CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

INTRODUCTION

Paper is an integral part of our daily life, used and utilized in schools, homes,

community, and all over the world. It provides the means of handwritten recordings,

storage, and serves as a transport of handwritten information (Quader, 2018).

Books, magazines, newspapers, and photographic paper are all made from

paper. Paper napkins, paper towels, facial tissues, boxes, wrapping paper, paper

plates are all produced with it.

Paper makes up about 26% of total waste in landfills. Paper manufacture causes

deforestation, consumes vast quantities of energy and water, and adds to air pollution

and waste concerns (Kinsella et al., 2016). Paper pollution is another important problem

caused by paper waste. Pulp and paper manufacturing is the third-largest industrial

contributor to pollution of air, water, and soil. During manufacture, chlorine-based

bleaches are used, resulting in harmful compounds being emitted into our water, air,

and land. When paper rots, methane gas is released, which is 25 times more harmful

than carbon dioxide (The World Counts, 2019).

Banana fiber is a type of cellulosic fiber that is made from the banana plant's

fictitious stem. Banana fibers have excellent fire resistance, light- weight, low

elongation, strong moisture absorption, great potential, and biodegradability. The use of

banana fiber in the production of paper has great potential, especially for handmade

paper (Bhatnagar, 2015).

 Carabao grass, also referred to as Paspalum Conjugatum L., is used to produce

paper in order to satisfy consumer demand. It is a raw material used in the manufacture

of paper. It contains a wide amount of cellulose, from which the fibrous cellulose is

produced by the digestion of the grass. The main raw material used in the production of

paper is fibrous cellulose (Winter, 2015)

BANACA uses Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass as the components for the

study. Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass are present within the area where the

researchers are located and have discovered that the banana fiber often don’t have

uses after bearing bananas and extra carabao grass from growing too much only

increase the environmental waste after cutting the excess. If these two waste products

will be left to decay and rot, these will be constituting pollution and waste disposal

problem. According to Conserveatree (2016), these wastes release a lot of carbon when

they start to rot that gives them their stench, therefore should be removed from certain

areas.

The purpose of this study is to develop a non-wood alternative source of writing

paper that uses banana stems and carabao grass as its main components to provide

paper to the community rather than using wood materials that chops off trees for paper

production. Similarly, this research study intends to reduce the following environmental

issues, such as paper pollution, reduce and utilize the grass after mowing the lawn, and

to develop a solution about the banana stems rotting after getting its fruit. The

researchers intend to carry on this research so that individuals within the community will

try to adopt because it is beneficial to the environment.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to develop BANACA paper made from Banana Fiber and

Carabao Grass as an alternative source for writing paper. Specifically, it attempts to

answer the following questions:

1. Can BANACA paper meet the required qualities of a quality writing paper?

In terms of;

a.) Smooth Finish

b.) Opacity

c.) Drying of ink

2. Will BANACA paper have a significant difference between the commercialized

writing paper? In terms of;

a) Thickness

b) Tear strength

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis:

1. There is no significant difference between commercialized writing paper

and BANACA writing paper.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This study aims to develop BANACA paper as an alternative source of writing

paper.

Figure 1's schematic illustration demonstrates the conceptual framework used for

this research. Using IPO model, the inputs in this study are the amount of water and the

amount of Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass. It takes between 2 to 13 liters of water in

producing paper and we used 8 liters of water, 1 liter of banana fiber and 1 liter of

carabao grass.

Fibers are separated and treated during the pulping process to create pulp. The

wet pulp is then either dried and transported from the pulp mill to the paper mill, or it is

converted into paper at an integrated pulp and paper mill. Various pulping techniques

are employed depending on the type of fiber and the final product that is desired.

Pulping is primarily used to separate the fibers in water or to liberate the fibers from the

lignin that holds them together. The strongest paper is made from pulp with longer fibers

and less lignin, which is thought to be of the highest quality (Davidsdottir, 2015).

Hypothetically, this research is anchored on Lebrun et al. (2016) production

process. As stated by Lebrun et al. (2016), water-dispersed pulp is sprayed within the

plastic container to cover the porous interior surfaces with a thin layer of wet layers. The

bound water seeps out from the wet pulp layer as a result of centrifugal force at work.

The process of making a nature-friendly paper is quite laborious but with enough

perseverance and diligence, in the end, it will be beneficial.

 -INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

- OBSERVATION

- 8 Liters water
- BOILING OF
LEAVES

Banana Fiber and

- 1 Liter Banana - BLENDING Carabao Grass as
Fiber Alternative Source for
Writing Paper
- PULPING

- 1 Liter Carabao - SHAPING THE

Grass PAPER

- DRYING

Figure 1. The Conceptual Framework of the Study

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

With the help of Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass, we can develop an

alternative source for writing paper. The results of this study will be used to create

writing papers from waste products that are only left to decay and rot that causes waste

disposal problems. On the basis of the study's findings, it is vital that the researcher

would be able to suggest ways to use these wastes as a recycled product that is kind to

the environment.
 In conclusion, the following people, organizations, and institutions that could

someday have access to the information acquired from this study will find it useful:

Community. Because this study will employ Banana fibers and Carabao grass

waste to minimize the quantity of solid trash on site.

Environment. The results of the study will be able to aid the environment since

they only use two (2) natural items, Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass and which are

entirely vegan, all-natural, and devoid of dangerous chemicals.

The Government. The results of the study will be able to assist the society in

using Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass as recycled paper as their choice for everyday

usage in life. Additionally, it will aid them in reducing deforestation and production that

consumes a considerable amount of energy.

The People. They will benefit from the study's findings since they will be able to

stop spending money on paper purchases. We may utilize this study to adopt the use of

natural materials or waste products as alternatives to produced ones in line with the

community objective to have more papers. Additionally, making these Banana Fiber and

Carabao Grass into recycled papers does not take too much time and will enable us to

make some financial savings.

The Future Researchers. The outcomes of this experiment can benefit to the future

researchers for motivation and ideas for their own the results of the study will educate

them and inspire them to come up with more proposals or solutions that are related to it.
SCOPE AND LIMITATONS OF THE STUDY

The research aims in developing BANACA paper as Alternative Source for

Writing Paper produced by utilizing water, Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass that will be

boiled, pounded, and blended then processed to a writing paper. Other materials for the

study will be recycled from the community as well, easing the financial load on the

researchers. This kind of analysis will concentrate on the acceptability of the study's

final product.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the benefit of the researchers and their better comprehension of the words'

significance, the following terms are defined.

Alternative - of one or more things; available as another possibility (Oxford

Languages).

BANACA – abbreviation for Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass, the components

used in the study.

Banana Fiber - natural fiber with high strength, which can be blended easily with
cotton fiber or other synthetic fibers to produce blended fabric & textiles (2018,
March 27).

Carabao Grass - a tropical to subtropical perennial grass. (Wikipedia).

Cellulosic - of, relating to, or made from cellulose (Merriam-Webster).

Devoid - entirely lacking or free from (Oxford Languages).

Handmade - made by hand, not by machine, and typically therefore of superior

quality. (Oxford Languages).

 Opacity - the condition of lacking transparency or translucence; opaqueness

(Oxford Languages).

Pulping - crush into a soft, shapeless mass (Oxford Languages).

Smooth Finish – having a surface that is regular, has no holes, lumps, or ares

that rise (Cambridge Dictionary).

Tear Strength – is a measure of how well a material can withstand the effects of

tearing (Wikipedia).

Waste - of a material, substance, or byproduct; eliminated or discarded as no

longer useful or required after the completion of a process (Oxford Languages).

Wet Pulp - paper pulp from a wet machine usually containing 50 to 65 percent of

water (The Merriam-Webster).

 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter examines related literature that is related to the topic and will serve

as the foundation of information. This chapter examines the relevant literature on the

use of Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass as alternatives to traditional writing paper

sources around the world as the bases for performing the research of BANACA paper.

These will serve as the foundation for assessing the information that will be gathered

eventually.

Paper is created by combining a raw material that has been pounded and broken

down into microscopic fibers with water, forming the mixture into sheets on a screen

surface that captures the fibers as the water drains through it. When pressed and dried,

the individual fibers interlock to create a sheet of paper. The bast plants, tree bark,

grass stalks, and other types of flora are among the raw materials used to make these

fibers (Acharya et al., 2015).

The pulp and paper industry has long been regarded as one of the largest users

of water, wood, energy, and other natural resources, as well as a major cause of

environmental pollution (The World Counts, 2019). Alternatives are required because to

the need for paper and the unacceptably enormous ecological footprint of present paper

production.

Traditionally, handmade paper is manufactured from wood-free raw materials

such as cotton, sugarcane, banana fibers, and jute waste and this originated in China
(Muraleedharan and Perumal, 2015). Handmade paper is the most environmentally

friendly kind of paper. The main benefit of making handmade paper is a double

reduction in environmental stress, often known as a reduction in environmental impact

(Ideas Afresh Inc., 2016).

Handmade paper is paper made by hand. People create handmade paper by

sifting pulp onto a screen and letting each individual sheet of paper dry. This creative

process has been used in Nepal, Japan, China, and Thailand for centuries to produce

exceptionally beautiful paper. Experienced and novice crafters alike can make their own

customized paper at home, with just a few pieces of specialized equipment (S. Mertha,

2022).

Handmade paper sector is considered to be eco-friendly, utilizing non-woody and

waste raw materials in its manufacturing process. The durability of the paper is high with

exclusive look and texture. The paper is available in a saga of rich varieties, designs,

shapes and colors. Most of the handmade paper units in India have been traditionally

using cotton hosiery waste as the main source of raw material, which produce paper

with excellent strength characteristics.

Saraexim (2016), Traditional handmade paper has the advantage of being 100%

wood free which makes it most eco- friendly form of paper. Handmade paper is

excellent for writing as well as printing. It has greater tensile, bursting, tearing and

double fold strength compared to conventional papers.

Banana fiber is a raw bast fiber that has a wide range of uses in the production of

handcrafted goods, such as matting, rope and twines, but only 10% of its pseudo stem
is used to make products and the left over ones are left to rot (Vigneswaran et al.,

2015).

Banana fibres obtained from the pseudo-stem of banana plant which is a waste

product from banana cultivation has not been utilized properly. The extraction of fibre

from the pseudo-stem is not a common practice and most of the stem is not used for

production of fibers. At present, the banana fibre is considered as waste product of

banana cultivation and is left to decay and rot thereby constituting pollution and waste

disposal problems.

Carabao grass is a gregariously stoloniferous grass. Stems are spreading and

stretching underneath with the blooming branches. Grass is found in bounty in open

waste places and settled territories, about towns, along trails, streams all through the

Philippines. In any case, carabao grass is considered as a parasite since it overrunning

various harvests for the most part in focal and Southeast Asia. It ingests the

supplements of the dirt consequently making lesser yield of harvests and deferred reap.

Based on the findings of the study "Pulp and paper production from grass fiber"

by Sonia Rani, Anita Singh, and Pinki Kashyap (2017). They measured and tested

various types of grass, including carabao grass, that are compatible in pulp and paper

manufacturing for use as a non-wood material and it showed great potential.

"Banana Fibre (Musa sapientum): A Suitable Raw Material for Handmade Paper

Industry," by A. K. Sharma, Atul Kumar, B. P. Singh, and R. K. Jain (2019),

demonstrates the potential and likelihood of banana fiber being used as a raw material

in the study. Banana fiber's inherent properties, such as lower lignin content, higher
alpha cellulose content, and average higher fibre length, may demonstrate its suitability

for the production of high-quality handmade paper that has the potential to be made true

with the banana fiber and carabao grass.

Considering the study's findings of “Handmade paper from Banana Stem” by

Lakhan Singh, Dr. Tarun Kanti Bandyopadhyay (2016). They listed non-wooded

materials that were used in developing a paper, including banana fiber. On this basis,

banana fiber acts as a very suitable alternative raw material, containing very good

percentage of cellulose. “Grass Species as Raw Material for Pulp and Paper” by K.A.

Pahkala, L. Paavilainen and T. Mela. They listed different grass species, evaluated and

tested that are suitable for paper manufacturing, including carabao grass, that showed

the ability to be turned into paper.

 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The primary goal of this study was to see if there was a statistically significant

difference between BANACA paper as an alternative source for writing paper. This

chapter describes methodology, including how the study will be carried out, an overview

of the study, a description of the study's participants, the data collection process, data

analysis procedures, and statistical treatment that will be required in the study.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Research design is the approach for tackling the fundamental research

questions. The collection and analysis of numerical data will form the foundation of the

research design for a quantitative research. A large proportion of all scientific research

studies used an experimental research design, which will be used in this study as well.

The experimental method of research as a method or procedure that involves the

control or manipulation of conditions in order to study the relative effect of various

treatments applied to members of a sample, or the same treatment applied to members

of different samples. It creates methods that allow the researchers to conduct detailed,

scientific investigations of causal relationships between variables and test a hypothesis

(Grand Canyon University, 2017).

 Manuel and Mendel describe the experimental research method as follows. The

basic goal of experimental research is to discover the influence of one or more factors

on a condition, group, or situation, the goal of which is to discover the influence of which

is to discover "what will be". It describes and analyzes variables under carefully

controlled conditions in order to infer or conclude. An experimental study entails

manipulating an experimental variable under highly controlled conditions in order to

determine how and why a specific event occurs. (p. 37, Manuel and Mendel)

Correlational Design may utilize two dependent variables to determine the

experiment’s conss and pros, measures the degree of correlation there may be between

two variables. As well as a control group to serve as a comparison group.

MATERIALS

The materials and ingredients required to carry out the research investigation of

BANACA paper are: water (8 liters), Banana Fiber (1 liter), and Carabao Grass (1 liter).

To improve the brightness of the paper, another component of this research study is

chlorine or bleach (3 cups). The supplies and components required to carry out the

research investigation are listed in Table 3.1.

Materials Quantity Picture

and Ingredients
Water - 8 liters

Banana Fiber - 1 liter

Carabao Grass - 1 liter

 Chlorine or bleach - 3 cups

Table 3.1. Materials and ingredients used in preparing the components for

Banana Fiber and Carabao Grass as Alternative Source for Writing Paper.

EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS

This study's equipment and utensils include: a large pot, sieve, gas stove, plastic

tub, processor or blender, knife, and frame strainer. The tools and equipment utilized in

the preparation and execution of the research study are listed in Table 3.2.

Equipment Quantity Picture

and Utensils

Large pot - 2

units
Sieve - 2

units

Gas stove - 1 unit

Plastic tub - 2

units

Processor or blender - 1 unit

 Knife - 2

units

Frame Strainer - 2

units

Table 3.2. Equipment and Utensils used in preparing the components for Banana

Fiber and Carabao Grass as Alternative Source for Writing Paper.

PROCEDURE

The researcher gathered all of the materials required to develop the

project’s physical aspect. The study’s final product, writing paper, is made of

Banana stem fiber and Carabao Grass, which is processed, developed, and
innovated to make the product visible. The following procedure when patching up

the materials are required to make the product:

1. Gathering of materials for BANACA paper

2. Preparing the workplace

3. Cut the Banana stem into small pieces and wash the carabao

grass

4. Wash the banana stem pieces that you have cut and the

carabao grass

5. Boil the chopped pieces of Banana stem for 15 minutes and

the carabao grass in another pot.

6. After boiling for 15 minutes, strain it to separate the water

7. Blend it to make the Banana stem and carabao grass finer.

8. Put it into the container filled with water, use frame strainer to

separate the fibers on water

9. Let it dry for 24 hours

10. Peel off the fabric

11. Conduct different tests

The procedure in performing the research investigation of BANACA paper

is a procedure in paper-making with using non-wood materials by Selvin A.

Crisostomo (2018).
STATISTICAL TREATMENT

The following statistical measures were used to determine the effects of banana

fiber and carabao grass as alternative source for writing paper.

Mean. This was used to assess the average performance of the control and

experimental groups.

Standard Deviation. This was utilized to determine the average distance or dispersion

from the mean.

T-test of Independent Means. This was applied to know the significant difference in

the results of the control and experimental group. It is used to compare the means of

precisely two groups