Jurnal Kimia Valensi, Vol 8(1), May 2022, 113-123 Available online at Website: http://journal.uinjkt.ac.id/index.php/valensi Copyright©2022, Published by Jurnal Kimia Valensi P-ISSN: 2460-6065, E-ISSN: 2548-3013 Synthesis of Antibacterial and Biodegradable Bioplastic Based on Shrimp Skin Chitosan and Durian Skin Cellulose with the Microwave Assistance Mashuni Mashuni 1* , La Ode Ahmad 1 , Emiliana Sandalayuk 1 , Fitri Handayani Hamid 1 , M Jahiding 2 , and Andi Muhammad Naufal Khaeri 3 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, 93132, Indonesia 2 Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, 93132, Indonesia 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, 33139, Indonesia *Corresponding author: mashuni@uho.ac.id Received: November 2021; Revision: December 2021; Accepted: February 2022; Available online: May 2022 Abstract This study aimed to obtain the best composition in the synthesis of antibacterial bioplastics made from chitosan from shrimp skin (SS) and cellulose from durian skin (DS). The research method began with the isolation of chitin from SS. Then it was deacetylated using a microwave (MW) at 60 °C for 15 minutes at 400 watts of power in an alkaline solution. The extraction of cellulose from DS through delignification using the MW for 20 minutes, 300 watts of power in Na 2 SO 3 solution. Synthesis of bioplastics is made from variations in the composition of chitosan (8, 12 and 16% w/w), cellulose and glycerol as a plasticizer. The characterization of bioplastics with FTIR obtained functional groups O–H, C–H, C=O, C–N and N–H amines, and SEM characterization obtained bioplastic has fibre and pore size 15.429 μm. The best bioplastic characteristics were the composition of 12 % chitosan, with tensile strengths of 13.28 Mpa, water resistance of 79 % and the ability to degrade 52.67% after 15 days have met international plastic standards (ASTM 5336). The antibacterial activity of bioplastics against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the Disc diffusion method showed the presence of moderate zones category of inhibition so that the resulting bioplastics can be recommended as food packaging that is environmentally friendly and antibacterial. Keywords: Antibacterial, bioplastic, cellulose, chitosan, microwave. DOI: 10.15408/jkv.v8i1.23233 1. INTRODUCTION The high demand for plastic causes problems for the environment. Plastic is a carbon-based polymer material with long-chain molecules and is flexible or elastic and difficult to decompose (Kamsiati et al., 2017). According to the Indonesian Aromatic and Plastic Olefin Industry Association (INAPLAS), plastic consumption in Indonesia in 2015 reached 17 kg/capita/year from food packaging plastic. Synthetic plastics contain phthalate compounds that can be leached or free from plastic and evaporate quickly and contaminate food and beverages and have the potential to cause endocrine system (hormonal) disorders or are called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) (Ilmiawati et al., 2016). The use of conventional plastics can cause problems because they are difficult to degrade in the environment, which is the basis for alternative efforts to develop bioplastics. Bioplastics are environmentally friendly plastics that can be decomposed by microorganism activity. Some or almost all of its components come from renewable raw materials, namely from compounds found in plants such as cellulose, starch and lignin, and in animals such as chitin and chitosan (Situmorang et al., 2019). The results of bioplastic degradation can be used as animal feed or compost. In addition, the quality of the soil will increase because the decomposition products will be faster by microorganisms and will increase the