This paper reports on the biodegradation and swelling behaviour of cellulose-based plastic incorporation of Pennisetum purpureum (PS), chitosan and gelatine. Cellulose-based plastic (CP) was obtained from chitosan and gelatin; and from the cortex (CPS), pith (PPS), and whole (WPS) of Pennisetum purpureum (PS). The films were prepared by solution casting with untreated, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20% alkali-treated cellulose of CPS, PPS, and WPS. The ASTM D5988-method was used to conduct the CP biodegradation tests. The swelling behaviour test was performed to measure the swelling percentage for each CP samples in aqueous solution with different pH values. The results reveal that the biodegradation of untreated CPS (60.30%), untreated WPS (49.74%), and untreated PPS (CP) showed the biggest relative weight reduction. CP added with the 8, and 16% alkali-treated cellulose of CPS, and PPS continues swelling in the solution of pH 7 throughout 24 hours of analysis. Increasing the cellulose loading accelerated the biodegradation rate of the bioplastic films. The results also suggest that the CP with the incorporated cortex (CPS) of Pennisetum purpureum (PS), is the most water-resistant in neutral followed by acid and alkali.
