this process to make a plastic container or bottle?

  • @brunobastos5533
    @brunobastos5533 Рік тому

    this is almost the recipe for Turkish delights , they use tartar as the acid

  • @MySmallWorld2023
    @MySmallWorld2023 Рік тому

    Its a nice try. I have a question. As I saw it is dissolving in water. How can we improve it in to a manner that we can pack the watery things inside like in normal plastic?

  • @the_wellbeing_designer
    @the_wellbeing_designer Рік тому

    Hi, thanks for your video, nice work. I would like to do some artwork with bioplastic but I don’t know if I can get it to dry to a 5mm thick sheet, I assume it would still have a malleable behaviour but I would like it to be harder, do you know of a way? I have coffee mugs that say they are made of cornstarch but how do they get it to be that hard?

  • @raygun23
    @raygun23 Рік тому

    This would be perfect for a little kids science fair project. Parents write this down😂.

  • @sarahsteenbock1296
    @sarahsteenbock1296 8 місяців тому

    hello, I was wondering which ratios you used for the orange plastic that you showed at 6:35, since it looks a lot stiffer than the other ones.

  • @chemicalmaster3267
    @chemicalmaster3267 Рік тому

    @Amateur Chemistry What about converting polystyrene into more harmless benzoic acid? I think it is a good idea to try to do some recycling with that nasty plastic.

  • @jimmy_kirk
    @jimmy_kirk Рік тому +3

    "You can use corn starch, potato starch or wheat flour, but I will go with potato starch just because potatoes are the best meme"
    You can't argue with that logic! 😄

  • @MrSparkefrostie
    @MrSparkefrostie Рік тому

    Wondering if any foods use this process without being aware its a plastic

  • @anthonyplayground1402
    @anthonyplayground1402 Рік тому

    Good for food storage .... how long till it rots if left in cupboard in sealed container, or does it need to be refrigeratored

  • @vivkkush
    @vivkkush 9 місяців тому

    thanks

  • @Palmit_
    @Palmit_ Рік тому +1

    hi. great video! i have a question...apart from water, what enemies does this plastic have? do contact with metals ...aluminium for example..or salts.. etc cause any kind of adverse results?

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +2

      Thanks! This plastic doesn't have avy reactions with metals and probably salts too, but since it is made out of starch some kinds of mold can probably eat it when it is wet.

    • @Palmit_
      @Palmit_ Рік тому +2

      @@Amateur.Chemistry cool. and thanks. i think i can genuinely make use of this process. but i wouldn't have even considered it until i saw your vid. Keep well, and keep going! :)

  • @reizer100
    @reizer100 Рік тому +1

    forbidden kisiel XD

  • @markomacik334
    @markomacik334 Рік тому +2

    2:32 Pov: you are making school launches

  • @oldmandave6039
    @oldmandave6039 Рік тому

    How about making cellulose base bioplastic?

  • @vishnupriyan7876
    @vishnupriyan7876 Рік тому

    How many days will it take to do this job ?

  • @dewathewolf664
    @dewathewolf664 Рік тому

    Can you tell what kinda mixture to make plastic Hard or can be be say turn be pcp plastic

  • @drasiella
    @drasiella Рік тому

    Ah, the "hurrdurr six hundos" music

  • @tejashsharma4927
    @tejashsharma4927 Рік тому

    Is the last product is can be Remelted please answer.

  • @SuperROFLWAFL
    @SuperROFLWAFL Рік тому +2

    You turned potatoes into plastic, but can you turn plastic into potatoes?!?!?

  • @RicoElectrico
    @RicoElectrico 6 місяців тому

    Czy to nie jest po prostu kisiel? Jak się zachowa, jeśli nie dodasz kwasu?

  • @DrPsychotic
    @DrPsychotic 8 місяців тому +1

    ive always liked the idea of bioplastic, it seems like a simple fix to the plastic issue but when you REALLY think about replacing plastic with this stuff it seems like it wont cut it, a lot of the time plastic is meant to keep bacteria out, if I had a bioplastic zip lock bag, could I use it the same way? If i leave it sitting on my desk with chips in it for a week would it properly keep the air out or would it start to degrade? that's what I wonder as well how log would it take to degrade in a household environment? also is it sticky? cause that would be a problem if it dissolves in water than air moisture would likely get to it... TLDR I love the idea but I wish we could make a kind that only becomes biodegradable once something specific is done to it so "dispose" of it
    Also WHAY IS EVERYONE SO OBSESSED WITH EATING IT??? Can we go more in the Make it useful rather than make it more edible dang! why yall wanna eat plastic so bad? more sugar = more degradable = shorter lifespan I want it to go away but not before im done using it as plastic, if im gunna eat it i wouldn't use it as plastic....

    • @rubylicious1024
      @rubylicious1024 7 місяців тому

      🤔you bake with it with, so maybe can be a reason to why they want to eat it😆!?
      no idea, but if it's hot and very humid, maybe it could become sticky!?
      but generalised (and according to me😆) basic bio plastics, can't be used the same.. and air isn't really the problem, it's water and/or heat.. it can be made so it wouldn't dissolve (at least for a period of time) in alcohol or acetone, but still would in water.. if you for ex use gelatin and/or milk, you can get it waterproof but it's not heatproof.. if you want petri dishes and if I recall correctly, I think it was agar.. so for the bacteria, that would also depend on what it's made out of.. the same for the long-term usage..
      and maybe it could be an alternative for some of the single use stuff.. but it's the same problem, for how it holds up, and that is if it's not some additives.. and then it's how that can be recycled?
      because you can recycle plastic, not just burning it, or making polyester and stuff.. you can turn it back to it's hydrocarbons, and make other stuff from that, or make fuel.. the catch is, if it's cost effective.. that, and if it's easier to make new stuff, (with no incentives or pressure) then that's what they'll do..

  • @LouisTroyAustin28
    @LouisTroyAustin28 Рік тому

    How do u make pla or poly-lactide

  • @resenese573
    @resenese573 Рік тому

    You can probably us antifreeze as a glycerin source

  • @Sheraz-z6q
    @Sheraz-z6q 3 місяці тому

    Helo sir
    Soda silicat blow with burning he wa so blow
    Can u tel me soda silicat blow with chemical reaction like castic soda and other chemicals kindly experimint it soda silicat want wery heat than he blow and it stil white color

  • @helenamallorytyahyo1858
    @helenamallorytyahyo1858 Рік тому

    any solution to replace glycerin with? can we use honey?

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому

      Maybe, although honey and glycerin are two completly different substances

  • @rumpelstiltskin-ei9he
    @rumpelstiltskin-ei9he Рік тому

    Watching potato grind makes my hands hurt.

  • @photonik-luminescence
    @photonik-luminescence Рік тому +1

    Question, does also flower starch work ?

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +2

      Probably, altrough i havent tested it.

    • @photonik-luminescence
      @photonik-luminescence Рік тому +1

      @@Amateur.Chemistry oh, well then, I will test it my self and probably make a video. Thanks for the response. Also, great chanel ! You, diserve my sub.

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +1

      Thanks! Your channel is also great :)

    • @photonik-luminescence
      @photonik-luminescence Рік тому

      @@Amateur.Chemistry thankyou so much

    • @adelinyoungmark1929
      @adelinyoungmark1929 Рік тому +1

      i just made some, it does work, although it makes the plastic a bit more yellow for some reason. might just be my flour, but it was like a cocoa butter color.

  • @DevashishGuptaOfficial
    @DevashishGuptaOfficial 6 місяців тому

    Didn't know glycerine was sweet

  • @AbcdEfkoff
    @AbcdEfkoff 11 днів тому

    You call it bioplastic but in Poland it's called kisiel and we've been eating it for decades 😭

  • @اورازاوراز
    @اورازاوراز Рік тому +1

    نريد بلاستك مفيد للاستعمال لا يذوب في الماء وملاحضة نريد فيديوهات من مواد متوفره في المنزل او كيفيه صنعها من مواد في المنزل لان يصعب الحصول على المكونات الكيميائية على سبيل المثال حامض الهيدروكلوريك وغيره We want plastic that is useful for use and does not dissolve in water. Note, we want videos of materials available at home or how to make them from materials at home because it is difficult to obtain chemical components, for example hydrochloric acid and others.

  • @fedfox0881
    @fedfox0881 Рік тому

    Can you vulcanize it?

  • @DoloTonight
    @DoloTonight 7 днів тому

    now reverse it

  • @SyedAbidHussain-q2y
    @SyedAbidHussain-q2y 4 місяці тому

    Can anyone please give me suggestions on how to make the bricks he made harder?
    If you guys have any idea please tell me. Please ensure that the added material still keeps it biodegradable to some extent...

  • @charleejay4777
    @charleejay4777 Рік тому

    The cells will rupture if you freeze the potatoes

  • @talarowicz2245
    @talarowicz2245 23 дні тому

    have anyone tried to 3D print with this plastic?

  • @TheDaro150
    @TheDaro150 Рік тому

    no za ocet to szanuję

  • @ШкрумРостислав

    What about to do some wood or milk plastic😏

  • @ejtono1582
    @ejtono1582 Рік тому +2

    Ziemniak

  • @purplegravy1
    @purplegravy1 Рік тому +1

    Use wax paper

  • @XZenon
    @XZenon Рік тому

    I mean, it's interesting and all but not really useful for anything, right?
    I think the biggest problem is that we want something relatively biodegradable but also something water resistant, more like wax..

  • @robotnikkkk001
    @robotnikkkk001 Рік тому

    =AHA,THAT'S A TIDE CAPSULE CHALLENGE BASICALLY AS FAR AS I KNOW
    ........AND YEAH,THAT "PLASTIC" IS ACTUALLY PRETTY MUCH COMMON DISH AND NOTHING SPECIAL......WHEN I'M LIKE TOO MUCH STRESSED I'M MAKING A HUGE BOWL OF IT AND EAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS......OF COURSE IT'S VERY SWEET BERRY FLAVORED

  • @metasferous6319
    @metasferous6319 Рік тому

    Don't bury acidic things in the ground

  • @slyfoxchemistry
    @slyfoxchemistry Рік тому

    Amazing job well done how are you

    • @Amateur.Chemistry
      @Amateur.Chemistry  Рік тому +2

      Thanks! I am good :)

    • @slyfoxchemistry
      @slyfoxchemistry Рік тому +1

      @@Amateur.Chemistry i can't wait to try it and what does it taste like and what does it do to you

  • @SeeNyuOG
    @SeeNyuOG Рік тому

    SIEMA

  • @pepeyufera97
    @pepeyufera97 Рік тому

    6:35 carbon is used to harden iron and its also the base of our biology whats ur point duh . jk xd

  • @MyKharli
    @MyKharli Рік тому

    Turning plastic into potatoes would be far more useful .

  • @Jkauppa
    @Jkauppa Рік тому

    grinder anyone, or a ball mill, or a potato mill, what interference, excuses

    • @Jkauppa
      @Jkauppa Рік тому

      milk + vinegar = plastic

    • @Jkauppa
      @Jkauppa Рік тому

      synthesize that glycerol/-ine yourself

    • @Jkauppa
      @Jkauppa Рік тому

      if you buy all the ingredients then you could directly buy the plastic as well, no need to complicate that process

  • @angaria777
    @angaria777 Рік тому

    amrika k shis r russia china b agar qabza kre tu khouf naak jan ho jaye iran se riayat q???????drama bazi

  • @jimiliev3924
    @jimiliev3924 Рік тому +3

    F plastics. Tell me How to make potatoes out of plastics