CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Background

I.

Introduction
Nowadays, paper products has been part of peoples life in writing, printing, packaging,

decorations and more. They are into buying papers and looking for a quality of paper that could satisfy
their want. Most of them still prefer buying expensive papers but are not in good quality. In making
paper, you will use these ingredients that can be pulped. Due to abrupt increase of price of commodities,
people especially the students with average allowance find it difficult to suffice their paper projects
needs for their requirements in school. Specialty paper is one of the top choice used in making projects
of the students, but most of the commercial specialty paper are expensive but still in a low quality and
easy to break. With these observations, the researchers have explored the possibility of Cogon (Imperata
Cylindrica) Grass and Banana (Musa Paradisiacal) Fiber being the main components in making
homemade speacilty paper.
A.

Background of the Study

Paper is very essential in our daily lives. We use it in writing letters, cards, reports, etc.; we also

use it in printing and making paper bags used in the market. A big fact is that, it is an eco-friendly, which
means that if we use paper instead of plastic we can help reduce the pollution that damages our
environment.
To produce paper, it is necessary to cut down trees. Nearly 4 billion trees or 35 percent of the
total trees cut around the world are used in paper industries on every continent (Martin, 2011). Paper
made of grasses and fibers requires much less processing than wood-derived paper, and is far better for
the environment. Anyone whos ever visited a pulp mill can attest to the unpleasant smells, and
moreover, turning wood into paper releases harmful chemicals like dioxin (Striepe, 2011). So if we

produce paper out of Banana Fiber (Musa paradisiaca) and Cogon Grass (Imperata Cylindrica) we can
help reduce the cutting of trees.
Papermaking is the process of manufacturing paper, a substance which is used ubiquitously
today for writing and packaging. In papermaking, a dilute suspension of fibers in water is drained
through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibers is laid down. Water is removed from this
mat of fibers by pressing and drying. Most paper is made from wood pulp, but other fiber sources such
as cottons and textiles may be used (Surhone, et al., 2010).
Banana fiber (Musa paradisiaca) is a natural fiber with high strength, which can be blended
easily with cotton fiber or other synthetic fibers to produce blended fabric & textiles. Banana fiber also
finds use in packing cloth for agriculture produce, ships towing ropes, wet drilling cables etc. On the
other hand, cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) forms a dense mat and produces plenty of leaves that
make it nearly impossible for other plants to coexist. It can invade and overtake disturbed ecosystems by
displacing a large variety of native plant species. It is a very strong competitor for water, nutrients and
light because it sprouts and grows faster than most crops (Sherley, 2000). This grass can be found
anywhere. It has been ranked as one of the ten worst weed of the world (Holm et al., 1977) (Fig. 1).
Thus, this study was conducted to determine the feasibility of cogon grass and banana fiber as a material
in paper making.
Money makes the world go around. Living in todays world is not easy than we thought.
Everything we want to have needs money. If we can make paper by our own with these available
materials, we can save more penny and we can also help save our mother earth.
B. Statement of the Problem
General Objective:
To determine the acceptability of Specialty Paper from Cogon (Imperata Cylindrica) Grass and
Banana (Musa Paradisiacal) Fiber.

Specific Objectives:
1. To utilize the Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber as main ingredients in making Specialty Paper.
2. To determine whether or not there is a significant difference between the homemade specialty
paper from Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber, compared to Commercial Specialty Paper in terms
of:
a.

Water Retention

b.

Strength

c.

Texture

d.

Durability

C. Hypothesis
Ho:
There is NO significant differences between the Homemade Paper from Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber
compared to Commercial Specialty Paper in terms of:
a. Water Retention
b. Strength
c. Texture
d. Durability
Ha:
There is A significant differences between the Homemade Paper from Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber
compared to Commercial Specialty Paper in terms of:
a. Water Retention
b. Strength
c. Texture
d. Durability

Conceptual Framework
Figure 1.0

Specialty Paper
from Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber as mai
Acceptability
Dependent Variable
Independent Variable
D. Significance of the Study
This study is significant in providing people an inexpensive homemade specialty paper for
writing purposes and many more. The researcher chose to work on this study because it can help
the needs of man and it can help lessen the environments top ranked worst weeds in the world
which is the cogon grass. And above all, it costs cheaper so that everyone can afford it, thus,
prevent the productivity of the worst weeds in the environment.
E. Scope and Limitations
This investigatory project was conducted in the locality of Calbiga, Samar, its scope
focuses only on Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber which was found capable of producing cheap and
environmental Specialty Paper. The research study utilized as searched for alternative specialty paper
using the Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber. It also entails the environmental and economic benefits of
the specialty paper. This study used the ingredients found in the locality such as the Cogon and
Banana. The product also undergoes T-Statistical Test. This study focuses on the Feasibility of
Cogon (Imperata Cylindrica) Grass and Banana (Musa Paradisiacal) Fiber as materials for
Specialty Paper Making.
F. Definition of Terms
Acceptability
Paper
-

1.
2.

satisfactoriness
thin sheets prom the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances,

used for writing or printing on or as wrapping material

4

3.

Fiber

a thread or filament which a plant or animal tissue, mineral

substance, or textile is formed

Strength
Utilize
Durability

quality or state of being strong

make practical and effective use of
strong and lasts a long time without breaking or becoming

7.

weaker
Texture

the way that it feels when you touch it, for example how

smooth or rough it is.

8.
Pulping

a process in making paper; an object is pressed into a pulp,

4.
5.
6.

it is crushed or beaten until it is soft, smoth and wet.

T-test
t-test is any statistical hypothesis test in which the test statistic

9.

follows a Student's t distribution if the null hypothesis is supported.

CHAPTER II
Review of Review Literature
Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp
derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets.
Paper is a versatile material with many uses. Whilst the most common is for writing and printing
upon, it is also widely used as a packaging material, in many cleaning products, in a number of
industrial and construction processes, and even as a food ingredient particularly in Asian cultures.

Paper, and the pulp papermaking process, was said to be developed in China during the early 2nd
century AD, possibly as early as the year 105 A.D., [1] by the Han court eunuch Cai Lun, although the
earliest archaeological fragments of paper derive from the 2nd century BC in China.[2]
The modern pulp and paper industry is global, with China leading production and the United
States behind it.
HISTORY
The oldest known archaeological fragments of the immediate precursor to modern paper date to
the 2nd century BC in China. The pulp papermaking process is ascribed to Cai Lun, a 2nd-century
AD Han court eunuch.[2] With paper an effective substitute for silk in many applications, China could
export silk in greater quantity, contributing to a Golden Age.
Paper spread from China through the Middle East to medieval Europe in the 13th century, where
the first water-powered paper mills were built.[3] In the 19th century, industrial manufacture greatly
lowered its cost, enabling mass exchange of information and contributing to significant cultural shifts. In
1844, Canadian inventor Charles Fenerty and German F.G. Keller independently developed processes
for pulping wood fibers.
ETYMOLOGY
The word "paper" is etymologically derived from Latin papyrus, which comes from
the Greek (papuros), the word for the Cyperus papyrus plant.[5][6] Papyrus is a thick, paper-like
material produced from the pith of the Cyperus papyrus plant which was used in ancient Egypt and
other Mediterranean cultures for writing before the introduction of paper into the Middle East and
Europe.[7] Although paper is etymologically derived from papyrus, the two are produced very differently
and the development of modern paper is separate from the development of papyrus. Papyrus is a

"lamination of natural plants, while paper is manufactured from fibres whose properties have been
changed by maceration or disintegration.
Paper Making
Chemical pulping
To make pulp from wood, a chemical pulping process separates lignin from cellulose fibers. This
is accomplished by dissolving lignin in a cooking liquor, so that it may be washed from
the cellulose fibers. This preserves the length of the cellulose fibers. Paper made from chemical pulps
are also known as wood-free papersnot to be confused with tree-free paper. This is because they do not
contain lignin, which deteriorates over time. The pulp can also be bleached to produce white paper, but
this consumes 5% of the fibers. Chemical pulping processes are not used to make paper made from
cotton, which is already 90% cellulose.
The

microscopic

structure

of

paper: Micrograph of

paper autofluorescing under ultraviolet illumination. The individual fibres in this sample are around
10 min diameter.
There are three main chemical pulping processes. The sulfite process dates back to the 1840s,
and it was the dominant process before the second world war. The kraft process, invented in the 1870s
and first used in the 1890s, is now the most commonly practiced strategy. One advantage is a chemical
reaction with lignin produces heat, which can be used to run a generator. Most pulping operations using
the kraft process are net contributors to the electricity grid or use the electricity to run an adjacent papermill. Another advantage is the process recovers and reuses all inorganic chemical reagents. Soda
pulping is a specialty process used to pulp straws, bagasse, and hardwoods with high silicate content.

Mechanical pulping
There are two major mechanical pulps, thermo mechanical pulp (TMP) and groundwood pulp
(GW). In the TMP process, wood is chipped and then fed into large steam-heated refiners where the
chips are squeezed and made into fibres between two steel discs. In the groundwood process, debarked
logs are fed into grinders where they are pressed against rotating stones and made into fibres.
Mechanical pulping does not remove the lignin, so the yield is very high, >95%, but also causes paper
made from this pulp to yellow and become brittle over time. Mechanical pulps have rather short fibre
lengths and produce weak paper. Although large amounts of electrical energy are required to produce
mechanical pulp, it costs less than chemical pulp.
Deinked pulp
Paper recycling processes can use either chemical or mechanical pulp. By mixing with water and
applying mechanical action the hydrogen bonds in the paper can be broken and fibres separated again.
Most recycled paper contains a proportion of virgin fibre in the interests of quality. Generally deinked
pulp is of the same quality or lower than the collected paper it was made from.
There are three main classifications of recycled fibre:.

Mill broke or internal mill waste this incorporates any substandard or grade-change paper made within
the paper mill which then goes back into the manufacturing system to be re-pulped back into paper. Such
out-of-specification paper is not sold and is therefore often not classified as genuine reclaimed recycled
fibre. However, most paper mills have been recycling their own waste fibre for many years, long before
recycling become popular.

Preconsumer waste this is offcuts and processing waste, such as guillotine trims and envelope blank
waste. This waste is generated outside the paper mill and could potentially go to landfill, and is a genuine
recycled fibre source. Also includes de-inked preconsumer (recycled material that has been printed but did
not reach its intended end use, such as waste from printers and unsold publications).[8]

Postconsumer waste this is fibre from paper which has been used for its intended end use and would
include office waste, magazine papers and newsprint. As the vast majority of this paper has been printed
(either digitally or by more conventional means such as lithography or rotogravure), it will either be
recycled as printed paper or go through a deinking process first.
Recycled papers can be made from 100% recycled materials or blended with virgin pulp. They are
(generally) not as strong nor as bright as papers made from virgin pulp.

Additives
Besides the fibres, pulps may contain fillers such as chalk or china clay, which improve the
characteristics of the paper for printing or writing. Additives for sizing purposes may be mixed into the
pulp and/or applied to the paper web later in the manufacturing process. The purpose of sizing is to
establish the correct level of surface absorbency to suit the ink or paint.
Producing paper
The pulp is fed to a paper machine where it is formed as a paper web and the water is removed
from it by pressing and drying.
Pressing the sheet removes the water by force. Once the water is forced from the sheet, felt (not
to be confused with the traditional felt) is used to collect the water. When making paper by hand, a
blotter sheet is used.
9

Drying involves using air and or heat to remove water from the paper sheet. In the earliest days
of papermaking this was done by hanging the paper sheets like laundry. In more modern times, various
forms of heated drying mechanisms are used. On the paper machine, the most common is the steamheated can dryer. These dryers can heat to temperatures above 200 F (93 C) and are used in long
sequences of more than 40 cans. The heat produced by these can easily dry the paper to less than 6%
moisture.
Finishing
The paper may then undergo sizing to alter its physical properties for use in various applications.
Paper at this point is uncoated. Coated paper has a thin layer of material such as calcium
carbonate or china clay applied to one or both sides in order to create a surface more suitable for highresolution halftone screens. (Uncoated papers are rarely suitable for screens above 150 lpi.) Coated or
uncoated papers may have their surfaces polished bycalendering. Coated papers are divided into matte,
semi-matte or silk, and gloss. Gloss papers give the highest optical density in the printed image.
The paper is then fed onto reels if it is to be used on web printing presses, or cut into sheets for
other printing processes or other purposes. The fibres in the paper basically run in the machine direction.
Sheets are usually cut "long-grain", i.e. with the grain parallel to the longer dimension of the sheet.
All paper produced by paper machines as the Fourdrinier Machine are wove paper, i.e. the wire
mesh that transports the web leaves a pattern that has the same density along the paper grain and across
the grain. Textured finishes, watermarks and wire patterns imitating hand-made laid paper can be
created by the use of appropriate rollers in the later stages of the machine.

10

Wove paper does not exhibit "laidlines", which are small regular lines left behind on paper when
it was handmade in a mould made from rows of metal wires or bamboo. Laidlines are very close
together. They run perpendicular to the "chainlines", which are further apart. Handmade paper similarly
exhibits "deckle edges", or rough and feathery borders.
Cogon grass, (Imperata cylindrica) (L.) Beauv., has been ranked as one of the ten worst weeds
of the world (Holm et al., 1977) (Fig. 1). In tropical and subtropical regions around the globe, this
aggressive, rhizomatous perennial is generally considered a pernicious pest plant due to its ability to
successfully disperse, colonize, spread, and subsequently compete with and displace desirable vegetation
and disrupt ecosystems over a wide range of environmental conditions (Holm et al., 1977; Brook, 1989;
Bryson and Carter, 1993; Dozier et al., 1998). These characteristics and consequences of cogon grass
infestations are similarly evident even within the native or endemic range in the Eastern Hemisphere, as
it has long been considered one of Southeast Asias most noxious weeds (Brook, 1989).
Banana fiber, a natural sorbent . Banana fibers in their natural state produce a highly sorbent
material. Banana fibers can be used in sorbent rocks, pillows and brooms, or as loose fiber to clean up
land-based spills. A raw material in handicraft and textiles, a variety of products have been made from
banana fibers in the Philippines. The banana fiber were reported to be highly elegant and versatile. As
they do not crumple easily, these fibers have been used in the manufacture of dress materials. The
fineness of the texture depends on the quality of fiber used. Hand-extracted fibers used to produce
handbags, wall hangings, table mats and other fancy articles.

11

CHAPTER III
Methodology
A. Materials and Equipment
Materials Needed

Paper Ingredients

Weighing Scale (grams)

100g. of Cogon Grass

Knife

25g. of Banana Fiber

Scissor

Water

Big Cans

Sodium Hydroxide

Surgical Gloves
Basin
Screen (for filtering paper pulp)
Figure 1.2 Process Flow Chart in Making the Paper and Testing
Collection of Materials

Pulping

Setting the Paper

Finalizing the Paper

12

Testing the Experimental

Product
Statistical Analysis
B. Procedure
II- Preparing the Product
A. Collection of Materials

Cogon grass, Banana fiber, and water with sodium hydroxide (pure lye). Equipments such as
weighing scale (grams), knife, scissor, big can, and surgical gloves were also used by the researchers.

B. Pulping the Paper

13

C. Setting the Paper

14

After boiling, separate the water and the experimental product and put it into a basin with water .
Put the experimental product in a basin with water and filter it using the frame. Lift the screen from the
basin. Remove excess water from the paper and set the paper out to dry.
D. Finalizing the Paper

Remove the paper from the screen. Once the paper is a little more dry, you can lift it from the screen.
You can gently press out any bubbles and loose edges at this point.

15

Peel the paper off the screen slowly. If you find that it's not coming off easily, try ironing it underneath
the towel again.
Set the paper out to dry. Take the piece of paper and lay it out to dry on a flat surface. Alternatively,
you can speed up the drying process by using a hair dryer or iron on the low setting. Repeat the process
if necessary until the paper it totally dry. (Note: Blower Drying or Ironing is optional, you can let it dry
under the sun.)
E. Testing the Experimental Product
To test the experimental products effectiveness as a specialty paper, ten respondents of mixed students and
other community members were chosen to rate the homemade specialty paper and a commercial specialty paper
based on the sensory evaluation scale provided for them. These ratings were then treated statistically.
F. Statistical Analysis
All statistical analysis were conducted at Calbiga National High School, Calbiga, Samar. Mean was used to
determine the average of the dependent variables in the two products- homemade specialty paper and commercial
paper. And T-test was employed to test for the significant difference of the ratings on the dependent variables of
the two compared subjects.

Schedule of Activity

Days

Activities

12

14
15
8
7
16

Researching for related studies and literature

Formulation of the title
Gathering of related information
Writing the Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Gathering the materials and setting up
Making the product

 Tabulation of results and revision of Chapter

15
1 to 3
Writing the Chapters 4 and 5
Submission of the Draft to the Adviser, and

8
5

review of the draft

Revision of the investigatory Project, and
13
submission of bound Investigatory Project

CHAPTER IV
Results and Discussion
A. Findings
Table 1.0 Comparative Summary of Ratings and MEANS of the Dependent Variables of the Homemade
Specialty Paper and Commercial Paper.

17

Homemade Specialty Paper

Water
Respondents Reten- Strength
tion
Kylene
Clarisse
9
8
Caveiro
Jessa
8
8
Animos
Louine
Francine
9
8
Mae
Abantao
John Paul
8
9
De Guzman
Zyril Vince
9
8
Pacal
Graciela
Erica
8
8
Cabrigas
Maria
Jadessa
9
9
Cabanganga
n
Ervin
9
8
Ocenar
Ronnel
8
9
Nacional
Francisco
7
8
Agbon III
8.4

8.3

8.4

Texture

8.5

Commercial Specialty Paper

Water
Durabili
Reten- Strength Texture
-ty
tion

Durabilty

6.3

7.3

Sensory Evaluation Standard

9- Extremely Like

6- Like a Bit

3- Unsatisfactory

8- Really Like

5- Satisfactory

2- Dislike

7- Like

4- Barely Like

1- Hate

18

7.8

7.7

8.4

7.3

8
7

8.5

8.4

8.3

7.8

7.7

6.3

6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Water Retention

Strength

Homemade Specialty Paper

Texture

Durabilty

Commercial Specialty Paper

Figure 1.3 Comparison of the Means of Raings of the Two Products.

Graphically, Figure 1.3 represents the intervals/differences between the mean results of the sensory
evaluation survey. Like the other tables and figures, this suggests that the homemade specialty paper in

19

this study is significantly better than commercial papers at almost all aspects. Hence, this research study
has already make a good alternative/substitute to commercial specialty papers.

B. Analysis of Data
Based on the data gathered on the Sensory Evaluation Standards, the result showed that Paper
from Cogon (Imperata Cylindrica) Grass and Banana (Musa Paradisiacal) Fibers was accepted in terms
of the different parameters used namely: Water Retention, Strength, Texture and Durability.
As to the economic value, the homemade specialty paper out of Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber
cab be a good substitute to that of the commercial specialty paper since the product was proved to be
cheap, easy to make and the materials are all available in the locality.
C. Cost-Analysis
The cost analysis was determined to compare the homemade product to that of commercial one.
2 cans of Lye Solution (Sodium Hydroxide)

- P 150.00

Banana Fiber

- P 0.00

Cogon Grass

- P 0.00
P 150.00

CHAPTER 5
20

Summary
This study that seeks for the acceptability of Cogon Grass and Banana Fiber as components in
making Specialty Paper was conducted on a span of twenty-one weeks. An experiment was conducted
on the nineteenth week, February 15, 2015. In the experiment, 100g. of Cogon Grass and 25g. of Banana
Fiber was used proportion.
The product was rated by random people in terms of four (4) different indicators. For the homemade
specialty paper, 8.4, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5 are the means of ratings from ten (10) respondents. On the other
hand, the commercial paper had the ratings, 6.3, 7.3, 7.8, 7.7. These ratings were analyzed through the Tstatistical test to determine if the differences between the two products are significant and to find out
whether or not the hypothesis should be accepted or rejected. After processing these data, the following
T-values were obtained: Water Retention=7.21 , Strength-= 6.30, Texture=6.72, Durability=8.63. Based
on these values, it is then proven that significant differences among the samples exist. This means the
product with higher means of ratings, which is the homemade paper, is significantly better than the other
one.
Conclusions
Based on the results and findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. The paper from cogon grass and banana fiber was accepted.
2. There is A significant difference between the homemade specialty paper from cogon grass and
banana fiber compared to commercial specilty paper.
3. There are significant differences between two products in terms of water retention, strength, texture,
and durability.
4. Furthermore, the sample with the higher means of ratings which is the homemade specialty paper from
cogon grass and banana fiber is acceptable and is a good companion for people especially for the students in
making their projects and paper works.
Recommendations

21

Based on the conclusions drawn in this study, several recommendations were formulated, to with:
1. Find effective ways on how to make the paper more stronger
2. Improve the bleaching process
3. Use new variables most probable to have essential properties in making homemade paper.
4. Do the experiment just exactly as the researchers did to see if any difference would occur or if some
factors could alter the consistency of results.
5. Find new source of making homemade paper aside from cogon grass and banana fiber.
6. Make the homemade paper more fine and presentable.
Bibliography
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Book
Merriam Websters Dictionary
Gaafar, Khadiga, Dept., Faculty of Science,Cairo University. How to write a scientific paper
Williams, Robert C., Museum of Paper Making
Van Driesche, R., et al., 2002, Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States, USDA

5.
6.
B.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04, 413 p.

Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge Volume 14
Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge Volume 2
Website
http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp/collection/museum_invention_paper
http://dnr.state.il.us/stewardship/cd/biocontrol/28CogonGrass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student's_t-test
http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2008/11/hand-papermaking-with-okra
http://durano08.blogspot.com/
http://www.slideshare.net/AngeloLao/invertigatory-project
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/124514/cogon-grass/

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