Department of Education

Region VII (Eastern Visayas)

Division of Leyte

Tanauan National High School

Tanauan, Leyte

Use of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas) Plant Stem as the Main Ingredient in Paper Making

_________________________

An Investigatory Research Project

_________________________

By:

Shane Aubrey M. Vertudes

Matthew H. Vinegas

Rian Therese L. Resma

Maryjoy M. Lonzaga

8 STE

Presented to:

Weslyn D. Bigoy

Research Teacher
 Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The environmental effects of paper production include deforestation, the use of enormous

amounts of energy and water as well as air pollution and waste problems. Paper accounts for

around 26% of total waste at landfill (Theworldcounts, 2023). According to Cartly (2023), as the

world seeks to slow the pace of climate change, preserve wildlife, and support more than eight

billion people, trees inevitably hold a major part of the answer. Yet the mass destruction of trees

—deforestation—continues, sacrificing the long-term benefits of standing trees for short-term

gain of fuel, and materials for manufacturing and construction (Nunez, 2022). In addition, Cartly

(2023) stated that paper has a major impact on our environment. Billions of trees are cut down

each year by forestry companies to supply paper product manufacturers. Moreover, they culture

flourished because of the invention of paper. Paper has always been essential, even in the digital

age. From the Egyptians and Romans to our own civilization, it gave rise to money, bureaucracy,

contemporary communication, and even prompted fear about technological progress. Despite the

fact that paper is still essential to our daily lives, it is impossible to overlook its detrimental

effects.

Sweet potatoes thrive in warm weather and can grow vigorously once the soil warms up

in spring and summer. They are low-maintenance plants that can tolerate neglect and handle dry

spells, although they produce best when well watered. To prevent tuber rot, it's important to plant

them in free-draining soil enriched with compost. While sweet potatoes are fairly pest resistant,
rodents may be attracted to exposed tubers near the soil surface. It's advised to regularly check

for exposed tubers and rebury them if necessary to protect against pests (Noakes, 2021).

These facts gave us inspiration to conduct our investigation entitled “ Use of Sweet Potato

Plant Stem as the Main Ingredient in Paper Making”.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether Sweet Potato Plant Stem can be

used to make writable paper. This specifically seeks to respond to the following questions:

1. What is the benefit of using sweet potato stems instead of trees for making paper?

2. Is there a significant difference between the paper from sweet potato plant stem and regular

paper in terms of:

2.1) Texture

2.2) Writability

2.3) Durability

2.4) Appearance

2.5) Environmental Impact

Hypothesis

Alternative:

There is a significant difference between regular writable paper and the writable paper

made from Sweet Potato Plant Stem (Ipomoea batatas).

Null:

There is no significant difference between regular writable paper and the writable paper

made from Sweet Potato Plant Stem (Ipomoea batatas).

Significance of the Study

Students - Compared to traditional paper making materials like wood pulp, using sweet potato

plant stem can be more cost effective. This affordability can make paper products more

accessible to students.

Environmental Impact - Researching the viability of sweet potato plant stem as paper helps

assess the environmental impact of paper production. It can lead to the development of eco-

friendly paper-making processes, potentially reducing pollution and conserving water resources.

Economic Opportunities - Exploring sweet potato plant stem for paper creation could open up

new economic opportunities, especially in regions where sweet potatoes are abundant. It could

create additional revenue streams for farmers and local communities through the sale of paper

products or processing facilities.

Future Researchers - This will serve as a reference guide for more investigation in this field of

study.

Scope and Limitations

This investigation will only focus whether Sweet Potato Plant Stem can be used to make writable

paper. This study will only be conducted here in Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines.

Conceptual Framework

INPUT

 Sweet Potato Plant

Stem

Process OUTPUT

 Paper Production  Paper out of Sweet

(writable paper) Potato Plant Stem
 has a slightly smooth
texture
 environmental
friendly
 writable

Figure 1:

1. Input – Sweet Potato Plant Stem are chosen as the main ingredient in papermaking.

2. Process
 2.1) To eliminate any water or liquid from the sweet potato stems, the procedure starts with

gathering the vines and cutting off the leaves, leaving only the stem. Next, the stems are

rinsed and washed, then they are left in the sun for a whole day.

2.2) After it has completely dried, proceed to carefully cut it into pieces that are at least 1

inch in size. Place all of the pieces in a saucepan with some water and a tiny bit of washing

soda. Depending on how dark it is, add hydrogen peroxide and stir everything together. After

that, give it an hour to boil.

2.3.) Once the water has been completely removed and the chopped sweet potato stems are

left, place them on a cutting board or any flat surface. Using a paint scraper, beat the sweet

potato stems into a pulp. The pulp is then blended in a blender.

2.4) Once combined, transfer the pulp into a plastic tub and stir in the cornstarch. After that,

take a deckle and dip it into the water for a little while before lifting it up to make sure no

liquid is flowing from the frame.

3. Output – Sweet Potato Plant Stem as Paper that has a slightly smooth texture, writable

and environmental friendly.

Definition of Terms

Sweet potato plant stem - Used as the main ingredient in making paper.

Writable paper - Paper that can be written on with ink.

Ipomoea batatas - Scientific name for Sweet Potato Tops.

Writability - Ability to be written on.

 Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Sweet Potato Plant Stem

Sweet potato stem often grow long. Hang down showcasing leaves that come in unlobed

Co shapes. The flowers, shaped like funnels sport a rose violet hue and appear clustered within

the leaf axils. The enlarged root, which is the part eaten can take on forms, like fusiform, oblong

or oval with a tip. The roots exhibit a range of colors from buff to brown. Rose on the outside

and white to orange or even purple inside. Typically starchy the flesh of potatoes varies in color,

with orange fleshed types boasting carotene levels (Petruzzello, 2024).

The stems of the potato plant though not as widely recognized as the roots possess

qualities and uses. These stems are typically long and slender often climbing or trailing in their

growth. When left to grow they can extend to meters, in length and feature nodes from which

leaves sprout. In addition to their significance the stems of the potato plant also hold culinary

value. In cultures young sweet potato stems are harvested for consumption as a vegetable. When

incorporated into dishes, like salads, soups and stir fries these stems add a crispness and texture

to the food (Live to Plant, 2023).

Deforestation

Deforestation is a severe issue that impacts numerous nations globally, including the

Philippines. The nation is home to a wide variety of rare plants and animals, but many of

thesespecies are in danger of going extinct due to deforestation. The Philippine government has
waged a sustained war against deforestation, despite the implementation of numerous programs

and initiatives throughout the years to encourage regeneration. The Philippines' attempts to stop

deforestation have advanced significantly in recent years (Green Earth, 2024). Moreover, for the

Earth to function, forests are essential. They create homes for flora and fauna, absorb

precipitation, release oxygen into the atmosphere, and absorb carbon dioxide, all of which

contribute to regulating world temperatures. Concerns over their disappearance are growing

among environmentalists. Restoring some of the remaining world forests has been made possible

by initiatives to buck this trend, such as tree-planting campaigns in America, Europe, China, and

India, among other locations. Yet these increases don't provide a complete picture. Rich

countries continue to level large areas of forests in poor countries through consumption, despite

their best attempts to grow trees at home. An investigation that was released on March 29 in

Nature Ecology & Evolution provides information on the size and location of the global

"deforestation footprint" (Hoang & Kanemoto, 2021). The concern of saving and securing forests

from the increased human activity was presented as a very topical one. Irrational human actions

and fires have caused disappearance of woods from areas, which were once completely covered

with them. In Africa, the area of tropical forests reduced by 70 per cent, in South America-by 60

per cent, only 8% of Chinese territory is forests reduced by 70 per cent, in South America-by 60

per cent, only 8% of Chinese territory is forest-covered. This research studies deforestation as a

function of long run dependence on human activity in the global economy. Constructed model

based on panel data for 1990 - 2015 is employed to investigate the impact of human activities on

deforestation. Additionally, various panel data unit root tests and co-integration tests are also

used. The series including Forest area, gross domestic product (GDP), wood and paper

production and population were all integrated at order I and co-integrated. By using different
panel unit root tests we test stationary conditions among individual series within panel datasets.

Autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) model is proposed for examining the relationship

between these variables. We actualize the problem of preservation and protection of forests

under conditions related to modern regional and global climate changes accompanied by more

intense industrial activity in their territories in focus now (Didenko et al 2017). Trees are cut

down to make pulp for paper, which takes away vital oxygen and contributes to global warming.

Paper production also consumes a lot of water and generates toxic waste. The paper industry is

one of the most polluting industries in the world. Every year, it pumps out millions of tons of

toxic chemicals and consumes billions of gallons of water. And all this just to make a product

that we use for a few minutes before throwing it away, or in the case of business cards, 9 out of

10 of them end up in the trash (Fiche, 2022).

Papermaking

The history of the relationship between papermaking and libraries is chronicled in this

article. Along with gun powder, printing, and the compass, paper is generally regarded as one of

China's four greatest inventions. Paper was originally created there. When papermaking first

emerged in China and then spread to Japan, where it was eventually included into various Shinto

and Buddhist temples as well as governmental organizations, it was frequently linked to

archives. Paper availability was associated with higher literacy and the expansion of libraries

throughout the Islamic era. The worlds of papermaking and libraries did not interact as much in

the modern era, which hindered development on one of the library's biggest issues: brittle books

(Roughen Jr 2023). In addition, the preparation and management of raw materials, pulp

manufacturing, pulp washing and screening, chemical recovery, bleaching, stock preparation,
and papermaking are the several steps in the paper manufacturing process. The process of

making paper essentially consists of two steps: turning a fibrous raw material into pulp, and then

turning that pulp into paper. First, the harvested wood is treated to separate the fibers from the

lignin, which is the portion of the wood that cannot be used. Depending on the kind and grade of

paper that will be made, the pulp is subsequently bleached and subjected to additional

processing. To make paper sheets, the pulp is dried and pressed in the paper mill (Bajpaj 2018).

According to Cantavalle (2019), there was a pressing necessity for humans to exchange written

knowledge with one another. The data needed to be placed on a transportable, sturdy, and light-

weight media. The development of paper made it possible to replace papyrus and parchment with

a material that was simpler to create and, as new production methods emerged, less expensive.

Paper's history has paralleled the development of human society over the ages, from the

transmission of knowledge in philosophy and science to the expansion of education and the

development of the political and historical consciousness that gave rise to the modern nation

state.

Paper Production Requires A lot of Trees. Cellulose fibers are extracted from trees which are cut

down for that re reason. From notebooks, newspapers, laminated documents up to toilet papers

we use paper every day in various forms. Unfortunately, this consumption requires billions of

trees being felled yearly and thus contributes to deforestation rates that continue growing all over
the world. Some instances occur whereby planting new seedlings on sites where trees have been

harvested called "managed forests" by logging and manufacturing companies (Cartly, 2023).

Also, when it comes to these notes, they are so easy to get lost, and also disorganized very fast.

This can be disadvantageous in case we are not organized people. They additionally occupy so

much place both horizontally and vertically as you need another one book after the other until

your drawers are full. Another problem with paper is that it is inaccessible. These notes cannot

be easily passed around to others; a particular notebook must be available for reading its

contents; there is also a huge expenditure on quality stationery (Cartly, 2023).

Gaining an understanding of how to create paper from plants will help you become more

aware of the traits of the native, local plants in your area or those you grow in your own

backyard. When the leaves or stalks of the plants surrounding you are ready to be harvested,

you'll be aware of which ones would make ideal paper (Quillen, 2017). Learning to make paper

from plants helps you understand the characteristics of your local, native plants or those you're

growing in your yard. You'll start to notice which plants might be good for paper-making and

when their leaves or stalks are ready to be harvested. For instance, you can plant milkweed to

attract butterflies and later harvest its stalks or pods for paper-making (Quillen, 2017).
 Chapter lll

METHODOLOGY

This chapter includes the following topics such as, research design, data collection,

materials and procedure and statical treatment.

Research Design

Experimental research design is a structured framework used in scientific experiments,

involving two sets of variables. The first set remains constant while the second set is

manipulated, allowing researchers to measure the effects of the second set while controlling for

other factors. (Sirisilla, 2022).

Materials & Procedures

The materials used in this study are Sweet Potato Stem (Ipomoea Batatas), a blender, a

knife, 4 pieces of dry and flat cloth, a cutting board, heavy rocks, Intermediate paper making

mould screen frame, plastic ware and 7 liters of water.

1. The process begins with gathering sweet potato vines and cutting off the leaves,

leaving only the stem, after this rinse and wash the sweet potato stems and leave it under the sun

for 24 hours to remove any water and liquid in the sweet potato stems.

2. The next step of when it dries completely is to then carefully cut it into smaller pieces

about atleast 1 inch pieces, then put them all in a pot along with water and a small amount of
washing soda. Add hydrogen peroxide depending on the darkness then mix them all together.

Then let it boil for an hour.

3. After all the water is gone and the cut sweet potato stems are left put them onto a flat

surface or a cutting board, then beat the sweet potato stem into a pulp using a paint scraper. After

that blend the pulp into a blender.

4. After blending put tue blended pulp into a plastic tub then add cornstarch and mix it

for a bit. Then use a deckle and submerge it in the water for a few seconds and lift it up, make

sure there isn’t any dripping liquid from the frame. 5. Lastly put it onto a dry flat surface covered

in dry cloth making sure its not sticking on the deckle and put a flat cloth on top of it. The

process will continue by putting a flat dry cloth on top of each wet paper. After that put a cutting

board or a flat surface on top of the wet papers and put heavy objects like large stones on top of

them to dry and flatten faster. Let it dry for a week under all that weight. Remove each cloth and

then remove each paper carefully. Then we have the paper

Data Collection

The mean, commonly referred to as the average, is calculated by adding up all the values in a

sample and then dividing this total by the number of values in the sample (Hurley & Tenny

2023).

Texture Writability Durability Appearance

Sweet Potato

Stem Paper
 Common

paper

Instrumentation of the Study

1. Paper Production:

- Decide equipment required for paper production.

- Establish drying technique for paper formation

- Define consistency to control during papermaking process

2. Testing Procedures:

- Ensure availability of necessary testing equipment and materials.

3. Data Collection and Analysis:

- Decide on statistical methods for analyzing experimental results.

7. Economic Analysis:

- Estimate costs associated with sweet potato stem paper production.

- Evaluate potential cost savings or economic benefits compared to traditional paper.

8. Risk Management:

- Identify potential risks and hazards associated with sweet potato stem paper production.

- Develop strategies for mitigating risks and ensuring safety in the production process.

9. Timeline and Project Management:

- Establish timeline for each stage of the research project.

- Establish resources and responsibilities among team members.

10. Reporting and Dissemination:

- Determine format for presenting research findings

Statistical Treatment

The research findings on Sweet Potato Plant Stem paper production will be presented in a

comprehensive report format suitable for dissemination to stakeholders and the scientific

community, ensuring clarity and accessibility of the results. Then the result will be paper made

out of sweet potato stems.

References:

\Bajpai, P. (2018) Brief description of the pulp and papermaking process

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

323174025_Brief_Description_of_the_Pulp_and_Papermaking_Process

\Cantavalle, S. (2019) The history of paper: from its origins to the presented day

https://www.pixartprinting.co.uk/blog/history-paper/

\Cartly Admin (2023). The Impacts of Paper on The Environment

https://cartlyapp.com/en/the-impacts-of-paper-on-the-environment/

\Didenko et Al (2017). Deforestation and human activity: a global perspective

https://www.proquest.com/openview/c11e4e1fa902a6118090b2026f7015cf/1?pq-

origsite=gscholar&cbl=153633

\Fiche, Joào (2022). The negative effects of the paper industry on the environment

https://www.clickcardapp.com/blog/negative-effects-paper-industry-environment

\Green Earth (2024). The Philippines battle against deforestation: progress and challenges

https://www.green.earth/blog/the-philippines-battle-against-deforestation-progress-

and-challenges
\Hoang, N. & Kanemoto, K. (2021). How rich counties cause deforestation in poor ones

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/03/29/how-rich-countries-cause-

deforestation-in-poor-ones

\Hurley, Meredith & Tenny, Steven (2023). Mean

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546702/

\Live to plant (2023). Sweet Potato Plant Roots and Stems: an In depth Look

https://livetoplant.com/sweet-potato-plant-roots-and-stems-an-in-depth-look/

 Noakes, Holly (2021). 12 Reasons to Start Growing Sweet Potatoes

https://sustainableholly.com/12-reasons-to-start-growing-sweet-potatoes/

 Patel, Nirmal (2021). Why is Paper Important in Education & Learning

https://www.smartpaperapp.com/amp/why-is-paper-important-in-education

\Petruzzello, M. (2024). Sweet potato

https://www.britannica.com/plant/sweet-potato

\Quillen, Kristi (2017).

https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/making-paper-from-plants-zm0z17jjzqui/

\Roughen Jr, P. (2023). Paper, papermaking & the history of libraries

 https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/7671/

 Sirisilla, Shrutika (2022). Experimental Research Design — 6 mistakes you should

never make!

https://www.enago.com/academy/experimental-research-design/amp/

 Theworldcounts (2024). Environmental Impact of Paper.

https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/other-products/

environmental-impact-of-paper