CLEMENTE, KATE IRISH P., CORPUZ, DHANNA JANE Y., PADUNAN, PEARLYN S.

,
RICOLCOLIN, APRHIL R., RUNGDUEN, MARICEL M., 2019. FEASIBILTY OF
DRIED LEAVES IN THE PRODUCTION OF PAPER. Special Science Class, City of Batac
National High School Poblacion, City of Batac 2906 Ilocos Norte, Philippines 2019.

FEASIBILITY OF DRIED LEAVES IN THE PRODUCTION OF PAPER

Researchers
CLEMENTE, KATE IRISH S.
CORPUZ, DHANNA JANE Y.
PADUNAN, PEARLYN S.
RICOLCOLIN, APRHIL R.
RUNGDUEN, MARICEL M.

A Science Investigatory Project presented to:

MR. JOEFREY C. BATAAN, Research Adviser
In partial fulfilment of requirements for Research II

Special Science Class of

CITY OF BATAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL POBLACION
(formerly Batac National High School Poblacion Campus)
City of Batac
 CHAPTER I

Background of the Study

The life cycle of paper is damaging to the environment from beginning to end. Starts off

with a tree being cut down and ends its life by being burned that emits carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere (Baveye et al, 1994).

According to the Hand Papermaking, Inc. (2005), the paper industry is the 5th largest

consumer of energy in the world. It uses up to 4% of the world’s energy to produce a 1 ton of

paper, it is estimated that 253 gallons of petrol is used. The pulp and paper industry is the big

contributor to the problem of deforestation and some species that live in the forest are affected.

Because of the improvement of technology in printing press and the mechanical

harvesting of wood, disposable paper become more affordable for the consumer that it results to

the increase of consumption of trees and waste, which all contributed to paper pollution and

deforestation (Baveye et al, 1994).

Trees are essential for healthy environment. They stabilize the forest soil, improve soil

fertility, reduce the velocity of wind, protect watershed, and reduce the amount of carbon

released into the atmosphere (Kwon, 2000)

Therefore, it helps lessen the trees being cut down and help the environment. This study

will innovate the best way to help lessen the cutting of trees by developing an alternative

material from dried leaves in making paper.

Statement of the Problem

The primary source of manufactures in making paper is tree and it is necessary to cope up

with the decreasing supply of trees to our environment. With this, making of an alternative paper

using dried leaves such as talisay, mahogany and acacia has been the solution to cope up with the

aforementioned problem.

This study seeks the feasibility of using dried leaves in making paper; specifically it seeks

to answer the following questions:

1. What are the characteristics of the paper using the different treatments using the

proportions of dried leaves:

1.1 Texture?

1.2 Color?

1.3 Appearance?

2. How effective are the dried leaves in making paper in terms of:

2.1 Durable?

2.2 Useable?

2.3 Writing Quality

Significance of the Study

This investigatory project assesses the possibility of producing a writing sheet or paper

from the dried leaves of trees. Thus, if this study will found positive, then it will be significant to

the following:

Students and teachers. They will be benefited by using paper every day and if they buy

paper from store, it is quite expensive compared to the experimental sheet.

 Community. They will be benefited by using this product for special occasions like

festivals, fiestas and other events.

Economy. They will be benefited by producing paper from leaves easily.

Scope and Delimitation

This study entitled “Feasibility of Dried Leaves in the Production of Paper” will undergo

experimental methodology to be conducted at City of Batac National High School Poblacion.

This study will focus on the benefits of experimental paper to the environment and to the

students. The finish product will be undergoing into a survey questionnaire. This study is only

limited for 5 students among all the sections of Special Science Class of City of Batac National

High School Poblacion. The making of the paper will be done for 5 males or females per section

who were identified to be the respondents. The survey will be conducted to the control group and

experimental group. The material requires the silkscreen, wooden frame, collection of dried

leaves, mechanical pulping, blender and flat iron. There will be 3 kinds of trees where the leave

samples taken namely talisay, acacia and mahogany. The survey questionnaire considers the

name (optional), age and section. The study is limited among 40 students and 8 advisers only,

which was composed of 5 students for each section and 8 advisers of Special Science

Curriculum. The students came from different sections to avoid prejudice of their perceptions. In

order to assure manageability of the collection data, the questionnaire used was likert scale and

did not include the open-ended response items.

Definition of Terms

Fiber. It is a rope used as a component of composite materials or matted into sheets to

make a product such as paper of felt.

Pulp. A soft wet mass of fibers derived from rags or wood used in papermaking.

Dried Leaves. The main ingredient in making an alternative paper.

Alternative Paper. A substitute to make a new or recycled writing pad.

 CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

The review of related literature is organized under the general heading that conforms to

major aspects included in the study namely: General Characteristics of Terminalia catappa,

Genus acacia and Swietenia macrophylla, problems in the production of paper from trees,

advantage of dried leaves in making an alternative paper and harvesting of fibers.

General Characteristics

The following are the general characteristics of Talisay, Mahogany and Acacia:

Terminalia catappa

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Myrtales

Family: Combretaceae

Genus: Terminalia Figure 1. Talisay (Terminalia Catappa)

Source from https://images.app.goo.gl/Cye1ZEcsCtpQ8sKe9
Species: T. catappa

Terminalia catappa is native to Southeast Asia. The generic name originates from the

Latin “terminalis”, referring to the leaves teeming at the ends of the shoots. It is large tree that

grows well in subtropical and tropical climates. It is widely planted throughout the tropics. This

tree is grown for its ornamental purposes and its edible nuts. The leaves grow alternately on the

stem (spirally arranged) and they are clustered at the end of the twigs. The leaf is simple, light

green-coloured above and paler beneath (Vijay Anand, 2015).

Genus Acacia

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae
Figure 2. Acacia (Genus Acacia)
Source from https://images.app.goo.gl/wwiNzLC5N6jGc2sr6
Genus: Martius

Species: Acacia penninervis

The genus Acacia belongs to the family Mimosaceae. There are some 1350 species of

Acacia found throughout the world and close to 1000 of these are to be found in Australia.

Commonly known as Wattle, Acacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia

(Autralian National Botanic Gardens, 2015).

The Acacia’s Distinctive leaves make the tree highly distinguishable. While there are

more than 800 species of the Acacia trees around the world, most feature small, finely divided

green leaflets that give the stalk a fernlike appearance (Uday Srinavas, 2015).

Swietenia macrophylla

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Sapindales

Family: Meliaceae

Genus: Swietenia Figure 3. Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)

Source from:https://images.app.goo.gl/zCYcyShN5jiSv6d7
 Species: S. macrophylla

Swietenia macrophylla is an evergreen tree native to tropical America, Mexico, and South

America. The trees regenerate naturally through seeds in their native countries, and grow

luxuriantly under favorable conditions. The plant is well known for its fast growth and

adaptability. The big leaf mahogany has had long and successful history regarding the use of its

wood and seeds (Saikat Dewanjee & Anup Maiti, 2011).

Problems on the Production of Paper from Trees

Paper is one of the most indispensable tools in our daily lives. The primary source of

manufactures in making paper is trees. For this reason, it is essential for community to cut trees.

However, cutting trees may result to global warming that leads to climate change which we are

experiencing definitely nowadays. Having an alternative for these trees, using other materials is

certainly a good thing. The study was conducted to diminish the cutting of trees.

Handmade paper has a unique texture and individual quality that make it not only a

surface to write or print on, but also an object of beauty. With a small investment in equipment

(or the supplies to make it from scratch), a small harvest of backyard weeds or garden plants, and

the guidance, anyone make exquisite papers right in the home kitchen. (Hiebert, 2006)

Paper-making

Papermaking is the process of making paper, a substance which is used universally today

for writing and packaging. In paper-making, a dilute suspension of fibers in water is drained
through a screen, so that the mat of randomly interwoven fibers is laid down. Water is removed

from this mat of fibers by pressing and drying to make paper. Since the invention of Fourdrinier

machine in the 19th century, most paper has been made by wood pulp because of cost. But other

fiber sources such as cotton and textiles are used for high-quality papers. One common measure

of paper’s quality is its non-wood-pulp content, e.g., 25% cotton, 50% rag, etc. Previously, paper

was made up of rags and hemp as well as other materials (David Kolmuski, 2012).

Advantage of Using Dried Leaves as Paper

Today, there is a revival in homemade paper making. It’s a good way to recycle dried

leaves into wonderful possibilities like paper. This is environment friendly as other waste

products are converted into something meaningful by recycling. Trees are the principal source of

making paper and if more trees are being cut down each year to produce paper it may lead to

global warming which is not good. However, using leaves as an alternative to trees may be an

essential way to conserve the environment (Bowden, 2013).

Harvesting Fibers

In general, harvesting at the end of growing season or during dormancy will yield the

most paper making fiber, but there a few things to consider. The people might want to let the

plant naturally decomposed in the field to make processing easier. For example, herbaceous basts

such as milkweed and nettles (Urtica lyalli) will start to decompose if left in the field over the

winter. Most fibers can be harvested during more than one season. Paper made from fiber

harvested in the spring may look different from paper made from the same fiber harvested in the

fall. Young nettles harvested in the spring make a green paper, but if the nettles are are harvested

in the fall, the resulting paper is brown. The age of the plant, soil, environmental conditions such
as air quality and rainfall, and geographic location of the plant will also effect the fiber quality

and the look of the sheet. Experiment with different seasons and locations and keeps records to

note ease of harvesting and paper results (Hand Papermaking, Inc. 2005).

According to the Hand Papermaking, Inc. (2005), there are three main types of plant fiber

used in papermaking: bast fiber, leaf fiber, and grass fiber. What follows is a description and

instructions for harvesting each type. From other papermakers, books on fibers, and the

researcher’s own experiments, have discovered papers made from many plants, ranging from

common items such as wheat straw and hosta (Hosta fortune a.k.a. plantain lily). When

collecting first plant fibers for papermaking, the researcher would recommend starting from one

of the list that is widely known to produce paper.

 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study will be dealt on the evaluation of characteristics in terms of to texture,

durability, color and appearance of the handmade paper from mahogany, acacia, and talisay dried

leaves. Experimental research design is use in this research since it provides strong evidence for

casual interpretation.

Table 1 shows the distribution of the three treatments

Table 1: Distribution of the Dried Leaves Content

Treatments Dried Leaves

T1 With 1 cup of mixed dried leaves
T2 With 2 cup of mixed dried leaves
T3 With 3 cup of mixed dried leaves

Locale of the study

The study was conducted at City of Batac National High School Poblacion at Brgy. #17

Tabug, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte (figure 4). A DepED managed monograde public secondary

school located in 5th district of Ilocos Norte.

Population and Sample Sampling

Figure 4. Location of Experimental Set Up

 Systematic random sampling was used in selecting the respondents of the characteristics

and evaluation survey, Grade 7, 8, 9, 10 advisers and 5 students for each grade level in Special

Science Curriculum.

Research Instrument

The instrument used to gather the information of the degree of appropriates for writing is

questionnaire using Likert Scale 1-not appropriate, 2-less appropriate,, 3-appropriate, 4-very

appropriate. It consist of 5 questions which the respondents are required to choose their answer.

Table 2: Distribution of Sampled Respondents

Nature Female Male Total

Grade 7 advisers 1 1 2

Grade 7 students 5 5 10

Grade 8 advisers 1 1 2

Grade 8 students 5 5 10

Grade 9 advisers 2 0 2

Grade 9 students 5 5 10

Grade 10 advisers 2 0 2

Grade 10 students 5 5 10

Total : 26 22 48
Data Gathering Procedures

The instrument to gather the data on the applicable for writing together with the sample

experimental paper will be given to the respondents. The respondents are request to write

anything on the experimental paper then it requires to answer the questionnaire on the

appropriateness for writing. The data collect will be tally after the mean ratings will compute,

analyze and interpret.

Experimental Procedure

Collection of dried leaves, other Preparation and mixing of different

ingredients, and other materials treatments
needed.

Drying Blending

General Acceptability Test

Figure 5. Flowchart in Making Alternative Paper

 Prepare a wooden frame with a screen
stapled together (the paper mold), The finish product will be given to the
AFTER
selected respondents
m nblender, and a large basin larger than
the mold. Collection of dried leaves PREPARATION
that will be used in the experiment

Free trial testing on the experimental

Shredding of dried leaved. Cut the paper
dried leaves into pieces. Rip the leaves
into tiny bits and place it all into a
blender until it is about half full. Fill
Distribution of the Characteristics
the water with warm water. Run the
Evaluation Survey on the Feasibility
blender on “slow” at first, and then
of Dried leaves in the Production of
increase the speed until the pulp looks
Paper
smooth and well-blended

Now that the leaves are more wet and Collecting the survey questionnaire
pliable, start the process of turning it done by the respondents
into pulp- a thick, goopy, slightly
watery substance that will actually
become a new piece of paper.
The data collect will be tally after
the mean ratings are compute,
Making of writing pad. The basin should analyze and interpret
be a little wider and longer than your
frame and approximately the same shape.
Fill the basin with clear water. The amount
of pulp added to the water will determine
the thickness of the paper. Place the
wooden frame with the pulp into a basin,
screen-side down, and then level it while it
is submerge.

Slowly lift up the the screen until it is

above the water. Drip-drain if over the
basin. Wait until most of water has
drained from the pulp and you will see
the beginnings of a new piece of paper.

Take the piece of paper and lay it out on a

flat surface. Alternatively, speed up the
drying process by using a sponge and a
hair dryer on the low setting. Ultimately,
iron it. Peeling of the paper off the fabric.
Wait until the sheets of paper are
thoroughly dried; then gently peel. Figure 6. Methods in Making Alternative Paper