Sansevieria trifasciata (SNAKE PLANT) FIBER AS AN ALTERNATIVE

COMPONENT FOR PAPER PRODUCTION

This research proposal is submitted in partial fulfillment requirement for Practical

Research-1 STEM PROGRAM

Abian, Charles Eddriane A.

Carillo, Janelle F.
Gawat, Mikaela D.
Radja, Shaina Alexandra T.

July 2019
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Study

Paper is a material that has been around for approximately two thousand years, it is
practical, inexhaustible, recyclable, plant-based item that associates us from multiple points
of view to the significant things throughout everyday life. It is used for education, business,
and work, basically in our everyday life. Disposable paper turned out to be affordable for
the average consumer. Almost three hundred million papers are produced all around the
world this year (Larsen et, al. 2014).

Paper production undergoes quite a vile process, the number of trees, pulpwood
forest other vegetation is cut down in order to make paper is enormous. Forty percent of the
world’s commercially cut timber is utilized for the generation of paper. One tree makes
16.67 reams of copy paper, or 8,333.3 sheets. One ream (500 sheets) uses six percent of a
tree. Almost thirty million acres of forest are destroyed annually. Thus cutting down of trees
or deforestation for paper production can result to global warming, can alter temperature
and may harm its habitat which can affect wild life (Bonanos, 2013).

Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) or Mother in Law’s Tounge is rapidly growing

weed in common areas such as roadsides, abandoned gardens, waste areas, and disturbed
sites. This plant is very diverse in the Philippines. The plant Sansevieria trifasciata is an
easy to grow plant it is an aggressive invader that rapidly colonizes areas where it grows,
which can tolerate adverse conditions. Extraction of fibers from leaves such as snake plants
are known to be less explored. According to M. Kanimozhi (2011). There are more than
twelve types of Sansevieria (snake plant) species present in different continents worldwide.
The common species are Sansevieria cylindrical and Sansevieria trifasciata. has stiff
sword-shaped leaves that are banded yellow on either side with a deep green, lightly banded
center. range between 70–90cm (28–35 inch) long and 5–6cm (2.0–2.4 inch) wide. Previous
research shows the microstructural analysis of Sansevieria trifasciata fibre gathered from
XRD analyser shows that the fiber has crystalline structure which belongs to cellulose I sub
b, it is also stated that the snake plant fiber is higher than those of cotton bamboo and jute
and also has good strength, fineness with low elongation.

Chemical pulping also known as “kraft” is a process that separates lignin from
lignocellulose. Since lignin is insoluble it must be converted into water. Lignin deteriorates
cellulose as well as cellulose fibers within the lignin. The basic structure of pulp and paper
are cellulose. Cellulose is a polysaccharide it is a simple sugar like glucose with 600 to
1,500 repeated sugar units. Cellulose molecules in paper stick together is due to long strings
of glucose molecules (Ulin, 2014). According to Pihlava cellulose is the main strength
delivering component that can be used for paper production it is a long linear polymer and
has a strong tendency for intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. It also confirmed that
occurrence of cellulose, lignin and polysaccharides is needed as acomponent for paper
production. (IJSRP, 2011).

This study is conducting an alternative and efficient way for making paper sheets;
less expensive and to lessen cutting down of trees. Since Sansevieria trifasciata (snake
plant) is rapidly growing on random areas and is invasive in the society the researchers also
thought of using Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) as an alternative component for paper
production.

This Research objective is to determine on how can the fiber of Sansevieria

trifasciata (snake plant) This study aims to discuss the use of Sansevieria trifasciata (snake
plant) fiber as one of the component for paper production.

1.2Statement of the Problem

This study was conducted to examine the potential of snake plant as an alternative
source of fiber in making paper for a better use. specifically, this study aims to answer the
following questions:
 1.) How is pulp extracted from the snake plant?

2.) Determine which ratio of Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) fiber will contain
higher lignocellulosic fiber content that can be used as alternative component for
paper production:
a.) Treatment A (25% snake plant fiber; 75% water)
b.) Treatment B (35% snake plant fiber; 65% water)
c.) Treatment C (45% snake plant fiber; 55% water)
d.) Treatment D (55% snake plant fiber; 45% water)
e.) Treatment E (65% snake plant fiber; 35% water)
f.) Treatment D (75% snake plant fiber; 25% water)

1.3Significance of the Study

The Philippine congress released a study that said about 123,000 hectares of the
country’s forest cover are lost every year. This will lessen the number of trees being cut
down to be used for paper production. Deforestation is a growing concern in the Philippines
and by using Snake Plant which is an easy growing plant. The Manufacturers of papers and
the Philippines itself will benefit from this study since it is diverse in the Philippines which
makes it inexpensive.

1.4Scope and Delimitation

This study’s scope is to justify the potential of Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant)
fiber as an alternative component for making a paper. The researchers will extract fiber
from the plant and turn it to a pulp wherein cellulose is added. Then from pulp, it becomes
paper after being placed in a machine that will flatten and dry it out. This study will be
delimited to the Philippines where in Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) is abundant. This
study can also be delimited to the countries where Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant) is
present and abundant.
 Bibliography

 Larsen, C. (2014). The World Counts. Retrieved from:

http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Paper-Waste-Facts
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2013/02/your-paper-cup-is-destroying-the-
world.html
 Pihlava, M. (1998): Fiber deformations and strength loss in kraft pulping of
softwood. Licentiate thesis, Helsinki University of Technology, Department of
 Forest Products Technology, Espoo, Finland, 112 p.
https://www.hunker.com/12000334/the-effects-of-cutting-down-trees-on-the-
ecosystem
 Don Ulin, 2014, The Trustees of Indiana University • Copyright Complaints
1229 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
• Anya Keefe and Kay Teschke
• https://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/abbey/ap/ap04/ap04-4/ap04-402.html

Journals
• 2019, The Trustees of Indiana University • Copyright Complaints 1229 East Seventh
Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
 M. Kanimozhi, “Investigating the Physical Characteristics of Sansevieria Trifasciata
Fiber”, International Journal of Science and Research Publications,Volume 1, Issue
1, December 2011,


https://www.scribd.com/presentation/352108478/The-Potency-of-Sansevieria-Trifasciata-Snake-
Plant
https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v4i7/SUB157084.pdf
https://prezi.com/m/4ef3jaqtvkhn/the-effectiveness-of-sansevieria-trifasciata-snake-plant-f/