COGON GRASS CARDBOARD

PAPER PRODUCTION

AS FOOD PACKAGING

MEMBERS:

SOTTO, ANGELA MERCE

TANGGAWOHN, CAYAO

ESTOQUE, FERDINAND

ANONUEVO, JAZZMINE

KIM, HAEUN
 ABSTRACT

The feasibility of cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) as a substitute for cardboard

food packaging was studied in this research project. The cogon grass was cut in a 1-inch

length, boiled for about 2 hours, stirred every 30 minutes, and crushed/rinsed in order to

get the pulp. The pulp was then subjected to five different treatments before it was made

into a card board like material. The amount of resin or soda ash and other additives was

kept constant while the amount of starch was varied in every treatment. After the

treatments, the researchers let it dry for a day to see if the product was firm and smooth.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ms. Angela Sotto, would like to thank her loving parents for supporting them

financially and guidance for the completion of the study. She also like to thank Ms. Arianne

Shiara T. Sotto for walking them through the completion of their project. Mr. Cayao

Tanggawohn would like to thank his parents for helping him financially. Mr. Ferdinand

Estoque would like to thank his parents for helping him in getting the materials for the

experiment. Mr. HaEun Kim would like to thank his parents in supporting him in this

research project. Ms. Jazzmine Anonuevo would also like to thank her parents.

The researchers would like to thank their teacher’s duration of the project. They

also like to thank “google.com” for giving them the most reliable information about their

research project. They also like to thank Mr. Erwin Supremido for helping them with their

research and Mr. Fort David for helping them with the completion of their paperworks.

Lastly the researchers would like to thank God.

Without all of them this research would not be possible.

 Table of Contents

*Chapter I

a. Introduction

b. Objective of the Study

c. Scope and Delimitation of the Study

*Chapter II

a. Review of Related Literature

b. Definition of Terms

c. Conceptual Framework

*Chapter III

a. Methodology

*Chapter IV

a. Results and Discussion

b. Table and Graphs

c. Documentation/Photos

*Chapter V

a. Conclusion/Recommendation

b. Bibliography
 Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Non-Biodegradable waste is a major concern everywhere in the world. The bulk

of the world’s waste consists of the hard-to-break-down products, such as Styrofoam.

Styrofoam is commonly used as food containers in fast food restaurants. Because it cannot

be recycled, this particular waste contributes largely to the world’s increasing garbage

problem. To lessen this environmental problem, one logical solution is to use

biodegradable materials or recyclable ones. Paper is being reconsidered and encouraged

for use. This material can be recycled over and over again. However, trees still need to be

cut for paper production. This spells trouble for the already depleted forests. Because of

this, we, researchers thought of another alternative. This alternative uses cogon grass for

making the pulp and the paper. Cogon grass is found abundantly in many places and is

sometimes considered a nuisance.

Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) can invade and overtake disturbed ecosystems

by displacing a large variety of native plant species. It is a very strong competitor for water,

nutrients and light because it sprouts and grows faster than most crops. Papermaking is the

process of manufacturing paper, a substance which is used ubiquitously today for writing

and packaging. Cogon grass basically consists of cellulose fibers, hemicelluloses and lignins

which are common to non-wood pulps especially grasses. Thus, this study was conducted

to determine the feasibility of cogon grass as a material in paper making.

 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Our study aims to know if Cogon grass can be a material in making a food

packaging. The researchers want to know if it is an effective food packaging. They also want

to share a great way to use biodegradable food packaging instead of non biodegradable

packaging such as plastic. This Cogon grass paper product is really important because it is

safe and natural. Besides, no chemical substance was added into this paper.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The research limits itself to study of the properties of Cogon grass that makes

it suitable for packaging food, and the study will not include the following topics, other

methods and materials of food packaging, comparing Cogon grass with the other materials

use for food packaging.

 Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

It was in China in 105 A.D. that the paper was invented. The inventor, Ts’ai Lu,

used the inner bark of the mulberry tree to get fibers. These fibers were mixed with other

substances and produced smooth pulp that later became sheets. The Chinese found out

later that rags, hemps, ropes, and old fish nets were potential materials for good

papermaking.

The spread of education and industry steadily increased the demand for paper.

That is why the search for paper materials are carried on until today. Listed as possible

sources are vegetable fibers such as wood, flax, cotton, and biogases. For mineral and non

mineral or synthetic materials, there are gypsum, asbestos, glass fibers, and synthetic

fibers.

Plant fibers are not the only substances needed for making paper pulp achieve

desirable properties. Resin, the sticky substance from plants, and alum are added to make

the paper resistant to water. Pigments and dyes give colour to the paper while china clay

increases its smooth texture. These are additives that are blended together to produce

paper.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Feasibility- the state or degree of being easily or conveniently done

 Hemi cellulose- any of a class of substances that occur as constituents of the cell walls of

plants and are polysaccharides of simpler structure than cellulose.

 Nuisance- a person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance.

 Biodegradable- capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

 Fibre- a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral substance, or textile is

formed.

 Resin- a sticky flammable organic substance, insoluble in water, exuded by some trees

and other plants (notably fir and pine).

 Alum- a colourless astringent compound that is a hydrated double sulfate of aluminum

and potassium, used in solution medicinally and in dyeing and tanning.

 Dioxin- a highly toxic compound produced as a byproduct in some manufacturing

processes, notably herbicide production and paper bleaching. It is a serious and persistent

environmental pollutant.
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

INPUT

Materials:
 1kg of cogon grasses
 Stainless Steel Cauldron
 20L of water
 180g of caustic soda
 20g resin
 16g of powdered alum

PROCESS

 Cut into pieces

 Boil for 3-4 hours
 Crushed in a mortar and
pestle.
 Filtration process
 Five treatments (for paper
production)
 Turned into sheets using
mould and deckle.
 Set in the sun to dry.

OUTPUT

Cogon grass

Cardboard

Food packaging
 Chapter III

MATERIALS

Our research needed the following materials: Scissors, Colander, Sauce pan

and lid, Soda ash, Paper bag, Bowl, Blender, Paper-making screen, Cogon grass, Rolling pin,

2 layers of cotton material, Paper bag (for filler) and Iron (for clothes). These are the

materials we used to make a cogon grass paper product.

PROCEDURE AND METHODS

The procedures in making cogon grass paper product are the following: first

the researchers cut the cogon grass into 1-inch lengths using a pair of scissors. Then, the

researchers placed the grass into a colander and washed the strands under a running tap to

remove dirt and grit. Second, the researchers placed the cogon grass into a saucepan. Then,

added 1tbsp. of soda ash per quart of water to the saucepan and completely covered the

cogon grass with the liquid. Then, bring the saucepan up to boiling point, and reduce the

heat to simmer. Third, the researchers simmered the cogon grass in the caustic soda

solution for a minimum of 2 hours, stirring once every half an hour. Then, drained the

cogon grass pulp and rinse under running water.

 Fourth, the researchers used a paper bag as a filler to provide a high cellulosic

content to the cogon grass for effective paper making. Then, tear up a paper bag into a bowl

and soaked it to soften and then drained the water and put the paper bag pulp back into the

bowl. Fifth, the researchers added 4 cups of cogon grass pulp to 1 cup of paper bag pulp

and mix in blender with enough water to amalgamate the two ingredients. Then, placed a

paper-making screen over a container to allow excess water to collect below. Sixth, the

researchers poured the blender contents onto the paper-making screen. Then, spread the

cogon grass mixture evenly over the screen and using a rolling pin they rolled over the

mixture to compress the pulp and release excess water. Seventh, the researchers removed

the wet cogon grass paper sheet from the screen. Then, used a hot iron to press and dried

the paper by ironing over the top of the cotton.

 Chapter IV

RESULTS AND DATA

The researchers formulated a product that can be an alternative paper

production, but without the paper filler the paper production won’t be successful. Also

without the pulp of the grass the paper will not be firm, so what the researchers did is they

put a paper filler and more pulp extract to have a successful product.

The interpretation as stated in the graph that when the researchers put 50

grams of caustic soda on the first day, the paper broke and it was not hard, so it easily

crumpled into small pieces. The second day of making the researchers put 100 grams of

caustic soda it was almost perfect but some part of the paper broke and it turn into small

pieces so it’s almost perfect. The third day, the researchers added 150 grams of caustic

soda and it was successful. The paper did not break and you can even write on it without

breaking it but of course the paper was not flat because of the pulp.

GRAPHS AND TABLES

Amount of Baking Soda/Caustic Soda

(first day):50 grams Paper cracks/break.

(second day):100 grams Paper is firm, but some part of the

paper broke and turn into small

pieces.

(third day):150 grams Paper is very firm and hard.

 DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS

 MATERIALS

Baking Soda Scissors

Saucepan and lid Paper bag (for filler)

Rolling pin Silk screen/Paper-making screen

Flat Iron Cotton Material

Colander Blender

Cogon Grass
 PROCEDURE

Cut the cogon grass into

1-inch lengths.

Place the Cogon grass

and the strands under

running tap water.

After washing it, place it in a

saucepan.
Put a tablespoon of baking soda

and water into the cogon grass,

then put it in a stove.

Once it reaches the boiling point,

simmer it for about 2 hours.

Stir the mixture once every

30 minutes.
After 2 hours, remove the

Cogon Grass pulp from the heat.

Then rinse the pulp into running

water and get the pulp of the

grass.

Then, mix the paper filler and the

Cogon grass pulp into a blender.

Spread the paper mixture into a

silkscreen or paper-making

screen then, try to make it flat

using rolling pin.

Place the cogon grass paper

into a cotton material.

Then use an iron to dry up the

cogon grass paper.

Then, let it dry for 1 day and the

Cogon Grass Paper is finish.
 Chapter V
SUMMARY

The final product was almost a success in terms of the surface of the paper. The

firmness and hardness of the paper was successful and therefore, Cogon grass can be used

in paper production and an alternative for Styrofoam as food containers in fast food

restaurants, and can also be an alternative for paper as the biodegradable alternative for

Styrofoam.

CONCLUSION

We therefore conclude that this experiment can help our country to reduce plastic

wastes, but, of course, this experiment needs to be studied deeper.

FINAL PRODUCT

The final product was almost a success in terms of the surface of the paper. And the

firmness and hardness of the paper was successful therefore, Cogon grass can really be

used in paper production.

RECOMMENDATION

In our previous trials, the more amount of baking soda in the mixture, the more

the paper goes firmer and harder. And the less the amount of baking soda in the mixture

the paper turns brittle and easily cracks into pieces. So we recommend to focus on the

baking/ caustic soda, so that the product will be firm and hard.
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