The Utilization of Peanut Shells (Arachis Hypogea)

as Medium for Tree-Free Recycled Paper

A Science Investigatory Project

Presented to

Mrs. Clarissa Mae Cortes-Gonzales

Lo-ok National Highschool, Lapu-Lapu City

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Course

Research 8

Presented By

Beñanosa, Norren

Brian, Dianne

Carsido, Jeraiza

Cabagnot, John Andrei

Decembrano, Christine

Mangubat, Jielyn Joy

Sosmeña, Rubie

Tangub, Christine Joy

8 Darwin

June 2023
 CHAPTER l

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Paper is a basic necessity throughout all students; it is not just a tool for SATs
(Standard Assessment Tasks), but also a key component of learning aids in the
academic world. Paper is a thin sheet material that is made by mechanically or
chemically processing cellulose fibers derived from wood, rags, grasses, or other
vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fiber
evenly distributed on the surface, followed by pressing and drying. Papers are meant to
plot planes a common ground for writing of students, teachers, artists, and even used
for packaging. Paper is a generally available stationary commodity, hence the constant
exploitation of spruce, birch, and pine trees for this purpose can have tremendous
negative environmental effects.

The production of peanuts dates back to the Spanish Colonial Age in the Philippines,
where they have long been a prominent crop. One of the main field legumes cultivated
by nearby farmers is this one. According to the research of food nutritionists, peanuts
are rich in nutrients, offering over 30 vital nutrients and phytonutrients. Niacin, foliate,
fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus are all present in good amounts in
peanuts. Moreover, they naturally lack salt and trans fats and have a protein content of
roughly 25%.

Humans naturally assume that a peanut's shell is useless once the peanut has been
removed, but what if there is another use for peanut shells? Today, waste is dispersed
everywhere. Several disposal methods have been looked for with environmental
concerns in mind. The production of food and materials generates a significant amount
of waste during agricultural practices, but this waste or by-product can be recovered and
frequently upgraded to useful products (Gunjal et al., 2012). Coming up with another
good idea to innovate peanut shells can improve human living and the environment. The
key product in the creation of an alternative to conventional paper will be peanut shells.
According to scientific research, peanut shells have a variety of purposes. One of them is
the use of peanut shells as fertilizer. It can be used as fertilizer for plant growth because
it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and other
elements. However, peanut shells decompose slowly and are difficult for plants to use
directly. In the vast rural areas, people regard it like rubbish and discard it. Moreover,
peanuts can disintegrate for five to seven days under the influence of fungi (aspergillus
fumigatus) and produce high-quality organic fertilizer. Its efficacy is superior to fertilizer
prepared from bagasse and straw.

Therefore, because of the unending issue about deforestation, the researchers thought
of a new way to help preserve trees while continuing the production of papers the same
time.

The purpose of this investigation, according to the researchers, is to determine

whether peanut shells—which are typically discarded or unused—could be a useful
alternative for trees in the production of paper.

It attempts to reduce the number of trees cut down for the manufacture of papers
because around 60,000 trees are required to produce 15 billion sheets of paper globally
(The Economist, 2016). Papers created from peanut shells are primarily intended to be
an additive in the production of paper without using any trees. In 2016, the Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO) 4Statistical yearbook reported that 27,660,802 hectares
were used to produce 43,982,066 T of peanuts. With a global production rate of 65.3%,
peanuts are primarily farmed in Asia. Being one of the major sources of industrial waste
(shells), they are frequently burned, discarded, or left to degrade. Researchers are
interested in finding uses for peanut shells rather than ignoring its potential. In countries
where peanuts are produced, shells constitute a significant industrial waste. Their use in
creating paper lessens their environmental impact and acts as a catalyst for resolving
environmental issues.

https://www.fao.org/home/en

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to experiment the result in utilizing peanut shells as medium for tree-
free recycled paper. Specifically, sought to the following questions:

1.What is the significance of peanut shells in recycling paper?

2.How long will it take for the paper to dry under the sunlight with peanut shells?

3.What is the result of adding peanut shells as an ingredient to the following:

3.1.Texture

3.2.Durability

3.3.Color

3.4.Scent

4.How usable is the recycled dried paper when added with peanut shells?

Tree cutting or deforestation is one of the major problems in this nation, which is the
main reason the researchers conducted this study. Moreover, to recycle paper in order
to reduce the amount of rubbish and garbage produced from it.

Hypothesis
*The peanut shell tree-free paper could be an alternative to the traditional wood pulp
paper.

Significance of the Study

The aim of this research is to inform people that peanut shells can be used to make
paper instead of tree wood. As a result, the following are benefited by the study's
findings.

Students- Everyone uses paper and purchasing it from a store is quite expensive in
comparison to this experimental tree-free paper. It also improves their knowledge and
skills in terms of the importance of nature.

Community- with the help of the information inside of this study. The community
would gain knowledge about recycling paper with the help of peanut shells and be
influenced to do so. Aside from helping the environment and the community, converting
peanut shells into papers would be advantageous.

Environment- This research study will greatly benefit the environment because
garbage waste will be used as a substitute material for making paper. It will also help to
reduce flooding, tree cutting, and deforestation.

Future researchers- This research will serve as a guide for future studies that they will
conduct. It will also serve as their basis for their next investigatory project.

Scope and Limitations

 The peanut shell (arachis hypogaea L.) was investigated as a free medium for tree-
free recycled paper in this study. This research assists students at Look National High
School in purchasing low-cost paper. It will also help prevent the cutting of trees as well
as floods and other natural disasters. This study was carried out in Lo-ok National High
Schools during the school year 2022-2023.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of using peanut shells
(arachis hypogaea L.) as a medium for producing tree-free recycled paper. The study
will evaluate the paper's quality and compare it to traditional paper sources.

This study was conducted with the help of researchers from February 19 to June 2,
2023. The researchers are juniors from Look National High School. This study is all about
creating recycled paper from peanut shells (Arachis hypogea ).

Definition of Terms
Peanut shells– is an additional organic medium of experimenting tree-free recycled
paper.

Dye – to impart a new and often permanent color to it especially by impregnating with a
dye.

Mallet – hammer with a typically barrel-shaped head.

Mold and Deckle – used to collect each sheet of pulp during the handmade paper
process.

Deforestation - process of clearing forests.

Recycled paper - a process by which wastepaper is turned into new paper products.

Environmental – the circumstances of objects, or conditions by which one is

surrounded.

Substitute - person or thing that takes the place or function of another.

Flooding – a rising and overflowing of a body of water especially onto normally dry
land.

Nutrient – (ingredient that) promotes growth, provides energy, and maintains life.

Fertilizer - supplies one or more of the chemical elements required for plant growth.

Alternative - existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or

economic system.