THE STO.

NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL

J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Trees are very vital, for the world is facing numerous environmental issues
especially nowadays. The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change,
desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people (Pachamama Alliance, 2021).
As trees' capabilities grow to fulfill the needs of our contemporary lifestyles, new
functions of trees are being identified. Trees create oxygen and remove carbon dioxide
from the air we breathe. Trees’ main role is to sustain life on earth (trees.org, 2020). The
forest area in the Philippines was reported to be at 24.11% in 2020, according to the
World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized
sources. As of now, many trees were cut down for the own benefits of the people,
including paper making. Today, their significance is growing, and new benefits of trees
are being discovered as their function expands to meet the demands of modern lifestyle.

This study will be of great help to the community, students, farmer, future
researchers, and other respondents. With the utilization of hay straw in producing paper
bag, fewer trees will be cut down. Furthermore, hay straw will have a new purpose
instead of just using it as bedding for barnyard animals and disposing it afterwards. Paper
consumption has gone up to 400 % in the last 40 years, with paper production accounting
for 35 % of all harvested trees. In the last 20 years, the use of paper goods has increased
126 %, from 92 million tons to 208 million tons (The Paperless Project, 2014). The study
aims to produce quality paper bag using waste products such as hay straws which can
ultimately help the environment reserve trees and lessen tree harvesting.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

The study aimed to turn hay straws as an alternative paper bag. Furthermore, it sought
to provide answers to the following queries:

1. Is it possible to turn hay straw into an alternative paper bag?

2. Will filtration be effective in turning hay straw into alternative paper bag?
3. Is alternative paper effective in terms of durability?

HYPOTHESES

The following hypotheses are hereby formulated:

1. It is not possible to turn hay straw into an alternative paper bag

2. Filtration is not effective in turning hay straw into an alternative paper bag.
3. The alternative paper is not effective in terms of durability.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

INPUT
Hay Straw
Sodium
Hydroxide
Water

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

FIGURE 1

Figure 1 depicts the Conceptual Framework of the study. The figure above
displays the significant variables involved in order to come up with an alternative paper
bag. The first box shows the input which contains the variables used in the study such as
hay straw, sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, rosin, alum, and water. The second
box displays the processes which are experimentation and data gathering. Finally, the
output of the study is Hay Straw as an Alternative Paper Bag.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is significant to the following:

1. COMMUNITY – The study can be of help to the community by letting

people who live throughout the community or province acquire information
and benefit from this study. Residents living near this site can profit from the
study because hay straw can be obtained in most sectors of the agricultural
sector, notably farms. This study could be beneficial to rural and provincial
residents because it also introduces ways to make use of hay straw properly,
since some municipalities are asking farmers not to burn hay straw as much.

2. FUTURE RESEARCHERS – The study is significant to them because this

could serve as a foundation for a larger investigation, allowing them to learn

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

what earlier researchers were unable to. They can also share, like the
researchers before them, the brand-new information they will learn with their
peers.

3. SCHOOL – The school can benefit from the study in such a way that it can
put the researcher’s paper in the library so when other students want to read it,
they can just go to the library to access it. Future students of the school will
find it simple to obtain the researcher’s study in that manner. It could be an
addition to the archive’s collection of academic papers of the school.

4. STUDENTS – The study is significant to them because they can use it

whenever they need a reference for their studies.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The study has the following scope:

1. The study dealt with hay straw as an alternative paper container

2. It involved the usage of biomass waste.
3. Experimental approach was used.

The study has the following limitations:

1. The study did not deal with other types of straws such as oat straws, wheat
straws, and barley straws.
2. It did not involve bleaching, chemical pulping. dilution, and screening as
methods to be used
3. Survey Research Design was not used.

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

The following terms, deemed necessary to the study, are hereby defined:
1. ALUM – any of a class of double salts that are hydrated, often made of

aluminum sulfate, hydration water, and another element's sulfate

(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2022).

2. FILTRATION – “the process of removing solid particles from a liquid or

gaseous fluid by passing the fluid through a filter media while keeping the

solid particles behind” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2022).

3. HAY – as animal feed in agriculture. This material is typically cut while

still green in the field, dried there, or mechanically dried using hot air

(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020).

4. PAPER CONTAINER – A paper container, also known as a cardboard

container, is a container that is made up of at least 80% paper by volume

and does not require a deposit (lawinsider.com, 2022).

5. SODIUM HYDROXIDE – It is a corrosive, white, crystalline solid

containing (sodium) cation and the (hydroxide) anion. It is also known as

caustic soda or lye. Sodium hydroxide is used in papermaking to break

down wood into pulp (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2022).

6. STRAW – dried grain stalks that are mostly used as livestock feed or as

thatching, packing, or weaving materials (Encyclopedia.com, 2018).

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

7. WATER – It is a colorless, odorless liquid at room temperature with the

crucial property of dissolving numerous other substances (Zumdahl,

2022).

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

According to the paper report titled "Effective utilization of rice straw in value-
added by-products: A systematic review of state of art and future perspective" rice is a
traditional crop that is mostly grown in the southern and southern-eastern parts of Asia.
Rice harvesting creates a sizeable amount of biomass (rice straw) in the fields. While rice
bran, broken rice, and husked rice are meticulously managed during the processing of the
grain, rice straw is left in the fields and burned in the open as the quickest method of
disposal. Particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and greenhouse gases (CO, SOx, NOx)
released during the burning process have a negative impact on soil properties, human
health, and the environment (2022, Biomass and Bioenergy).

The article titled “Relation of energy content variations of straw to the fraction size,
humidity, composition and environmental impact.” Mentions that biomass is a primary
renewable energy source and its utilization is critical in terms of power generation, the
environment, and the economy. The study stated that biomass can be used to replace

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

fossil fuels, and its relevance is related to global warming concerns. The main focus of
this research is on straw and varied biomass composition and the way it affects the
production of solid biofuels to be used, paying close attention to straw fraction, humidity,
composition, and lastly how it affects both energy and environmental aspects. The
amount of straw biomass that may be eliminated without adversely influencing the
carbon cycle ranges from 20% to 50% of the total amount of crop residue available
(Smits & Kronbergs, 2012).

According to the article “Meadow hay, Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby and
Silphium perfoliatum L. as potential non-wood raw materials for the pulp and paper
industry” (Höller et al.,2021), the demand for paper and packaging material is increasing,
industry and consumers are searching for more sustainable raw materials. This study
aimed to find additional non-wood perennials for the paper industry to diversify the paper
resources and work with simple technical grinding equipment. Hence, to tackle the global
paper demand and to reduce the industry's CO2 consumption, new sustainable fibrous
plants are needed. Beside wood fibers, fibers from non-wood resources are becoming
interesting alternatives for paper production. Perennial biomass plants have a similar
lignocellulosic structure compared to trees, thereby they could become additional paper
resources; their low nutrient requirements and high yields are good prerequisites (Science
Direct, 2021).

An article titled “Non-wood fibers as raw material for pulp and paper industry” (El-
Sayed & El-Sakhawy, 2020) stated that pulp and paper industry in the world have been
growing fast. As a result, there has been a massive request for pulp and paper raw
materials. The raw materials used in papermaking can be classified into three groups:
wood, non-wood, and recycled wastepaper. The Non-wood raw material is an important
fiber resource in the regions where forest resources are limited. The current usage of non-
wood plant fibers, as rice straws, corn stalks, cotton stalks, and bagasse would play a
chief role in increasing papermaking raw materials. Using of non-wood plant fibers in the

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

paper industry associated with some problems, including collection, transportation,

storage and handling, washing, bleaching, papermaking, chemical recovery, supply of
raw material and the properties of finished paper. Recently, a high-tech innovation in all
the fields of papermaking has made non-wood more reasonable with wood as a raw
material for papermaking. Although till now, use of non-wood fibers for pulp and paper
manufacture was focused in countries with limited wood supply, it is now showing a
growing effort even in countries with acceptable wood source due to environmental
concerns. Consequently, the future of non-wood plant fibers as pulping and papermaking
raw material looks bright (De Gruyter, 2020).

Stated in the article titled “Straw Utilization in China as the World’s Largest
Grain Producer” (Jiqin ren et al., 2019), China’s straw yield was 700 million tons in
2014. With a national utilization rate of 80% in 2015, there is still a large amount of
straw burned in open-field, resulting in air pollution and a reduction in the quantity
available as a source of bioenergy. This paper conducts a literature review of success
stories and major challenges in comprehensive straw utilization in and out of China.
Scenarios were analyzed to estimate the energy potential and air emission reductions
China would accomplish in 2020 by converting an additional 5 or 10% of straw-yield to
biofuel. Currently the approach to control straw burning in China is primarily
administrative, relying heavily on prohibition and penalties, inconsistent across policy
areas and geography, and lacking in long-term planning. Recommendations aim at
promoting a circular bio-economy around using crop straw as resources were provided,
including improving straw utilization rates and reducing open-field burning
(Sustainability 2019).

REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES

In this study “Production of Advanced Fibrillated Cellulosic Material from Wheat Straw
by Refining Process to Improve Paper Quality ”, a basic refining method was explored to

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

convert wheat straw into a sophisticated fibrillated cellulosic material. This avoided the
use of hazardous oxidative pretreatment chemicals and addressed cost and drainage
difficulties. The wheat straw was pulped with soda-anthraquinone, bleached, and
delignified before being pretreated with mild potassium hydroxide and refined with a
Valley beater to create an advanced fibrillated cellulosic material. The advanced
fibrillated cellulosic material was created with micro-nanoscale fibrillation, which was
proven by scanning electron microphotographs examined using Image J software. The
advanced fibrillated cellulosic material was added at a rate of 5% to the pulp to increase
strength, and the pulp drain ability (36 °SR) was determined to be suitable for
papermaking. In comparison to the control set, paper hand sheets containing 5 %
advanced fibrillated cellulosic material displayed 4.7 % less bulk and increases in
breaking length, burst factor, and double fold of 30 %, 17 %, and 124 %, respectively.
With better surface qualities, comparable tear and optical properties were also seen. The
generated advanced fibrillated cellulosic material's potential as a useful additive for
enhancing paper quality was proven by the laboratory findings (Kumar et al. 2022).

In this study titled “Bio-sourced polymers as alternatives to conventional food

packaging materials” (Saurabh Sid et al., 2021), the role of plastic packaging in
protecting food is quite appreciable, but the problems like non-biodegradable nature,
recycling issues, and leaching of harmful chemicals to food and soil create serious
concerns for human health and the environment. The global packaging protocols and
awareness about plastic packaging also necessitate to develop new packaging material
focusing on the environment, food quality and safety. Thus, urgent attention is required
for alternatives of non-biodegradable food packaging materials from bio-sourced
polymers. This paper highlights the different plastic packaging substitutes, opportunities,
and challenges associated with biodegradable environment-friendly packaging. The paper
also summarized different bio-sourced polymers with the application, biodegradability,
and prospects for commercial applications in food packaging. Bio-sourced packaging
materials are an emerging alternative to conventional polymers. Natural feedstocks

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

rooted biopolymers are economically competing with conventional ones due to their wide
availability, easy processing, biodegradable, compostable nature, good mechanical and
barrier properties. Bio-based polyesters produce diverse alternatives from stiff to soft
material with properties ranging from partially to fully biodegradable. However, bio-
based primitive drop-in plastics are yet the market leader because of their excellent
physical properties, cost-effectiveness and durability (Trends in Science and Food
Technology, 2021).

Waste straw is becoming one of the sources of agricultural non-point source

pollution due to the unsustainable straw usage practices in recent years. It is beneficial to
accelerate the development of ecological and green agriculture to study how agricultural
straw is used as a resource. The structural equation model (SEM) was built on the theory
of planned behaviour (TPB), using a representative survey questionnaire of farmers in
Jilin Province, China, as the sample, to investigate the primary influences on how farmers
in Jilin Province use straw resources and to uncover the mechanisms underlying these
drivers. Farmers' attitudes and actions are directly and significantly influenced by their
norms (Sustainability, 2021).

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study adopted the experimental research design. “[This] is a type of research
design in which the study is carried out [by] utilizing a scientific approach and two sets of
variables” (Leverage Edu, 2021). Furthermore, it “collects data to assist [researchers] in
making better judgments… The study should identify a noticeable cause and effect”
(Leverage Edu, 2021).

METHODOLOGY

The following steps were undertaken:

1. The waste from the hay straw was removed and it was stored in a container.
After that it was washed under running water.
2. 1 kilogram of hay straw was placed inside a pot.
3. 210 grams of sodium hydroxide solution was mixed with 19 liters of water.
After the solution was mixed properly, it was transferred into the pot and it
was boiled for about two hours.
4. The cooked straw was washed and formed into spheres by hand.
5. Blend the mixture.
6. The fibers were pounded in a pestle and mortar.
7. In running water, the ground fiber was strained through a 50-mesh screen on
top of a 100-mesh screen box.
8. The ground fiber flowed past the screen and into the container. These mashes
were the one used to make the paper for the paper bag.
9. The water was removed from the mashes and it was stored in a wooden press
to dry.

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

10. The whole process was repeated four times.

11. The dried paper was attached together in order to form a paper bag structure.

Procedure 1 Procedure 2 Procedure 3

Procedure 4 Procedure 5 Procedure 6

Procedure 7 Procedure 8 Procedure 9

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

MATERIALS

The following materials were utilized:

1. Hay straw (1 kilogram) 6. 100-inch screen (1 unit)

2. Cooking pot (1 unit) 7. Metal strainer (1 unit)
3. Sodium Hydroxide (1 unit) 8. Cloth (1 unit)
4. Weighing scale (1 unit) 9. Mortar and pestle (1 unit)
5. Blender (1 unit)

Hay Straw Cooking pot Sodium Hydroxide

Weighing Scale Blender 100-inch screen

Metal Strainer Cloth Mortar and Pestle

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The study presents the following results:

1. Is it possible to turn hay straw into an alternative paper bag?

RESULT: Yes. Hay straw are made from natural plant stems and are 100%
biodegradable which makes it an effective component for an alternative
paper bag as it is also eco-friendly.

2. Will filtration be effective in turning hay straw into alternative paper bag?
Yes, the researchers were able to separate the small particles from the
larger ones by filtration, allowing the water to be filtered out, making the
filtration method an effective way of turning hay straw into an alternative
paper bag.

3. Is alternative paper effective in terms of durability?

Yes. After the grain's edible portion has been harvested, the straw bales
offer the material a fresh lease on life, strengthening the alternative
paper's durability.

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY OF RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS,

AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

The study presents the following summary of results, and conclusions:

1. HYPHOTHESIS: It is not possible to turn hay straw into an alternative paper bag.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION: It is possible to turn hay straw into an

alternative paper bag; therefore, the first hypothesis is rejected.

2. HYPHOTHESIS: Filtration is not effective in turning hay straw into an

alternative paper bag.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Filtration is an effective method in turning

hay straw into alternative paper; therefore, the second hypothesis is rejected.

3. HYPHOTHESIS: The alternative paper bag is not effective in terms of durability.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The alternative paper bag is effective in

terms of durability; therefore, the third hypothesis is rejected.

The following recommendations are hereby presented:

1. The researchers recommend using a heavy-duty mixer instead of a kitchen

blender.
2. The researchers recommend that before removing the screen from the container,
they must have enough pulp preferably a thick one.

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 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
J. Belen Street, San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
Grades 9 & 10 Department – Day Class
A.Y. 2021 - 2022 | A.Y. 2022 - 2023

3. The researchers recommend using gloves throughout the whole process.

4. The researchers recommend boiling a big batch of hay straw so they will not have
to repeat the process and to save time.
5. The researchers recommend to only use the part of the hay straw that is thin.

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