2 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POTENTIALITY OF FROG GRASS (Juncus Bufonius) AS

ALTERNATIVE PAPER

An Experimental Research
Submitted to the Faculty of
Senior High School Department
Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
Navarro, General Trias City, Cavite

In partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the
ATS 4: Practical Research 2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

CAYAGA, KIRBY C.
INTANO, JOSHUA L.
PASAMONTE, SHERWIN
DE GUZMAN, BEATRIZ SOPHIA E.
DUMDUM, ELLIJAH RUTH L.
LUMACANG, HAZELEEN MAY M.
RELLES, ICIE MAE
October 2023
1 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Carabao Grass (Paspalum conjugatum) as an Alternative Component for

Making Paper

The papers are generally and prominently used for writing, printing, and

wrapping, papers are fabricated from pulp of wood or any fibrous material. The

demand for paper is increasing and primarily causes deforestation that cuts down

trees. Leading to a small chance of saving wildlife and resources for the next

generation to utilize. Carabao grass has a high content of cellulose, an essential

component that can make paper out of grass (Tabian, 2018).

Carabao Grass is a type of grass that is variously located in tropical

nations, specifically in Southeast Asia. Carabao grass is rich in cellulose and

consists of vascular bundles that contain fibers. Those fibers are dead cells that

are mostly composed of cell walls made from cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins,

and lignin (Sotelo, 2018).

To test the carabao grass paper, the researchers of the said study used

parameters such as durability and texture with their 3 treatments with 3 trials. The

study has 9 students as their respondents from their respective school. To

determine, each student answered a 5-point Likert scale. The collected data was

then evaluated using two statistical treatments, mean and one-way ANOVA. The
2 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

mean is to determine the average of the 3 trials while the one-way ANOVA is to

determine the significant difference of the 3 treatments. The results of their study

show that there are no significant differences between the paper made out of

carabao grass with 30 grams, 60 grams, and 90 grams in terms of durability and

texture. The study also shows that carabao grass can be an alternative raw

material in paper production.

According to Khanal, S. (2023), frog grass and carabao grass both belong

to the same family of grass and share a lot of similarities, such as plant family,

growth habit, growth season, and ease of care. Both types of grasses belong to the

family of Poaceae. Their growth manner is spread and form a mat-like structure in

the ground, they also grow in the summer season. The frog grass is possible of

being a potential alternative paper as the carabao grass is in the same plant family

as frog grass.

Cause of the problem

The production of paper requires a lot of fibers which we can get on trees.

According to (CARTLY, 2023) billions of trees are being cut down every year

which increases the deforestation rate of our planet. Humans are releasing carbon

dioxide that can trigger global warming, without enough trees to purify the air the

temperature of the Earth will increase rapidly. Deforestation has become a

significant environmental concern that requires a quick response. The destruction

of forests not only leads to biodiversity loss but also contributes to climate change
3 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

through greenhouse gas emissions (Niti Samani, 2023). Therefore, it is crucial to

find alternative solutions to reduce the need for tree-cutting and mitigate these

negative impacts (Niti Samani, 2023). One effective approach is using alternative

paper made from plant-based products. Traditional paper production heavily relies

on cutting down trees, which results in deforestation and habitat destruction. By

shifting towards plant-based alternatives, we can significantly reduce the demand

for tree-cutting and preserve our precious forests.

Commercially Available Paper Product

Commercial product papers are made out of trees. The fiber from trees

then turns to chemical wood pulp by cooking the wood chips with a chemical

solution that contains; sodium sulfite and sodium hydroxide which they call the

"kraft" process. Chemicals are used to separate lignin from the cellulose fiber,

making the pulp mixture make stronger paper. To whiten the pulp before turning

it into paper, bleached was used in the process to purify the pulp (Bajpai, P.

2018).

Harmful Effects of the Commercial Available Paper Product

Paper is a tool used for writing, printing, and wrapping, among other

things. However, there are factors in using paper that are in line with safety,

Including our environment and health (Future Learn Keio University, 2023). In

making paper this results in deforestation, where the trees are cut down and our
4 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

vital oxygen is removed from the air causing global warming. Paper production

creates a broad amount of toxic waste which leads to contaminating the

waterways and soil (Fiche, 2023).

The toxic elements that the paper contains pollute and kill the microbes

and insects in the water which is helpful in aquatic life, plants also suffer from its

toxins. Paper production also remits toxic gasses and wastes that affect the

landfills. About 21% of the greenhouse gasses come from the paper pulp industry.

Paper production is the fifth that consumed energy resource globally using 4% to

5% of energy in the world and in many instances different energy is also used in

the paper industry such as oil, gas, and electricity (CARTLY, 2023).

Commercially Available Organic Paper Product

According to Sam (2021), eco-friendly papers are the best alternative to

traditional papers and even more sustainable to the humanities and environment.

Eco-friendly papers may be utilized for printing business documents, photocopies,

flyers, brochures, and more. This also lowers or lessens the carbon footprints on

the environment by reducing waste and recycling old papers to create new

materials. Most eco-friendly papers are made from natural materials, including

hemp and cotton. There are also manufactured of fabricated paper with fiber pulp

which is found in trees and processed fibers called cellulose.

Other benefits of eco-friendly paper are such as, lessens the individual’s or

group of individuals’ carbon footprint, decreasing the number of trees that need to
5 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

be cut down, sustainable alternatives that prevent the emission of harmful

greenhouse gasses, free from harmful chemicals, and reducing wastes (Sam,

2021).

Plant Characteristics of Frog Grass

Frog grass has long and slender stems with broad leaves, fine textures, and

long fibers. These fibers are essential for paper production as they provide

strength and durability to the final product. The long fibers also ensure that the

paper can withstand wear and tear, making it suitable for various applications

such as writing and painting. According to Khanal, S. (2023), frog grass and

carabao grass both belong to the same family of grass which makes them both

have a high content of fiber and cellulose that is capable of being molded to a

paper.

Pulping method of Carabao grass

Process of which Tabian, K. (2018) used to make paper by using the

desired variable which is carabao grass. The researcher dried the carabao grass for

two days. The dried grass will now be boiled in a casserole with half-filled water

until the size of the leaves expands, and let it cool for 10 minutes. The boiled

grass will now be cut into smaller pieces. For cornstarch solution, cook 1 cup of

cornstarch with 500mL of tap water until it forms a creamy mixture. The grass

will serve as a filler and cornstarch solution, and lye water, glycerin, and tap
6 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

water will serve as the binder. The previous ingredients will be put in a blender

and blend for 5 minutes. Strain the pulp mixture using the wooden mold. The pulp

will dry under the sun for 3 days. The said ingredients will be put in a blender and

blend for 5 minutes. Using the wooden mold, strain the pulp mixture. The pulp

will be sun-dried for three days.

Formulation of Different Treatments

In the study conducted by Tabian, K. (2018), in the process of paper

pulping their treatment 1, the researchers blended the boiled 30g of carabao grass

that acts as their filler, and 30 mL glycerin, 50 mL lye water, 50 mL tap water and

1 cup of cornstarch with 500 mL tap water as their binder. The said materials

were blended for 5 minutes and then sundried for 3 days.

In the process of making the paper from the pulp, the researcher blended

the boiled 30g carabao grass as their filler and 30g glycerin, 50mL lye water,

50mL tap water, and 750g cornstarch solution as their binder. Blend the said

materials for 5 minutes and then sun dry it for three days. Thus, this acts as the

treatment 1 of their study.

Treatment 1 acts as the basis of their study to formulate the other

treatments, multiplying the amount in grams of their filler by two, and three, and

the binder remains constant and serves as treatment 2 and 3 for their study. This

will test if the amount in grams of filer will show the difference when tested on

said parameters.
7 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Preparation of Mould and Deckle

Various ways to make a paper include Eastern and Western techniques

that require pouring or dipping, western dipping methods have materials that are

vital to make a D.I.Y (Do it Yourself) paper; an example of this is a mould and

deckle. Mould and deckle are used to collect each sheet of pulp during the

handmade paper process and shape the paper production. They provided a means

to create uniform sheets of paper with consistent thickness and texture. To

assemble the mould and deckle, the materials are such as duct tape, scissors, two

old picture frames or canvases, a window screen made from fiberglass/aluminum,

and a staple gun (Hiebert, 2018).

According to Hiebert (2018), the first step of making the mould and

deckle is to remove the canvas/picture frames and use a staple gun to attach the

piece of window screen that is already cut in a slightly smaller form than the

frame. Afterward, apply the duct tape to cover up all the edges of the screen, if

the staple gun is not available, use duct tape to fasten the screen to the frame. The

second frame that is similar in size to the mould will be the deckle. Couching and

Pressing methods are effective in terms of removing the excess water from the

wet sheets. A piece of felt that absorbs the excess water from the sheets must be

larger than the sheets, substitutes for a felt are such as newspapers, towels,

fabrics, or pellon (interfacing).

Four to five couching sheets are enough to act as a tray that will absorb
8 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

the excess water to prevent a mess. After placing the sheets onto another couching

surface and layering the top of the sheets with fabric to protect the wet paper’s

surface, gently press the sheets with a damp sponge entirely. Lastly, dry the sheets

on the couching material and by transferring the wet sheets to a countertop or

window, it will create a smoother surface, On the other hand, textured surfaces

such as woods or walls will produce a unique surface (Hiebert, 2018).

Formulation of Paper

According to the procedures of Tabian, K. (2018), let the carabao grass

dry for two days. Measure the ingredients, such as 1 cup of starch, 50 mL of lye

water, 50 mL of tap water, 30 mL of glycerin, and 30 grams, 60 grams, and 90

grams of frog grass. Boil the dried frog grass in a half-full casserole and set it

aside for 10 minutes to cool. Afterward, take some boiled carabao grass and cut it

into smaller pieces using a pair of tongs. Cook 1 cup of cornstarch with 500mL

tap water in a casserole until it forms a creamy texture. Blend the grass, cooked

starch, lye water, tap water, and glycerin for 5 minutes. Strain the pulp mixture in

mold and deckle. Sun dry the paper for 3 days.

Testing Parameters

The researchers will use a 4-point survey questionnaire to test their

parameters which are odor, color, texture, and durability. It will undergo an

acceptance test to the selected 9 respondents to evaluate each of the parameters.

9 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Odor

According to Conti et. al (2019), it is characterized as "a sense of smell" or

"a sensation produced by the olfactory sensory system’s receipt of a stimulus”. It

can make someone happy or disgusted. As for the expected odor of paper grass,

according to Miner (2021), it has an organic aroma that leads to an unpleasant

odor.

Color

It is the component of any object that may be expressed in terms of

saturation, color, and brightness (Nassau, 2023). According to Wigston (2021),

the grass paper has a green-beige tint than a regular paper.

Texture

It pertains to the smoothness/roughness of an object. According to

Wigston (2021), grass paper has a texture of slightly rougher than regular paper.

Durability

It is the characteristic of a paper’s strength. According to Nagal (2023),

grass paper exhibits impressive strength and durability, which makes it tear-

resistant and puncture-resistant.

Statistical Treatment
10 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

To measure the significant difference between the gathered data from the

treatments and questionnaires, statistical tools such as Mean and One-Way

ANOVA will be used.

Mean will be used to acquire the average data and the total sum of values

in a sample divided by the number of values in the sample (Tenny, 2023).

Meanwhile, One-way ANOVA will be used to evaluate the comparison or the

significant difference in the testing result parameters. The respondents will

evaluate the parameters of the quality of paper in terms of its durability, texture,

odor, and color.

Synthesis

Commercial products produce paper from trees during their manufacturing

process. According to CARTLY (2023), paper production requires the elimination

of billions of trees, and it takes a long time for new trees to sprout. As stated by

Sam (2021), eco-friendly papers are much more sustainable for the environment

and humanities than regular papers, making them the ideal substitute.

Papers are used for writing, printing, and wrapping (Tabian, 2018). Papers

are fabricated from the pulp of wood or any other sources of fibrous material.

Frog grass is characterized by its long and slender stems, broad leaves, fine

textures, and long fibers that are suitable for making paper. According to Khanal,

S. (2023), frog grass and carabao grass both belong to the same family of grass
11 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

which makes them both have a high content of fiber and cellulose that is capable

of being molded to a paper.

The researchers used the pulping method of Tabian (2018). The process

described by Tabian (2018) is to dry the carabao grass for two days. Then boil the

dried grass in half-filled water. The boiling grass will be cut into smaller pieces.

The tap water, lye water, glycerin, and cornstarch solution will act as a binder,

while the grass will act as a filler. Strain the pulp mixture through the use of a

wooden mold. For three days, the pulp will be sun-dried.

Nine respondents will be chosen to evaluate the parameters, odor, color,

texture, and durability using a 4-point Likert scale. The gathered data from the

respondents will undergo statistical analysis. With the use of Mean and One-way

(ANOVA) as statistical treatment, the result will show if the paper passes the

testing parameters. The result of each treatment will be compared based on the

Mean and One-way ANOVA.

12 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

REFERENCES

CARTLY. (2023). The Impacts of Paper on The Environment. CARTLY.

Samani, N. (2023). The Pros and Cons of Paper Manufacturing. Deskera.

Fiche, J. (2022). The negative effects of the paper industry on the environment.

ClickCard.

Bajpai, P. (2018). Brief Description of the Pulp and Papermaking Process.

ResearchGate.

Tabian, K. (2018). Carabao grass (Paspalum conjugatum) as an Alternative

Component for making Paper. coursehero.

Kenton, W. (2023). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Explanation, Formula, and

Applications. Investopedia.

Nagal, V. (2023). Grass Paper: Revolutionizing Packaging with Sustainable

Solutions. packagingguruji.

Khanal, S. (2023). Frog Grass Vs Carabao Grass: A Comprehensive Comparison.

plantscraze.

Tenny, S. (2023). Mean - StatPearls. NCBI.