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THE FEASIBILITY OF PARAGIS (ELEUSINE INDICA) AS PAPER

A SCIENCE INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

PRESENTED TO:

MR. CHRIS DE JESUS

BY:

DE JUAN, EROLL A.

DIMAPASOC, RON RENIER L.

GOMEZ, GIOBERT E.

DE CHAVEZ, CATHERINE LIESHA B.

EBREO, AIRAH JAEL E.

FERMALAN, ANGELIKA E.

OCTOBER 2019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Chapter I: Introduction

 Background of the Study……………………………………….1

 Statement of the Problem………………………………………2

 Hypothesis……………………………………………………….2

 Significance of the Study……………………………………….2

 Scope and Delimitation of the Study……………………….....3

 Conceptual Framework………………………………………...3

 Definition of Terms……………………………………………...4

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Studies………………………,.5

Chapter III: Methodology………………………………………………………...9

 Research Design……………………………………………… .9

 Materials and Methods………………………………………...10

Chapter IV: Results and Discussion…………………………………………...11

Chapter V: Summary of Findings,

Conclusion and Recommendation…………………………………….14

 Findings…………………………………………………………………..14

 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….15

 Recommendation……………………………………………………….15

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………16

Appendices……………………………………………………………………….17
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Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the introduction of the study that includes the

background of the study, statement of the problem, hypothesis, significance of the

study, scope and delimitations of the study, and definition of terms.

Background of the Study

Paper is everywhere. From tissue paper to cardboard packaging to stereo

speakers to electrical plugs to home insulation to the paper pads used in school.

Paper is a vital object in our life, however, it is made from pulp of trees and due to

acute need of paper, around 4 billion trees are cut down every year to produce

paper. Trees plays an important role in our lives. They give us oxygen, store carbon,

stabilize the soil and give life to the world's wildlife. That’ s why the researchers

create a paper using an alternative material.

The researchers used goosegrass, mainly known as paragis, as an

alternative raw material for this study because it is rich in vegetable fibers (cellulose)

and fiber that is important in making paper. “Paragis” is also abundant in the

Philippines making it accessible and free. The researchers used boiling, straining,

beating, blending and drying as its processes for making paper. This study will test

the feasibility of paragis as paper.

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Statement of the Problem.

This study aims to produce paper using paragis as a raw material.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions.

1. What is the best concentration of materials to produce the best quality of the

paper?

2. How is the product affected in different time of blending?

3. What is the perception of the respondent in terms of;

a. Odor

b. Texture

c. Color

d. Durability

Hypothesis

This study is guided by the hypothesis;

“There is no significant effect between Paragis as an alternative raw material

for making paper”

Significance of the Study

This study will be of help to the researchers as it will help them lessen the

grass in the surroundings of their homes. This will also be beneficial to the

environment, community, students, and future researchers.

To the environment, this study can lessen the number of trees being cut down

to produce paper as there is another raw material that can be used.

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To the community, this will help avoid grassy surroundings that may root to

other problems such as unwanted pests and dengue outbreaks as grassy

surroundings are perfect environment for insects and rodents.

To the students, it will help them save money that they spend for buying

paper used for designing for scrapbook making and other projects because the final

product is budget friendly and affordable.

To the future researcher, this can be used as a guide and reference for

related studies.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study is limited to the ability of paragis as a raw material for paper.

Equally important, this study will tackle how the different time of procedure affects the

quality of the final product.

This study will not include the use of paragis in different aspects as well as

the comparison of the made product and commercial product.

Conceptual Framework

Input Process Output

 Paragis
 Boiling
 Water  Straining
 Beating Paragis Paper
 Flour  Blending
 Drying
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The first box contains the input of the study which is paragis, water and flour.

The study uses different processes such as boiling, straining, beating, blending, and

drying that can be seen in the second box. The third box contains the output of this

study which is a paper.

Definition of Terms

The researchers defined the following terms as how they are used in the

study and their meaning based on books so the readers can easily understand the

study.

Alternative material- In this study, it pertains to a substitute material that can be used

if the original material is not present.

Cellulose - an insoluble substance which is the main constituent of plant cell walls

and of vegetable fibers such as cotton.

(https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/cellulose)

Feasible – capable of being done, effected or accomplished.

(https://www.dictionary.com/browse/feasible)

Fiber - a rope or string used as a component of composite materials, or matted into

sheets to make products such as paper.

Paper – In this study, it is defined as a material made from pulp that can be used for

designing and scrapbook making.

Paragis - an annual, erect, tufted, adventitious, glabrous grass, 10 centimeters to 1

meter in height. (http://www.stuartxchange.com/Paragis.html)

Process - A process is a series of actions which are carried out in order to achieve a

particular result. (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/process)

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Pulp - Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or

mechanically separating cellulose fibers from wood, fiber crops, waste paper, or rags.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_(paper))

Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Paper is a very important thing nowadays. We write or print documents on

paper. Paper can be produced with a wide variety of properties, depending on its

intended use. We use paper to represent values like paper money, bank note,

cheque, voucher and ticket. For entertainment, we make books, magazines, and

newspaper from paper.

Almost all of the paper you use today is made of wood papers. Some

specialty papers, like stationery and money, are made from linen, cotton, or other

plants. Other papers contain a combination of cellulose fibers and synthetics such as

latex. Still other are made completely from synthetic materials such as polyolefine.

You might find latex in a waterproof mariner’s chart, or polyolefine in a rugged courier

envelope. But you’ll find natural fiber paper almost everywhere! Because of its high

demand in the market, many experiments have been made to find new sources of

making paper.

Production of Paper from Coconut Husks and Gumamela Leaves

All types of paper (Brittanica,1973) are made from pulp containing vegetable,

mineral or manmade fibers that form a matted or felted sheet on a screen when

moisture is removed. Nearly all paper is made cellulosic (vegetable) fibers (San

Juan,2011).
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Paper is one of the most indispensable tools used in our daily lives. The

primary source of manufacturers in making paper is trees. For this reason, it is

essential for the community to cut trees. However, cutting trees may result to global

warming that leads to climate change which we are experiencing definitely

nowadays. Having an alternative for these trees, using other materials is certainly a

good thing. The study was conducted to diminish the cutting of trees.

Hand-made paper has a unique texture and an individual quality that makes it

not only a surface to write or print on, but also an object of beauty. With a small

investment in equipment (or the supplies to make it from scratch), a small harvest of

backyard weeds or garden plants, and the guidance, anyone can make exquisite

papers right in the home kitchen. (Hiebert, 2006)

Paper-making

According to Wikipedia (2015), papermaking is the process of making paper,

a substance which is used universally today for writing and packaging. In paper-

making, 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 to make paper. Since the invention of the Fourdrinier

machine in the 19th century, most paper has been made from wood pulp because of

cost. But other fiber sources such as cotton and textiles are used for high

quality papers. One common measure of a paper’s quality is its non-wood-pulp

content.

According to Hand Papermaking, Inc. (2005), there are three main types of

plant fiber used in papermaking: bast fiber, leaf fiber, and grass fiber. The fibrous,

inner bark of trees or shrubs is called the bast. The bast fiber is located in the stem
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and branches between the outer bark and the woody core. There are three types of

bast fiber: woody, herbaceous, and petiole. Woody bast is found in shrubs like

blackberry, vines like kudzu and trees such as paper mulberry and willow.

Herbaceous bast is found in non-woody annuals and perennials such as

nettles and milkweed petiole bast is found in the leaf stalks and stems of banana

plants like manila hemp. The petiole of a plant is the leaf stem that is connected to

the stalk and supports the blade of the leaf. In manila hemp (abaca) plants, the leaf

stalks are often many feet in length and contain long strands of bast fiber that are

easily obtained once the stalks are cut from the plant. paper.

Grass fibers are among the shortest papermaking fibers, but nevertheless the

y still makeinteresting papers. They can be found almost anywhere. Tall weeds and

wild grasses such as straws, rushes, swamp grasses, and beach grasses are good

sources of papermaking fiber. Cornstalks and corn husks may even be used. Any

grasses can be harvested in any season and are relatively simple to process. With

grass fiber, one pound of dry fiber will yield about ten small lightweight sheets of

paper.

Trees are the principal source of making paper and if more trees are being

cut each year to produce paper it may lead to global warming which is not good.

However, using grass as an alternative to trees may be an essential

way to conserve the environment.

Advantages of non-wood mill includes no outflow of foreign strain on

ecological balance as they are based on annually renewable raw materials; abundant

availability of agricultural residues; sale of agricultural residue provides additional

revenue to farmers who have little other opportunities for outside income;

employment is provided to rural labor and locating mills across the entire country
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satisfies regional requirements and there is a reduced need for a complex

transportation system. (Judt,1991 a, as cited by Chandra, 1998). Around the world,

wood fiber supply is expected to tighten in the not so distant future (Atchison, 1992 a;

Rosenberg, 1996 as cited by Chandra, 1998). In India there already is a shortage of

wood fibers (Wayman,1995), as cited by Chandra, 1998). Even the European Union

suffers from shortages of wood fibers and search for alternative fibers (Chaudhuri,

1995; Paaviliahen and Targilso, 1995; Alcaide et al, 1991, 1993 as cited by Chandra,

1998). Japan is also investigating the use of non-wood plant fibers for pulp and paper

manufacture (Sameshima, 1994 as cited by Chandra, 1998).

Available non-wood source of fiber in the Philippines (Benguet) As an

agricutural country Philippines has abundant source of raw fiber for papermaking

which includes weeds and crop refuse (Fianza, 2008). Weeds and crop refuse

includes mulberry (Morus sp.) leaves, banana (Musa sp.) leaves, Sanseveria

sp.peruvian lily (Alstroemeria sp.) and cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica).

According to a German paper manufacturer, Scheufelen, paper made from

grass has a big impact compare to paper made from wood pulp. There is a less

consumption of water needed for the production of paper and the energy used is

saved by 80%. Furthermore, the paper made from grass do not need any chemical in

it.
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Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

In this chapter, the research design and materials and methods are presented.

A. Research Design

Gathering all the Mix the flour and water.

materials.

Remove the solution from

the heat and strain to Add the paragis and boil
obtain pulp. it under high flame.

Rinse it thoroughly. Beat the pulp.

Add some water in the

Strain using a mold and pulp and blend using a
let dry. blender.
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B. Materials and Method

Materials needed:

 Paragis

 Flour solution

 Mold

 Deckle

 Cloth

 Pot

 Stirring rod

 Blender

Methods

First, gather all of the materials needed. Then, combine the flour and water

and mix it well. After the flour dissolved completely, add the paragis and put it into

boil. Next, strain the solution to obtain the pulp and rinse it thoroughly. Beat the pulp

and blend it with some water in the blender. In a basin, put the flour-water solution

and add the blended pulp. Strain the pulp using a mold and make a back and forth

and side and side motion to have an even distribution of pulp in the mold. Transfer it

to a clean cloth and place it in a flat surface. Finally, let it dry.

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Chapter IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter contains the results and Discussion of the study.

Table 1

The Product in Different Concentration of Materials

Trials Grass Water Flour Observation

1 ½ kilo 1L 1/8 kilo The pulp is not

binding together that

makes the paper

easy to tear.

2 ½ kilo 1L ¼ kilo The pulp binds a

little but not enough

to hold the bond of

fibers for too long.

3 ½ kilo 1L ½ kilo The pulp binds with

each other strongly

making the paper

durable.

The table above shows the quality of the product in different concentrations.

In trial 1, the researcher’s use 1/2kg of grass, 1L of water and 1/8kg of flour which

results for a product that easily pieced or tears. In the second trial, the researchers

also used the same amount of grass, 1/2kg, and water, 1L, but uses 1/4kg of flour

that results to a stronger paper than the last one but still not enough to hold the fibers
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of paper for too long. The final trial is the best trial with ½ kg of grass, 1L of water and

½kg of flour because the paper appears to be very durable, it does not tear easily.

Table 2

The Product in Different Time of Blending

Trials Boiling Blending Beating Drying Observation

1 1hr 3 mins 20 mins 24hrs Big chunks of fiber are very

visible in the paper and the

texture is very rough.

2 1hr 5 mins 20 mins 24hrs There are still some large

chunks of fiber in the paper

but not as many in trial 1.

3 1hr 7 mins 20 mins 24hrs There are no visible large

chunks of fiber in the paper

and the texture is smooth.

The table 2 contains the observation of the researchers on the product with

different timespan of blending. All of the trials have the same time of boiling, beating

and drying and they only differ in the time of blending. The first trial takes 3 minutes

of blending and it resulted in a paper with visible large chunks of fiber and a rough

texture.

The second trial with 5 minutes of blending produce a smoother paper compared to

trial 1 but there are still some large chunks of fiber in it. Trial 3 takes 7 minutes of

blending and resulted to a smooth paper with no large chunk of fiber in it. The
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researchers choose trial 3 as the best trial and the recommended timespan of

performing the processes in making the paper.

Table 3

The Rating of the Product

Rate

Respondent Odor Texture Color Durability

Marwin 3 3 2 3

Ceus 3 3 2 2

Faye 3 4 2 3

Divine 3 3 3 2

Jenny 3 3 4 3

Jomy 3 3 3 4

Criz 3 3 4 2

Jane 3 3 3 4

Felyn 3 3 4 4

Kiara 3 4 3 4

Weighted 3 3.2 3 3.1

Mean:

Verbal Very Very Very Very

Interpretation: Acceptable Acceptable Acceptable Acceptable

Table 3 shows the rating of the product in terms of odor, texture, color and

durability. The researchers used Likert’ s Scale in providing the verbal interpretation
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of each weighted mean. The product obtained a weighted mean of 3 with a verbal

interpretation of very acceptable in terms of odor. In terms of texture, the product got

a weighted mean of 3.2 with a verbal interpretation of very acceptable. The product

attained a weighted mean of 3 with a verbal interpretation of very acceptable in terms

of color. In terms of odor, the product gained a weighted mean of 3.1 with a verbal

interpretation of very acceptable. Combining the weighted mean of the product and

getting it’s average, the product obtained 3.025 which means it is very acceptable as

a whole.

Chapter V

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents states the different findings observed by the

researchers as well as the different conclusions made. The researchers also stated

the different recommendations preferred to be done to improve the study. They are

hereby taken in summary.

Findings

These are the different findings that the researchers observed behind the study.

1. The best concentration of materials to obtain the best quality of paper is ½

kilo of paragis, 1L of water and ½ kilo of flour.

2. To get a product with smooth texture, the solution should be blended in a

blender for at least 7 minutes.

3. The product is perceived by the respondents as very acceptable in terms of

odor, texture, color and durability

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Conclusions

1. As the amount of flour increases, the more durable the paper becomes.

2. The longer the time of blending, the smoother the surface of the paper.

3. Paragis can be used as an alternative material in making paper.

Recommendations

1. Use an improvised mold and deckle to avoid spending money in making the

product.

2. Put a heavy material above the paper when it is in the process of drying to

make it thin and flat.

3. It is recommended to make an assessment of marketability of the product.

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Bibliography

Paragis.(2018). Retrieved on October 16, 2019 from the website

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Paragis.html

Investigatory Project 2014-2015.(2015). Retrieved on October 16, 2019 from the

website

https://www.academia.edu/22547543/INVESTIGATORY_PROJECT_2014-

2015_1_?fbclid=IwAR1C-itBzVN7Qx1DYGtRwr-

qoH85bkQTBwFkqRMF0cUP1rZfAN768S8Nt5s

Paper Made From Grass.(2018). Retrieved on October 16, 2019 from the website

blokboek.com/paper-made-grass/

A Papel de Grass.(2017). Retrieved on October 16, 2019 from the website

https://sites.google.com/site/apapeldegrass/e-review-of-related-

litera?fbclid=IwAR2IokgIojQbM6fl6QcwigDRMjf_Zi1ZgMvKMo61kNGRkqiZd

yx5pjnmphw

Esprit Rock.(2019). Retrieved on October 16, 2019 from the website

https://espritrock.org/review-of-related-literature-paragis-or-is-a-kind-of-

grass-that-usually-grows-on-vacant-lots-and-

roadsides/?fbclid=IwAR26JM5IL6BwsNmlHlwip5vcOYe9Pg8Ulo4EghqVuoC

tTqRbsAabDIjssmo
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APPENDICES

A. Rating Sheet

Directions: Rate the product in terms of odor, texture, color and durability

using the scale below. Put a check mark under the column of the number.

4- Very Acceptable 2- Unacceptable

3- Acceptable 1- Very Unacceptable

4 3 2 1

Odor

Texture

Color

Durability

B. Actual Experiment

Pouring the Grass in the flour-water mixture.

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Beating the grass.

Blending the grass to Molding the pulp to the

pulp. to make it thin and flat.