The design of an industrial process to produce biodegradable plastic (TPS, English acronym Thermoplastic Starch) from cassava starch manihot sculenta, has been the main target for the development of this research as a way of solving the problem of pollution environmental generated plastics. In the absence of processes of this type in the Peruvian industry and little progress in the technology of biodegradable plastics, the problem of how to design a process for producing biodegradable plastic from cassava starch was raised. To achieve the proposed and solve the problem posed objective methodology that allowed Richard Turton meet the specific targets to meet under a systemic, hierarchical design approach and sustainable industrial process for the application of chemical engineering tool for continued process design. Thus with existing data from literature sources and patents existing research, inputs and outputs were analyzed using a cloud diagram, the physical properties of the materials were determined, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics of the process, selection and process design, flowchart and block diagram of the process material balance, energy balance, and selection of machinery and equipment, and the automatic process control.
Systemic design process allowed to consider not only the internal elements of it but also external factors involved such as the environment. The hierarchical design made this process is developed respecting hierarchy levels and establishes an order in each of the stages. The sustainable approach envisages a sustainable process design time using solar and wind renewable energy, and implementation of a comprehensive quality management, environment and occupational health and safety from the beginning of its execution.
The result of this work is the design of an industrial process, with flowcharts, material and energy balance, automatic control system suitable for implementing a comprehensive management system for quality, environment and occupational health and safety.