Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Rationale

Paper is a fundamental part of the society. From the past generations until now, the paper

industry is one of the industries that contribute to our everyday life. Therefore, the demand for

paper is expected to increase. Today the finest papers are produced all over the world. But one

disappointing fact is that millions of trees are used to make paper. From simpler paper making

processes in the past, the production of paper continued to evolve that can be seen at the very

present times as how technology is used to produce paper to meet such great demands for it.

Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) is called a miracle vegetable because it is not only a food,

it is also a medicine. It may therefore be a functional food. This plant tree is not only useful but it

is the most nutritional vegetable and a herbal plant. Its flowers, leaves, young pods and roots are

being utilized. It is native to India but has spread to other tropical regions; in the Philippines, it

grows rapidly and with ease in nearly every backyard when desired. The researcher chose this

project because he wants to know if recycled Malunggay bark can be used to make handmade

paper.

The researcher chose Malunggay bark as an ingredient for handmade decorative paper in

the conduct of the study. This study will investigate the ability of Malunggay bark as handmade

decorative paper. This study also gives the researcher and reader additional knowledge about

making handmade decorative paper.

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B. Review of Related Literature

Papermaking is the formation of a matted or felted sheet, usually of cellulose fibres, from

water suspension on a wire screen. Paper is the basic material used for written communication

and the dissemination of information. In addition, paper and paperboard provide materials for

hundreds of other uses, such as wrapping, packaging, toweling, insulating, and photography.

According to the author Brain (2018), papers are usually known by their large

contribution for money, bank note, cheque, voucher & tickets. Paper is basically a thin/thick

material that is used for writing. It is produced from cellulose pulp from wood, rags and grass.

These materials are then pressed together and are dried into flexible sheets. Like other papers, it

can be used for writing and printing, used in industrial and construction processes such as paper

mache, guilling, paper honeycomb, used for storing information in the form of notebook, books,

magazines, newspaper and also in cleaning - In the form of paper towels, tissues, etc.

Paper was first made from non-woody plants and current use of non-wood pulp is

included in the grades of paper such as printing and writing papers, liner boards, corrugated

medium, newsprint, tissue and specialty paper (Hurter, 2001). But today, more than 95% of

paper is made from wood, while the remainder consists of fibrous materials, such as rice chaff,

flax and rags.

As said by Thomas (2017), Malunggay is a tree that preferably grows in countries with

tropical climate such as the Philippines. This tree can be easily propagated since malunggay can

be grown from seeds or mature stem cuttings. In the country, this tree is commonly found in

household backyard, aligned with perimeter fences, since the edible and nutritious flowers, fruits,

and leaves of malunggay are part of the diet of Filipinos. Aside from the nutritional value of

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some parts of malunggay, all parts of this tree are used in herbal medicine to cure some diseases.

Given that this tree can serve several purposes, malunggay becomes in demand.

Moringa oleifera is a tropical tree with multiple uses and which is resistant to

drought (Fuglie, 1999). According to Fuglie (1999), the numerous economic uses of

Moringa oleifera together with its ease of propagation have raised growing international

interest for this tree. Agronomic trails with Moringa oleifera show that the plant can grow well

in hilly areas, in weathered soils of low fertility. According to Fuglie (1999) the many uses

of Moringa oleifera include alley farming, biopesticides, pulp (wood), robe (bark), tannin for

tanning hides (bark and gum) and water purification, medicine, animal forage, ornamental

plantings and domestic cleaning agent.

Malunggay has so many fibers that can be used as paper in general. Malunggay, known

scientifically by its botanical name Moringa Oleifera Lank (also called kamunggay by Visayans

and marunggay by Ilocanos), is a veritable miracle tree in the Philippines and in all tropics. It is

so rich in nutrients that its imageis used as the official logo of the Food and Nutrient Research

Industry (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It has so many fibers

that is applicable in making paper.

Many findings from our earlier research that is relevant to the study's problem. Not only

Malunggay can be used as a material in papermaking. Aside from it, paper tree, bangkal and

Bermuda grass can be used also in paper making.

C. Definition of Terms

Binder. An organic or inorganic material added to the pigment in the manufacture of

coated paper that assists the pigment particles in adhering to the paper fibers.

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 Caustic soda (Sodium hydroxide). Caustic soda is one of the common names for sodium

hydroxide (NaOH), which is also known as lve. Its common name derives from its

chemical identity as a sodium hydrate and because it is caustic or corrosive. In pure form,

caustic soda is a waxy, white solid. It readily absorbs water and forms aqueous solutions.

Cellulose fiber. Cellulose fibers are fibers made with ethers or esters of cellulose, which

can be obtained from the bark, wood or leaves of plants, or from other plant-based

material.

Chlorine. A water solution of sodium hypochlorite. Chlorine is a strong-smelling gas that

is used to clean water and to make cleaning products.

Moringa oleifera. A tree that is sometimes called the Tree of Life ora Miracle Tree, but

rather than this being in reference to its potential medicinal usage this is actually referring

to how it is a very valuable food crop (it is drought resistant, grows very fast, and is

highly nutritive) and even beyond food it serves many benefits in third world countries

such as having an ability to be used for some crafts (due to being a tree) and cleaning

water.

Pulp. A lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically

separating cellulose fibres from wood, fiber crops, waste paper, or rags. Many kinds of

paper are made from wood with nothing else mixed into them.

D. Research Questions

The study focuses on making decorative paper out of malunggay bark. It seeks to answer

the following questions:

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 1. Would Malunggay bark be effective in making decorative paper?

2. What would be the texture and cost value of the decorative paper if malunggay wood

bark was used in making it?

3. What would be the difference of decorative paper to commercial decorative paper in

terms of cost value?

E. Hypotheses

The researcher formulates the following hypotheses:

1. Malunggay bark would be effective as an ingredient in making decorative paper.

2. The texture of the decorative paper would be rough and it will be cheap.

3. The decorative paper would be cheaper than commercial paper.

F. Scope and Limitations

The researcher aims to investigate the ability of Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) bark as an

alternative material for decorative paper making. The researcher only evaluated the results of the

decorative papers in terms of texture, and cost value based on the appearance. This study is

limited in using Malunggay barks only and no other parts of the Malunggay. Two experiments

were conducted, each with different amount of variables. The study was conducted in a

household kitchen. Most of the materials needed in this experiment and study are accessible

which were bought in any supermarket.

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 Chapter 2

RESEARCH METHODS

A. Materials

The following raw materials were used in the conduct of the study: 350 grams of dried

malunggay bark, 125 grams chlorine, and 200 grams caustic soda. Other materials that were used

in the conduct of the study include: Mold and Deckle, Cloth or Net Bag, Weighing Scale, and

Mortar and Pestle.

B. Procedure

I. Preparation of Materials

The barks of Malunggay stems were removed. The outer skin was scraped off and

bark was stripped off from the inner wood. Then the barks were sun-dried. The materials

were first prepared before the experiment.

II. Boiling of Malunggay Barks

The dried barks were boiled in caustic soda and water for 2 hours. Then the barks

were washed to remove chemicals. They were then pounded to produce wood pulp.

Water lily was added as binder.

III. Bleaching of the Wood Pulp

The pulp produced in the process was bleached using chlorine. After bleaching, it was

washed to remove chemicals. The wood pulp was soaked in water for 5-15 minutes to

make it whiter.

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 IV. Molding and Drying of Wood Pulp

The wood pulp can now be molded. Using the mold and deckle, the wood pulp mixed

with water was molded. To dry the pulp, place it on an even wall or screen to let it dry.

When the pulp has already dried, strip off the paper from the wall.

C. Data Collection

Two experiments were conducted in this experiment. The variables were measured. Each

of these said experiments has different amount of variables. These variables were caustic soda,

bleach, and water. Also, two processes of fining of malunggay barks were observed and

conducted, which were pounding and blending.

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 Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

After performing the said experiments, the researcher was able to gather the following

results:

Table 1

Data analysis of Malunggay bark as handmade paper

AMOUNT AMOUNT
AMOUNT AMOUNT PROCESS
Experiment OF BOILING OF
OF OF OF
no. MALUNGGAY TIME CAUSTIC
WATER CHLORINE FINING
BARK SODA

1 350 grams 2 hrs. 3 liters 100 grams 50 grams Pounded

Pounded &
2 350 grams 2 hrs. 3 liters 100 grams 75 grams
Blended

From the data gathered, the researcher was able to determine that each variable variation

can contribute to a change in the finish product.

In Experiment no. 1, the wood barks were not so fine. The color of the product is

something dirty. The texture is rough.

In Experiment no.2, the result was somehow different from experiment 1. The wood

barks were finer than the ones on Experiment 1. The color of the product now is whiter than the

previous one. The texture is also rough allowing the researcher to say that they are similar with

Experiment 2.

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 Chapter 4

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion

After the performance of the experiment and thorough analysis of the results, the

researcher arrived at the following conclusions:

1. Malunggay bark is effective as an ingredient in making decorative paper. Therefore,

hypothesis 1 is accepted.

2. The texture was both rough. The cost value was low due to cheapness and availability

of the used ingredients. Due to this, hypothesis 2 is accepted.

3. The decorative paper made in this project was cheap due cheapness and availability

of the used ingredients. On the other hand, commercial papers are costly and

expensive and it can be gained by buying it in stores. In this case, hypothesis 3 is

accepted.

Recommendations

1. It is recommended that the wood barks would be so fine to have a more presentable

and accurate result.

2. It is recommended to try some other ingredients in making handmade paper like

Bermuda grass, spruce, pine, fir, larch and hemlock, and hardwoods such as eucalyptus, popular,

aspen and birch, etc.

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 3. It is recommended to boil the malunggay barks in caustic soda for a longest possible

time.

4. It is recommended to dry the malunggay barks for more than 5 days at direct sunlight.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Berg, Peter (2017, May). Pulp, paper, and packaging in the next decade: Transformational

change. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/paper-and-forest-products/our-

insights/pulp-paper-and-packaging-in-the-next-decade-transformational-change

Daba M (2016) Miracle Tree: A Review on Multi-purposes of Moringa oleifera and Its

Implication for Climate Change Mitigation. J Earth Sci Clim Change 7:366. doi:10.4172/2157-

7617.1000366

Eilrach (2016). Top Reasons Why Malunggay is Called a “Miracle Vegetable”. Retrieved from

https://rachfeed.com/top-reasons-malunggay-called-miracle-vegetable/

Helmenstine, Anne Marie (2018). What Is Caustic Soda and Where Can You Get It? Retrieved

from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-caustic-soda-608493

Planco, Nenita (2009, October 26). Malunggay: The miracle vegetable. Retrieved from

http://ati.da.gov.ph/rtc1/agri-info/malunggay-miracle-vegetable

Thomas (2017). Malunggay Bark Extract As Alternative Source. Retrieved from

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/biology/malunggay-bark-extract-as-alternative-source-

biology-essay.php

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1

PRINT

Figure 1 & 2. Gathering of Malunggay bark

Figure 3. Drying of Malunggay bark

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 Figure 4. Dried barks

Figure 5. Weighing of Caustic soda

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Figure 6. Boiling of Malunggay barks

Figure 7. Blending of barks

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\

Figure 8 . Wood pulp

Figure 9. Molding of wood pulp

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