A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BANANA (Musa acuminata) PEEL AND

CORN (Zea mays) HUSKS AS ALTERNATIVE PAPER

A RESEARCH PAPER PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF BICOL

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION INTEGRATED LABORATORY

SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

LEGAZPI CITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

RESEARCH PROJECT

RESEARCHERS:

BALDO, DARLENE A.

IBO, ELLIAH NOEM L.

LLANA, MA. TIFFANY L.

MAGDARAOG, JOY MARIAN C.

VENUS, KRISTINE CRIS

2020
 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

Communication in between both near and far distances had been possible in

the history because of paper. Immortalizing stories of years had used paper.

Great ideas are emerged on paper. All these are still true up to now. In fact,

paper proved and widened its uses in different fields in present: academics, arts

and designs, media, business and economy, and religion. Textbooks,

researches, papers for computations, literary compositions, and printed projects

require paper in academe. Drawings, event decorations, and planning need

paper in arts and design. Connecting people, giving color to relationship, and

giving news and updates have to have paper in mediation. Endorsements,

proposals, reports, product packaging, reaching people, cheque, and making

money use paper in business. Influencing, evangelizing, and learning need paper

in religion. Indeed, paper has a very important role in the lives of people in plenty

aspects.

Paper is made through getting pulp from any fibrous plants like grasses, silk,

cotton rags, and most commonly woods. It is processed into thin but versatile

sheets that comes from different sizes, colors, thickness, and texture. It is true

that paper is a plant-based and sustainable product. However, producing more

paper had been a cause of depletion of global forests due to widespread legal or

illegal logging. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO), an estimated 7.3 million hectares of forest disappeared

every year having the reason of uncontrolled cutting down of timber trees just for

the production of paper. There are over 4 billion or 35% trees being cut down and

used in manufacturing paper products every year in the whole world. Moreover,

the Philippines from year 1990 to 2005, lost a third of its forest cover. In return,

the government banned cutting down of trees. However illegal loggers still

continue.

Despite the digital media being used, it is expected that on 2020, the world

production of paper from 390 million tonnes would reach 490 million tonnes, 26%

increase. Fortunate that now it has been answered yes when asked if paper

industry is getting greener that it has to supply more paper on proceeding years

(Scott 2017). It has been recorded that there is now 39% of fiber used in

papermaking that comes from recycled paper. The rate of harvesting timber and

other trees for directly making paper decreased to 36%. Also, raw materials have

been in variety through discovering and introducing alternative materials to wood

such as agricultural wastes: rice straw, banana and sugarcane bagasse.

As well as in the Philippines, there has been an improvement in the

papermaking industry (Securing the Future of Philippine Industries 2016).

Philippines in the previous five years of paper production have a recycled fiber

content of 95-100%, in comparison to the minimum recycled content of 25-35%

implemented in developed countries. The paper industry provides strong support

to the country’s solid waste management efforts (RA 9003) as being market of

about 1 million tons of wastepaper per year. Consequently, indirect jobs for
garbage collectors, junk recyclers, sorters, haulers, and other workers in the

country’s marginalized sectors are provided too.

As mentioned, alternative materials are being introduced in papermaking. In

the country specifically in the Bicol region, bananas, abaca, coconut, and corn

are the top fiber plants in terms of availability and are in start on its involvement

in papermaking (Ongpin 2015). Among these plants, banana and corn have the

shortest time to grow and mature for harvest. Abaca requires 18 to 24 months for

its first harvest and three to four months on the subsequent harvest. Coconut tree

grows within five to six years and ripens its fruit with delicious meat within five to

six months. Compared to banana trees, this requires only nine months for

maturation and harvest. A banana tree dies after bearing its fruit which has the

fiber content in its peel. Even so, its body also has fiber cellulose that could still

be in use. Another comparison is to corn which takes two to three months for

harvest. Its husks according to prior researches also have fiber cellulose,

useable in producing paper.

In the present time, at least 107 countries have grown bananas. This edible

fruit gained the fourth ranked among the world's food crops in monetary value. It

is produced by different kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus

Musa. The fruit is hanged in clusters from the top of the plant. It is usually

elongated and curved but differ in firmness, size, and color. Bananas are known

to be rich in potassium and fiber. Philippines is known as a country of tropical

climate and because of that, banana is one of the leading fruit grown in the

country with 50 different kinds.

 Banana peel is an essential part of a banana but not so many people know

its capability in maintaining a healthy environment. Usually, people just throw

away banana peels after eating the fruit but actually, banana peels can bring

solution to mitigate the problem on cutting down of millions of trees as it is used

for paper making.

Another waste that can be used for paper production is corn. Corn,

commonly known as Maize, is one of the world’s most popular cereal grains. It

was first domesticated by indigenous people. The corn originated from the area

of Mexico more than 10,000 years ago and it is one of the major vegetable crops

in the Philippines because of its nutritional value. The corn is primarily composed

of starch (62%), water (15%), oil (4%), protein and fiber (19%). Varieties of

yellow and white corn are the most popular as food, though there are varieties

with red, blue, pink, and black kernels, often banded, spotted, or striped. Each

ear is enclosed by modified leaves called shucks or husks.

Corn husks are dried leaves which cover the cob of corn and are not edible,

that we usually dispose. They are firm, plump and usually green husks that are

fibrous. They also give the corn a flavor. and can be used as fresh or dried

wrapper for food and also for packaging. Other than that, corn husks contain high

amounts of fiber which can create an alternative paper.

As economy and populations grow bigger, increase in demand for paper is

inevitable, not only in local setting but also in whole world. Both corn husks and

banana peels contain starch and fiber which are essential components in the
production of paper. Starch is important for both sizing and coating of paper. It

also improves the paper strength while fibers are the ones that are woven

together to create a paper. Production of fiber paper is an environment-friendly

product.

In this study, the researchers seek to utilize most in number and easiest-to-

harvest type of raw materials in the local for producing alternative paper which

are the banana peel and corn husks. The researchers also aimed to compare the

paper made of the two aforementioned materials according to its effectivity as an

alternate paper ingredient. This research would also like to promote eco-friendly

product that would be preferable to use to sustain the started environmentally

friendly action by the industry and the government. This research desires to

contribute to the percentage rise of using alternate to wood as source of pulp in

papermaking.

* hanap ng statistics na ang Bicol ngaya ay producers ng corn and banana.

Tas pinapabayaan nalang ang peels and husks para pag tinanong tayo kung

bakit coconut and banana? (Tiff)

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the

Banana peel (Musa acuminata) and Corn (Zea mays)husk as an alternative

paper. Hence, the researchers aimed to answer the following questions:

1. Is there a significant difference in the durability of Banana peel and Corn

husk as an alternative paper?

 2. What are the level of physical properties of the Banana peel paper and

Corn husk paper in terms of:

a. Color

b. Odor

c. Texture

d. Opacity

STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

The following are the research hypotheses employed in the study:

1. Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference between the durability of

the alternative paper made from Banana (Musa acuminata) peel and the

alternative paper made from Corn (Zea mays) husk.

Alternative Hypothesis: There is significant difference between the

durability of the alternative paper made from Banana (Musa acuminata) peel and

the alternative paper made from Corn (Zea mays) husk.

2. Null Hypothesis: The level of physical properties of the Banana peel paper

and Corn husk paper in terms of color, odor, texture, gloss and opacity are just

the same.

Alternative Hypothesis: The level of physical properties of the Banana peel

paper and Corn husk paper in terms of color, odor, texture, gloss and opacity are

not the same. Between the two papers, there is one that is way more effective

and better than the other.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The focus of this study is to compare the durability of banana (Musa

acuminata) peel and corn (Maize) husk as an alternative paper. It tested both

qualitative and quantitative properties of both paper samples. Physical properties

were observed in terms of color, odor, texture, gloss and opacity. The plant

materials used for this study were banana fiber obtained the from banana peels

and corn fiber obtained from the corn husks, and did not incorporate any other

plant.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This comparative analysis assesses the effectiveness of the Banana peel

(Musa acuminata) and Corn (Zea mays) husk as an alternative paper. Thus, this

study will be a great benefit to the following:

Paper Consumers. With the existence of alternative paper, consumers can

have many options on what alternative paper they will use. The findings of this

study will provide consumers better knowledge of choosing an alternative paper.

Agriculture. It may also benefit the agricultural field, especially farmers. The

success of this research may become the success of farmers that cultivate

bananas and corn. Lastly, this would mean more planting and production of corn

and banana trees. It will also help in boosting the demand on these fruits.
 Local Business Industry or Entrepreneurship. This research study will

also be beneficial to businessmen. Business that surround with papers can also

sell this alternative papers. The goal is to decrease the cost of raw materials to

gain more income without destroying the quality of the product.

Unemployed Citizens. The findings of this study will give the Filipino citizens

especially those who live in the rural place where raw materials needed in the

production of alternative paper are abundant and just being thrown away, can

give them ideas about the production and significance of alternative paper. With

the knowledge given, they can use alternative paper as a source of income.

Environment. This research study is beneficial to the environment because

the production of alternative paper is less harmful to the environment since it

uses organic materials which makes the product less toxic and more

environmental-friendly than commercial paper that uses trees. Also, less trees

will be cut down.

DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). The results

of this study, can help this government institution as many trees will no longer be

cut for the production of paper but instead will use raw materials such as corn

husk and banana peel.

Community. From the study, the community can also benefit in terms of

reduction of the amount of solid waste because of the utilization of banana peel

and corn husk.

 Future Researchers. The findings of this study will be a useful reference to

the future researchers who would plan to make any related study on this

research.

REFERENCES (Alphabetical order by the name of author) (saang reference

pala to? CHAP 1 lang ba?

Research Project on Banana Peel Paper. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from
[Link]
The Global Industry Today. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from[Link]
[Link]/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Final-The-Global-Paper-Industry-T
[Link]
Ongpin, M. (2015, June 11). Philippine Fiber. Retrieved August 13, 2019,from
[Link]
Scott, G. (2017, April 27). Is The Paper Industry Really Getting Greener.
Retrieved August 13, 2019, from [Link]
industry-getting-greener-5-questions-answered-76274
Greening Manufacturing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from [Link]
[Link]/greening-manufacturing/
Securing the Philippine Industries. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from
[Link]
McMullen, S. (2018, December 15). How Long Does Coconut Tree Grow.
Retrieved August 13, 2019, from [Link]
coconut
-[Link]
How Long Does Banana Tree Grow. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from
[Link]
Albert, S. (n.d.). How Long Does Corn Grow. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019,
from [Link]
How Long Does Abaca Plant Grow. (n.d.). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from
[Link]
Domtar Corporation2019. Paper Advocacy. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from
[Link]
Wikipedia.(2019,August 07). Paper. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from
[Link]
Fiscal, Rainer & Dandan, Kristoffer. (2016). Development and Evaluation of
Paper from Corn Husks (Zea mays L.) and Snake Plant Fibers (Sansevieria
 zeylanica). International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). 5. 867-
870. 10.21275/v5i8.3081601.
Britannica, T. E. Corn. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from [Link]
com/[Link]-plant
Papermaking. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from [Link]
topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/papermaking
International Starch Trading.(2003). Retrieved August 12, 2019, from
[Link]
Anyayahan, E. G., Greganda, M., Mejia, R., & Roque, J. K. (1970, January 01).
PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF FIBER PAPER USING CORN
HUSKS. Retrieved August 12, 2019, from
[Link]
Wala pa yung sa Related Studies (Venus and Joy) at Related Lit( me) pag

isesend ayusin na yung format ples. Ty!

Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter is a presentation of the related literature and studies, foreign

and local which have an important bearing to the present study. Hence, the

researchers gathered both foreign and local materials collected from books,

magazines, and publications from the World Wide Web that are relevant to

studies in providing information for better insights and solution to the problems.

And it shall also present discussion of the synthesis of the state of art, gaps

to be bridged by the study, conceptual framework, and definition of terms.

Related Literature (will paraphrase pa and give the references)

 Paper is used for various needs, for instances, to write, to read, or to wrap the

food. The development of science and education increase the demand for paper

which has been growing every year. It is proved by the demand for paper in 2005

that reaches almost 5.60 tons, and it increased to 6.45 tons in 2009.

According to Manurung and Sukaria (2000), the paper which is commonly

used is made of the wood. It then causes the deforestation to be widely spread.

The government currently finds it hard to overcome the scarcity of wood as the

raw material of paper production in the significant number. As a result, the paper

company produces the paper through illegal logging that destroys the nature.

According to Barami (2011), “The UAE has 44 million palm trees, out of

which one million are burnt as waste every year. There are environmental issues

ㅡ unwanted gases like carbon dioxide are released. It also costs lot of money,

which goes up in smoke.” As stated by Barami, a kilo of palm leaves can yield 80

sheets of A5-sized paper, which is widely used to print documents. Barami only

used basic tools in the lab and if industrial machines will be used to produce this

kind of paper, the production will rise. He also stated that “The brown leaves can

be easily collected; their cellulose quantity is very close to that in wood. We do

not have to use green leaves as that can harm the tree. Cellulose is used to

make paper and is found in trees, which account for 90 per cent of the world’s

sources of paper.”

The high number of paper demand causes the need for alternative raw

material for alternative papermaking. Material recycling has become a global

issue. New means have already been adopted and still need to be adopted in

order to obtain more value from resources that have been taken from nature.

Increasing material recycling has positive environmental effects. It reduces

emissions and increases sustainability in raw material use.

According to Wikipedia (2015), the process of making paper is a substance

that is universally used today for writing and packaging. In making paper, a dilute

suspension of fibers in water is drained through a screen, so that a mat of

randomly interwoven fibers is laid down. Water is removed from this mat of fibers

by pressing and drying to make paper. In the 19 th century, most paper has been

made from wood pulp because of cost and quality but other fiber sources such as

cotton and textiles are used for high-quality papers.

China’s paper and board production increased from 4.93 million metric tons in

1979 to 21.61 million tons in 1995, the third largest in the world. During this

period China has experienced increases in pulp and papermaking capacity at an

average annual rate of 6% and at times has been as high as 10%. More than

80% of this has been for pulping non-wood fibers (Xing, 1995; Atenrison, 1996 as

cited by Chandra, 1998).

It is expected that by the 21st century, total paper and paperboard

consumption in China will reach 34 million metric tons (Cao, 1996 as cited by

Chandra, 1998). On the other hand, estimated pulp production in China will be 21

million metric tons and paper production not much higher at 25 million metric tons

(FAO, 1996 as cited by Chandra, 1998). This leaves shortfall, of 9 million metric
tons. To make up this shortfall, many new projects and expansions are being

started in all regions of China. This growth in capacity will spur a further demand

for raw materials, which cannot be met, by the forest plantations.

Apart from China, many other countries are looking to non-wood plant fibers

for papermaking. Usually, this is due to a shortage of wood residues in these

countries, and readily available non-wood fiber resources. The economic

advantage in many developing countries is the presence of non-wood resources,

a growing domestic market for paper, reasonable labor costs, and absence of

wood raw materials (Macleod, 1988 as cited by Chandra, 1998).

Advantages of non-wood mill includes no outflow of foreign strain on

ecological balance as they are based on annually renewable raw materials;

abundant availability of agricultural residues; sale of agricultural residue provides

additional revenue to farmers who have little other opportunities for outside

income; employment is provided to rural labor and locating mills across the entire

country satisfies regional requirements and there is a reduced need for a

complex transportation system.(Judt, 1991 as cited by Chandra, 1998).

Around the world, wood fiber supply is expected to tighten in the not so distant

future (Atchison, 1992 a; Rosenberg, 1996 as cited by Chandra, 1998). In India

there already is a shortage of wood fibers (Wayman, 1995 b, as cited by

Chandra, 1998). Even the European Union suffers from shortages of wood fibers

and search for alternative fibers (Chaudhuri, 1995; Paaviliahen and Targilso,

1995; Alcaide et al, 1991, 1993 as cited by Chandra, 1998). Japan is also
investigating the use of non-wood plant fibers for pulp and paper manufacture

(Sameshima, 1994 as cited by Chandra, 1998).

As an agricultural country Philippines has abundant source of raw fiber for

papermaking which includes weeds and crop refuse (Fianza, 2008). Weeds and

crop refuse includes banana (Musa sp.) leaves and peels. The banana (Musa

sp.) has been the number one export of our country having Philippines as the

fourth producer of it in the whole world (Elivitch, C.R. 2013 as cited by

[Link]). After a banana has bear fruit it dies but pseudostem has a large

amount of fibers in it

From the plant, the pulp is pumped to a Fourdrinier (papermaking) machine.

This machine contains a wire-mesh conveyor belt that allows water to drain from

the wet pulp, leaving a mat of wet fibers on the moving screen. Additional

moisture is removed from the pulp by means of air suction pumps. The fibrous

mat of pulp then passes through successive sets of felt and metal rollers, which

press the mat into smooth paper. After being pressed, most paper is coated with

substances such as clay, carbon, or calcium carbonate to increase its printing

quality, as well as its color, smoothness, and strength. The paper is then wound

onto reels (Brigg, 2008 as cited by Encarta ®2009)

The production starts with the process of pulp making. The raw material to

produce pulp is the cellulose in the form of fiber in which almost all of the plants

contain the cellulose that can be used as the raw material of pulp production.

One of the plants containing high cellulose is the banana.

 Banana is one of the tropical fruit thriving throughout Philippines. It is one of

the useful commodities that lives in a short time, is easy to be cultivated and can

be harvested along the year. The most widely used part of banana is the flesh

of the fruit, meanwhile, the outer skin is only used for animal feed and

organic fertilizer. It indicates that the banana peel waste has not been

optimized yet. The data from Institute for Research and Development of

Cellulose Industries shows that the banana peel waste contains more fine

fibers than those that are made of wood with high cellulose (60-65%),

hemicellulose (6-8%) and lignin (5-10%). Meanwhile, according to Tjahyono

Yudi (1998), the most commonly used softwood to make the conventional raw

material of the paper only contains cellulose (41%),hemicellulose (24%) and

lignin (27.8%), It indicates that the cellulose in the banana peel is far

higher than that in softwood. Moreover, banana peel only contains lignin

(5-10%) that makes the cellulose separation process easier to do. Thus, the

banana peel is potentially used to be the raw material of papermaking to reduce

the dependence of wood as the raw material of wrapping paper. The use of

banana peel waste also increases the optimization of the waste itself by

increasing the economic value.

According to Baldwin (2014), Banana paper is an organically created paper

made from the stalks and leaves of the banana plant. Banana leaves are known

for its delicate and slender look, as well as for being an alternative to

commercially created paper products. Banana paper can be made at home and

used for artwork or journal pages using only a few ingredients including a banana
plant, a knife, a silkscreen, and a large pot for boiling. Banana fibre offers a

productive use of waste fibers for creating a local supply of paper and generating

income.

Furthermore, according to Material District (2019), Banana fibre paper is

made from agricultural waste that is from the banana harvest at local farms in

Kosrae, Micronesia that produces fibres from banana trees. In the paper making

process, the fibres fuse together on a microscopic level to create a paper

material that is lightweight, tear-resistant, and biodegradable.

Another abundant raw material here in the Philippines that usually comes to

waste is the corn husk. Corn is the most important locally grown crop for the PhP

110-billion swine and poultry industry of the Philippines. According to Chaudhary,

Parmar & Kaur, corn husk, a lignocellulosic fibre generally discarded as waste,

has the potential of being explored as a textile fibre. It is conservation of land and

resources since you get fibre and food from the same plant. Corn husk is

commonly available, with no geographical limitations, and is of limited

commercial value. Therefore, corn husk has so many significant economic

benefits in providing large quantities of natural cellulose fibres than any other

agricultural by-product. As corn is grown in large quantity all over the world, corn

husk is readily available. Corn husk offers an annually renewable, low cost and

abundant source of cellulosic fibre which can be of good use in making a

recycled paper.
 Usage of raw materials and recycled materials such as banana peels and

corn husks for the production of alternative paper protects and saves forests.

Paper recycling reduces the overall intensity of forest management needed to

meet a given demand for paper, and the pressure to convert natural forests

and ecologically sensitive areas like wetlands into tree plantations. With

recycling, not only are fewer trees harvested to make paper, but those trees that

are harvested can be produced using methods that have less impact on the

environment. Thus, recycling helps preserve the full range of values that forest

ecosystems provide, including clean water, wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

Recycled paper can be used for the same purposes as paper from primary

sources. There are no indications that recycled paper creates any harm to

human beings resulting from contamination by pathogens, chemicals or heavy

metals.

Related Studies (paraphrase, references, and summary sa last paragraph)

VENUS AND JOY

Papers play an essential role in people’s lives. Craft stores are all around the

corners, offering a variety of paper products. Filipinos love collecting stationery

papers even before, especially those that have scents. They used it in writing

letters, making scrapbooks for projects, drawing or making a canvas, and for

recording files.
 According to The World Counts (2014), papers are both useful but also

wasteful, due to the fact that it also faces a lot of environmental issues. One of

this is the scarce on resources of making paper pulps. 40% of the worlds

commercially cut timber are used for the production of paper and pulpwood

plantations and mills also endangered natural habitats. The pulp and paper

industry is a big contributor to the problem of deforestation and is partly to blame

for the endangerment of some species that live in the forests and destroyed

forest each year. Additionally, the life cycle of paper is damaging to the

environment from beginning to end. It starts off with a tree being cut down and

ends its life by being burned that is emitting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Also, most of the materials in landfills are made of paper. When paper rots, it

emits methane which is a greenhouse gas, when it is burned or composted it

release, carbon dioxide.

Paper production uses up lots of water. A sheet of paper needs

approximately 10 liters. Pulp and paper mills discharge water that’s riddled with

solids, dissolved organic matter called lignin, alcohol, inorganic material such as

cholates, chlorineand metal compounds. All of this contributes to soil and water

pollution.

The paper industry is the 5th largest consumer of energy in the world. It

uses up 4% of the world’s energy. To produce 1 ton of virgin paper, it is

estimated that 253 gallons of petrol is used.

 Paper recycling has been around for a long time. Actually, when you think

about it, paper has been a recycled product from the very beginning. For the first

1,800 years or so that paper existed, it was always made from discarded

materials. Recycling paper began in the United States during 1690's. William

Rittenhouse learned to make paper in Germany and founded America's first

paper mill on Monoshone Creek near Germantown, which is now Philadelphia.

Until 1800's when the United States started making paper from wood. Then on

April of 1800's, Matthias Koops was the one who started recycling paper, Koops

described his work as an invention made by him of extracting printing and writing

ink from printed and written paper and converting the paper from which the ink is

extracted into pulp, and making there of paper fit for writing, printing, and other

purposes.

Koops got bankrupt and closed his business. Later on, paper mills around the

world used Koop's (Patented Paper-Recycling Process) to create recycled paper.

By the year 2014, about 80% of the papers being used in United States are being

recycled by paper mills. But there's a catch, paper cannot be recycled more than

7 times because its durability component gets weaker and more brittle (West,

Larry, 2017).

According to Pratima Bajpai (2014), recycled paper is better for the

environment than virgin paper. It helps preserve forests, because it reduces

demand for wood. It conserves resources and generates less pollution during

manufacturing, because the fibres have already been processed once. And it

reduces solid waste, because it diverts usable paper from the waste stream.
Rigorous scientific research supports the benefits of recycled paper, and

government agencies, environmental groups and many other large purchasers

have adopted policies mandating its use.

Recycling reduces the total number of trees that are cut down to make paper

and can reduce overall demand for wood. However, more importantly, paper

recycling saves forests by substituting used paper for trees.

The paper production from the recycled fibers consumes less energy and

conserves the natural resources from raw materials. This has also resulted in a

set of new waste management goals in reverse logistics system planning. Pati et

al. (2008) have proposed a mixed integer goal programming model to capture the

inter relationships among the paper recycling network system. The use of this

model can bring indirect benefit to the environment and also improve the quality

of waste paper when reaching the recycling unit.

The primary raw material for the paper production is, pulp Fibers. That can

be obtained by a complicated chemical process from natural materials, mainly

from wood. This fibers production has a large energy consumption level and at

the manufacturing process there are used many of the chemical matters which

are very problematic from view point of the environment protection. Paper

recycling saves the natural wood raw stock, decreases the operation and capital

costs to paper unit, decrease water consumption and last but not least this paper

processing gives rise to the environment preservation

 Recycling paper is the return of discarded paper (paper fiber) into a product

that can be reused. In the Philippines, the paper industry has an important role to

play in its economy. Providing employment opportunities for Filipino workers and

raising Philippine economy. Tenorio et al. (2001) stated that the Philippine local

pulp and paper industry supplies about 61% of the total paper consumption while

the rest is imported. Metro Manila shows the highest level of paper consumption

in the Philippines, creating waste papers that could provide enough raw materials

for paper millers. In the Philippines, nineteen percent (19%) of the total solid

waste is produced by waste paper.

It is second on the produced solid waste in the Philippines, next to kitchen

waste. ADB (2004) of the estimated 6,700 tons of paper waste generated in

Metro Manila every day, only 720 tons per day are being recycled or, is getting

decomposed. Despite of having great amount of paper waste, paper recycling

activities and infrastructure in the Philippines do not produce as much pulp

needed by the local paper industry to provide the needed materials for paper

production Philippine Star (2002). There was a program implemented as

required; it is to put utmost priority in addressing and combating the issue of air

pollution by the Clean Air Act, ADB (2004).

There are some parts in the country with normal usage of resources have

increased in large amounts. Thirty years from now, Metro manila, will give rise to

70 million tons of solid waste which will need a long line of garbage truck

collectors that should go three times around our planet.

 Everyone knows that papers are recyclable, but doesn’t practice it. In this

case, an eye opener should be done in order to promote recycling. There are a

lot of ways on executing recycling. One of this is making use of other resources

to make paper products.

In the study of Yusof [Link] (2011), experiments using pineapple leaf fiber

as raw material in paper production have been conducted to assess the

advantages in terms of mechanical properties, especially tensile strength, tearing

strength and thickness of the paper. In this paper, samples of pineapple leaf fiber

is mixed with a recycle newspapers in different composition of which is, 25%,

35%, 45%, 55%, 65% and 75% pineapple leaf fibers mixed with 75%, 65%, 55%,

45%, 35% and 25% of the recycle newspapers.

According to Jahan et. Al (2015), bamboo is the main fibrous raw material

for pulping in Bangladesh. Recently Trema orientalis is found as the fastest

growing wood suitable for pulping. However, the wood density of T. orientalis is

low, which consequently decreases digester yield. On the other hand basis wood

density of bamboo is quite high. Optimum pulping conditions of these raw

materials were similar. Therefore, mixed pulping of T. orientalis with bamboo can

compensate digester yield. In this study, bamboo and T. orientalis chips mixtures

were kraft cooked and resulting pulp and paper properties were investigated. As

result, the wood density of bamboo was more than double of T. orientalis. On the

other hand, hardwood pulps are generally preferred for producing smooth

and high-quality writing papers.

 Qin et al. (2011) concluded that banana stem and leaf kraft pulp were

good fiber material for papermaking. In China, It is mainly used to produce feed.

So banana fiber has not been used extensively. However, banana papermaking

can save the forest resource and turn waste into something useful which has

benefits to our economic.

Fiscal [Link] (2016) utilized an experimental design to determine the

qualities of produced paper out of corn husks and snake plant fibers through

laboratory experiment and sensory evaluation. As the results, the basis weight

for the corn husks obtained the accurate standard measurement. As for the

thickness, pure snake plant fibers, 75% corn husks and 25% snake plant fibers,

50% corn husks and 50% snake plant fibers, and 25% corn husks and 75%

snake plant fibers followed the standard measurement. For the burst index, 25%

corn husks and 75% snake plant fibers obtained the closest standard

measurement. On the other hand, for the tensile index, all treatments followed

the standard measurement and for the folding endurance, all of the treatments

except 50% corn husk and 50% snake plant fibers were also followed the

standard measurement. Based on the sensory evaluation, the study revealed

that 75% corn husks and 25% snake plant fibers was the most acceptable

among all the treatments. The result, the color of the paper significantly varies

with each other from the evaluation that has made by the three categories of

respondents. The level of acceptability of corn husks and snake plant fibers as

raw materials for making paper is significantly different in terms of: texture, color,

and thickness.
Last paragraph: gist of related studies(parang conclusion)

Synthesis of the State of art

In-text citation insert pls. (ito di ko alam kung pano gawin pero feel ko

kulang, tanong ka nalang JOY kay Madam, tas ipacheck mo yung gawa,

para pag may magtanong, okie lang ta sya man sinunod XD)

Paper is used for various needs, for instances, to write, to read, or to wrap

the food. According to Manurung and Sukaria (2000), the paper which is

commonly used is made of wood. It then causes the deforestation to be widely

spread. The government currently finds it hard to overcome the scarcity of wood

as the raw material of paper production in the significant number. As a result, the

paper company produces the paper through illegal logging that destroys the

nature.

The high number of paper demand causes the need for alternative raw

material for alternative papermaking. Material recycling has become a global

issue. It reduces emissions and increases sustainability in raw material use. The

production starts with the process of pulp making. The raw material to produce

pulp is the cellulose in the form of fiber in which almost all of the plants contain

the cellulose that can be used as the raw material of pulp production. One of the

plants containing high cellulose is the banana.

Banana is one of the tropical fruit thriving throughout Philippines. It indicates

that the cellulose in the banana peel is far higher than that in softwood.

Moreover, banana peel only contains lignin (5-10%) that makes the
cellulose separation process easier to do. Thus, the banana peel is potentially

used to be the raw material of papermaking to reduce the dependence of wood

as the raw material of wrapping paper.

Another abundant raw material here in the Philippines that usually come to

waste is the corn husk. Corn is the most important locally grown crop for the PhP

110-billion swine and poultry industry of the Philippines. Corn husk offers an

annually renewable, low cost and abundant source of cellulosic fibre which can

be of good use in making a recycled paper.

According to The World Counts(year), papers are both useful but also

wasteful, due to the fact that it also faces a lot of environmental issues.

Furthermore, paper recycling has been around for a long time.. For the first 1,800

years or so that paper existed, it was always made from discarded materials.

Recycling paper began in the United States during 1690's

Recycling reduces the total number of trees that are cut down to make paper

and can reduce overall demand for wood. However, more importantly, paper

recycling saves forests by substituting used paper for trees.

Experiments using pineapple leaf fiber as raw material in paper production

have been conducted to assess the advantages in terms of mechanical

properties, especially tensile strength, tearing strength and thickness of the

paper, according to Yusof [Link]. (;;;)

From the study of Jahan et. Al (2015), basis wood density of bamboo is

quite high. Optimum pulping conditions of these raw materials were similar.
Therefore, mixed pulping of T. orientalis with bamboo can compensate digester

yield. As result, the wood density of bamboo was more than double of T.

orientalis. On the other hand, hardwood pulps are generally preferred for

producing smooth and high-quality writing papers.

In the study of Fiscal(year), it revealed that 75% corn husks and 25%

snake plant fibers was the most acceptable among all the treatments. The result,

the color of the paper significantly varies with each other from the evaluation that

has made by the three categories of respondents.

Qin [Link] (year) concluded that banana stem and leaf kraft pulp were good

fiber material for papermaking. In China, It is mainly used to produce feed. So

banana fiber has not been used extensively. However, banana papermaking can

save the forest resource and turn waste into something useful which has benefits

to our economic.

Gaps to be bridged by the Study

There have been many studies and researches like this study, however

there are aspects that make this study unique.

All literature and studies reviewed discussed how efficient and

environment-friendly the usage of recycled materials in papermaking. However,

there are no other studies that only focused on two local yet abundant source of

papermaking materials which are the banana peels and coconut husks which will

be recycled to produce two different recycled papers that will be used for a
comparative analysis of its durability and at the same time lessen garbage and

put raw materials into a good use.

In addition, although the reviewed studies and literature focused on the

effectivity of recycled papermaking, there is still a lack of information regarding

the effectivity of papers made up of banana peels and coconut husks that is why

the study will focus in providing artists, students, or anyone who uses paper

information about the two different recycled papers about its similarities and

differences by conducting an experiment.

Furthermore, unlike other studies, there are no respondents needed for

this study. Only the researchers have the power and control to test, compare,

and analyze the variables of the said study that will give the researchers the

desired outcome from the experiment.

Lastly, this study will be tackling insufficient information to the paper

consumers about the advantages and disadvantages of using paper made up of

banana peel and the paper made up of coconut husk. To what field they can use

it, whether in scrapbook for arts and crafts or as scratch for solving equations,

instead of using and buying papers made from cutting trees. These are the gaps

to be bridged by the study.

Conceptual Framework

The study aims to know the effectiveness of Musa acuminata (Banana)

peel and Zea mays (corn) husk as alternative paper. Figure 2 serves as a guide

and provides a simple overview of the study. This enabled the researchers to
comprehend how the variables in the study connect with one another. Data was

gathered and analyzed to determine the significant difference between the

effectivity of the Musa acuminata (Banana) peel and Zea mays (corn) husk as

alternative paper.

The study began with the gathering of the samples which are the Musa

acuminata (Banana) peel and Zea mays (corn) husk. The gathered samples of

Musa acuminata (Banana) peel and Zea mays (corn) husk were individually

blended and filtered. The blended solution of Musa acuminata (Banana) peel and

Zea mays (corn) husk were used in the making of alternative paper. The

alternative papers were tested of their durability by testing how strong it holds

and its effectiveness by absorbing different types of inks. The durability and

effectivity of the alternative papers were verified by their bond strength and

absorption of different inks. Figure 1 presents the summary of procedures done

to meet the objectives of the study.

Conceptual Paradigm

A Comparative Analysis of the Durability of Banana (Musa

acuminata) Peel and Corn (Zea mays) Husks as Alternative Paper
 Collection of Banana (Musa acuminata)
Peel and Corn (Zea mays) Husks
samples

Blending and Filtration of Banana (Musa acuminata) Peel solution

and Corn (Zea mays) Husks solution

Musa acuminata (Banana) peel Corn (Zea mays) Husks

alternative paper alternative paper

Durability and Effectivity

Testing

Figure 1

Definition of Terms

This section lists and discusses some of the terms used in this research.

Each term is defined operationally, stating meanings based on how the

researchers used it in their study and conceptually, meanings based on books

and dictionaries. (pakidagdagan po)TIFF (tsaka pakiisa nalang nung Tree, paper,

alternative paper)

Trees. This refers to plants which have trunks as its stem and are cut down

to make papers. (op)

Paper. Sheets used for writing and printing purposes.(op)

Alternative Paper. Paper that is made of other fibrous plant instead of trees

but still functional in recording and printing. (op)

Trees. Woody perennial plant having a single stem growing to a considerable

height and bearing branches at some distance from the ground.

Paper. material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of wood or other

fibrous substances

Alternative Paper. Conceptually called as Tree-free paper or tree-

free newsprint described an alternative to wood-pulp paper by its raw

material composition. It is claimed to be more eco-friendly considering the

product's entire life cycle.

REFERENCE
 Chapter 3

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter covers the research design and methodology including the

sampling population, data collection, and data analysis. This chapter will prove

the validity and credibility of the data collection the student researchers gathered

for their research.

Research Method

This research study used an experimental design which utilized Musa

Acuminata (Banana) peel and Maize (corn) husk as the variables to test in
determining each one’s effectivity basing from the factors of color, odor, texture,

gloss, and opacity. This may help the researchers to gather valuable information

and data needed in the study which desires to find out which one of the two

ingredients would be more effective as an alternate in making paper.

Sources of Data

The researchers gathered data from scientific journals, unpublished and

published thesis, articles that can be found online. Also books, dictionaries,

encyclopedia, and other academic text that can be found in libraries in Bicol

University and Albay.

The primary sources of data will be collected from the experiment they had in

which they have made alternative paper using Musa Acuminata (Banana) peel

and Maize (corn) husk. These sources will provide the researchers data and

information that is needed in the study.

Respondents

There are no respondents needed for the study. Only the researchers have

the power and control to test, compare, and analyze the variables of the said

study that will give them findings from the experiment which will be needed for

data gathering in the comparative analysis of banana (Musa acuminata) peel and

corn (Maize) husks as an alternative paper.

Data Gathering Procedure

 The banana paper and corn paper were tested with different kinds of inks

such as: felt-tip pen, gel pen, sign pen, metal pen and ball pen. This kind of

experiment will be done to compare and analyze which recycled paper is more

capable of absorbing inks and effective as an alternative paper.

The two recycled papers were also tested through the dropping of different

weighed objects on top it to be able to test the durability of the two products and

compare what’s stronger and effective as an alternative paper.

Making the Paper from Banana peels and Corn husks (new format will be

applied)

In making a paper, you need some kind of plant matter that is fibrous. We

typically break it down with some kind of a chemical. Soda ash and heating in

water does this breakdown very well.

Materials:

 Banana peels

 Corn Husks

 1-3 gallon of water

 12 tablespoons of soda ash

Steps:
Step 1: Prepare all the ingredients and materials needed in the mixture

especially the banana peels or corn husks.

Step 2: Thoroughly wash the banana peels or corn husks

Step 3: Mix up 1-3 gallon of water and 12 tablespoons of soda ash. This will

break down the fibers in the corn husk. (Use 1 tablespoon per quart of water.)

Step 4: Then, add the soda ash to the water. Never add water to the soda ash.

Always add the ash to the water. Stir it slowly.

Step 5: Add the banana peel or corn husks and gently stir them. It is

recommended to wear protective gloves and glasses, and stir gently to avoid

splashing.

Step 6: Simmer it for two hours. But make it a minimum of two hours.

Step 7: Let the pot cool then take it off and rinse the banana peel or corn husk

off thoroughly. Once it is rinsed you should rinse it again. Make sure the soda

ash is gone before you handle it.

Step 8: Once you finish rinsing off, hammer it then put in a blender with water

and blend it

Step 9: Then, put it in a silkscreen and after that, soak it with a paper or damp

cloth to reduce the moisture content and finally release banana/corn paper from

the screen.

Product Testing

Testing the durability of Banana peel and Corn husk

Materials:

 Kitchen weighing scale

 Four 100ml water bottle

 Any 1/4 kg, 1/2 kg, 1 kg, 2kg, 3kg, 4kg, and 5 kg material or object

 Ruler

 Banana peel paper

 Corn husk paper

Steps:

Step 1: Prepare the materials needed.

Step 2: Place the banana peel paper between the edges of two flat surface. Any

two the same objects with the same height or level.

Step 3: Place one 100 ml bottle filled with water on each edge of the banana

peel paper to prevent the paper from falling or moving.

Step 4: When the setup is ready, drop 1 kg object on the banana peel paper with

the height of 1 foot without much force exerted. And then continue

dropping the next different increasing weighed objects one at a time.

Step 5: Do the same process in testing the durability of corn husk paper.

Step 6: Document, record, and compare which is more durable and effective

between the two papers.

Instruments in Gathering Data

 There are several instruments used in the conducting the experiment for

gathering data. Mixing spoon is used for diluting 12 tablespoons of soda ash in

mixing up with 1-3 gallon of water for the breaking down of fibers of corn husk or

banana peel.

A large pot is used for carrying the mixed ingredients namely water, soda

ash, banana peel and corn husk. This instrument holds the ingredients in place

and let the ingredients to boil and simmer.

Meat tenderizer is also used for hammering the soaked banana peels and

corn husks which will be subsequently put inside the blender. The blender is

used for crashing the two raw materials-banana peel and corn husk- and for

blending with water.

The silkscreen holds the blended material in place until it dries and becomes

a recycled paper. A paper or cloth is used to damp excessive water on the

blended material to reduce moisture content.

In addition, in the product testing wherein the durability is being tested,

kitchen weighing scale is used to measure the objects into its desired mass.

Ruler is also used for measuring the desire height needed when dropping the

objects on the papers.

Statistical Treatment
 The significance and difference of the Banana peel and Corn husk as an

alternative paper was determined by using T-test. The t-test assesses whether

the means of two groups are statistically different from each other. This analysis

is appropriate whenever you want to compare the means of two groups, and

especially appropriate as the analysis for the post-test only two-group

experimental design.