cogon grass

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). But, many studies were conducted that non-woody
plants especially grasses have the potential to be materials in making paper. Paper
made of grasses 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). 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). 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). Cogon grass
basically consists of cellulose fibers, hemicellulose and lignin which are common
to non-wood pulps especially grasses (Hurter, 2001). Thus, this study was conducted
to determine the feasibility of cogon grass as a material in paper making.