Chapter I

I. Introduction

Background of the Study

Nonbiodegradable waste such as plastic contributes largely to the world’s

increasing garbage problem. For food producers and retailers, plastic is an indispensable
packaging material. Compared with other materials such as ceramics, metal, cans or glass, plastic
is light, flexible and inexpensive. On average, plastic packaging has a relatively short useful life
and is disposed of after one use. Plastic packaging therefore makes up a relatively large
proportion of plastic waste. Less than one-fifth of all plastic is recycled globally (Parker, 2018).

Moreover, food packaging is an integral component of food industry and helps to store

food and beverages in hygienic manner, it can at times be a cause of concern for food safety.
Some packaging materials such as certain types of plastic, polyethene, and Styrofoam can release
toxins when they are heated and can be dangerous to consumers. Packaging materials which are
irradiated (along with food) can transfer unsafe nonfood substances into the food. Food
packaging makes use of a variety of substances, including dyes for printing colorful labels, and
glues and adhesives for keeping packaging closed.

To minimize the issue, one logical solution is to use biodegradable materials or

recyclable ones. Paper is a sustainable, renewable and ecologically sound choice for packaging
because almost all paper and board are recyclable. However, production of paper involves
cutting down of trees which leads to environmental effects including deforestation, hence, this
project proposal aims to develop pulp and paper for food packaging using sustainable and
biodegradable material made from goose grass.

Rationale

The primary purpose of packaging is to contain and protect products. Today, packaging is
usually an issue of convenience, especially when it comes to food and disposable items. The
packaging we find is usually made of a type of plastic: polyethylene and can come in various
types. Furthermore, paper and cardboard are natural, but that doesn’t mean they’re an eco-
friendly packaging option. 40% of all globally traded wood is used for the pulp and paper
industry. This is about 7.5 million hectares of forest. Another issue caused by non-
environmentally friendly packaging is their manufacturing process. Not only is the majority of
plastic created by refining crude oil, but the degradation process is similarly harmful. As plastic
degrades over hundreds of years, they can also release toxic substances such as bisphenol A,
which can disrupt the hormonal systems of animals. This amount of plastic and other non-natural
materials can cause environmental problems such as pollution. But there is an alternative: eco-
friendly packaging.

To fight these issues, the researchers have been motivated by the aforementioned issue
caused by non-environmentally friendly packaging to use materials and manufacturing practices
with minimal impact on energy consumption and natural resources. Thus, the goal of the
researchers is to create and design a durable, eco-friendly raw material that is abundant,
comparably efficient, beneficial and sustainable and that is through the development of
packaging paper using abundant and renewable material made from goose grass (Eleusine
indica). This plant has become popular in the Philippines because of its medicinal claims. This
weed has taken the Philippines by storm and now is the trending herbal remedy/supplement
among the masses for it is readily available. It can be made into coarse hay or silage. The
seedlings can be eaten raw or cooked as vegetables and the seeds can be cooked whole or ground
into flour in times of scarcity in India (Ecocrop, 2019; Lim, 2016). Thanks to its tough root
system, goose grass can be used to stabilize sandy soils. In ethnoveterinary medicine, goose
grass is used to treat fever in ruminants (Pattanayak et al., 2017). We, researchers believe that
aside from these, there is something more we can do out of this natural raw material. The
environmental awareness of people has become progressively stronger over the recent years, and
so raises the demand for environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

In addition to the quality and economic advantage of goose grass fiber, since this weed can
cause a serious problem that lawn care operators and landscape contractors have to deal with, so
the researchers are encouraged to extract goose grass fibers and used it as a paper packaging raw
material to resolve the trouble for service providers that promise green, weed-free lawns.

Theoretical Framework
 Present studies have showcased goose grass’ advantage in both physical and chemical
properties, which can be utilized in the production of paper. These properties include the
following: fibrous, lightweight, small elongation, ability to absorb water and biodegradable. The
main constituents of the subject of study are cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. These
constituents play a vital role in the natural decay and decomposition of said product

In the process of extraction, the starting material will be goose grass which naturally
grows within backyard premises. This material is then cleaned, mechanically shredded, with the
fibers being cut to a suitable length, pressed to grass pellets, and allowed to sundry for a time
period of 2 days. This process saves enormous amounts of CO 2 emissions in the production of
grass paper compared to conventional paper or waste paper. And even the price of grass fiber is
more than 40% cheaper.

II. Statement of the Problem

o This study aims to determine the suitability of goosegrass as an alternative fiber for paper
packaging.

Specifically, the area of investigation of the study encompasses the following questions:

1. What are the physical properties of goosegrass which makes it a potential material for paper
packaging?

2. How can the paper packaging made of goosegrass be described in terms of:

a. Color

b. Texture

c. Thickness

d. Tensile Strength

3. What is the decomposition rate of the paper packaging made of goosegrass?

4. Is there a significant difference between commercial paper packaging and goosegrass paper
packaging.

III. Objectives

The main objective of this study is to develop a paper packaging by utilizing goose grass
fibers as the raw material.

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. Extract goose grass fibers and use it as a raw material to produce paper packaging.

2. Evaluate the physical properties of the goose grass paper packaging in terms of the
following criteria:
a. Color

b. Texture

c. Thickness

d. Tensile Strength

3. Assess the chemical properties of goose grass paper packaging in terms of:
a) Decomposition rate

4. Compare the physical and chemical properties of the goose grass paper packaging with
that of commercial paper packaging.

IV. Research Hypothesis

In view of the specific objectives, the following hypotheses are advanced:

1. Goose grass is not a potential raw material for the manufacture of paper packaging.
2. There is no significant variations on the physical and chemical properties of the goose grass
paper packaging as compared to the commercial paper packaging.

V. Significance of the Study

The generalization this study redound to benefit the feasibility and potential of Paragis
grass (Eleusine Indica), or “Goose Grass” as a raw material for the production of paper as
packaging. In addition, the findings of this investigation could largely contribute and substantial
to the following:

Community: Paper is utilized everyday in different settings; with the vast demand for paper in
these settings this study can contribute greatly to the daily needs of any human person
specifically in packaging everyday parcels and commodities. In addition, this study will help
alleviate the everyday problem of invasive grasses, and allow them to be functional in paper
production.

Environment: This study will advertise an eco-friendly and biodegradable product whose raw
materials are abundant and readily available. With deforestation being a significant issue in
present time, “Goose grass” will aid in the decrease of this difficulty.

Economy: The invasive grass is known for its abundance and thriving nature aforesaid, thus
study will take into account this benefits and exemplify how our natural resource sectors will
help our country rebound economically .Moreover, progress from this study will provide
opportunities for companies to manufacture the proposed mask filters domestically thereby
creating jobs locally and boosting the economy nationally.

Researchers: This study will also benefit researchers and scientific community as a reference

for future studies that might be parallel to the study.

VI. Scope

This study will focus mainly on the production of paper packaging through the use of
goosegrass. This study will not be dealing with the production of paper packaging of commercial
standards that are intended to be sold commercially. The researchers will only be concerned
whether the fiber from the goosegrass can be used to produce paper packaging.

This study will take place in Brgy. Mabini, Valladolid, Negros Occidental due to the
specified limitations. The researchers will also be the one to collect all the materials needed in
paper making. Furthermore, there is a consideration of the following factors in the conduct of the
study, these factors are: accessibility to the source of material and the time allotted for the study.

VII. Limitations of the Study

This study will be limited only based on quantitative research methods; there is no
guarantee that the goose grass paper packaging will achieve the requisite standards. It should
also be highlighted that there are no other laboratories or test facilities in the area of research that
can evaluate these properties. Furthermore, due to similar considerations, the tests that will be
run will be adjusted in line with the available equipment and chemicals. Color, texture, thickness,
tensile strength, and decomposition rate are among the properties to be tested.
The growing number of Filipinos impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic has set
limitations for this research. This includes the uncertainty of being able to conduct said study in
an actual laboratory setting. The researchers will conduct research at home due to an increase in
positive cases (for COVID-19) in Negros Occidental. As a result, the findings of evaluating some
aspects of the goose grass paper packaging at home may differ from those obtained in a
laboratory.

Chapter II

Related Literature

I. Goosegrass

Goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn) is a common name for several grasses, sedges,

and annual herbs. The origin of the name is due either to a plant's use as food for geese or plant
parts that look like the foot of a goose. Goosegrass is a member of the Poaceae family or grass
family and the most obvious characteristic of goosegrass is its very flat stem. Another unique
characteristic of goosegrass when compared to other weedy grasses is the very white color of the
crown and lower stems as the plant matures. Goosegrass typically emerges from April to
September and reproduces by seeds. Goosegrass is a summer annual about ½–2' tall that is tufted
at the base, sending up multiple ascending culms with alternate leaves. Most of the leaves are
located toward the base of the culms. The culms are green, glabrous, and somewhat flattened;
they are mostly hidden by the sheaths. The leaf blades are up to 10" long and 8 mm. across; they
are medium to dark green, mostly glabrous, keeled, and hull-shaped at their tips. The margins of
leaf blades are sparsely ciliate with long crooked hairs. The leaf sheaths wrap loosely around the
culms and they are somewhat flattened (elliptic in cross-section) and overlapping. The leaf
sheath surface is whitish to medium green, longitudinally veined, and mostly glabrous. However,
the margins of the leaf sheaths are somewhat ciliate with long crooked hairs, particularly near
their apices. The ligules are white-membranous. Each culm produces a whorl of 2-8 floral spikes
at the apex of a long peduncle (basal stalk); there are often 1-2 individual spikes that are located
a little lower on the peduncle. The floral spikes are 2-6" long, straight or slightly curved, and
ascending to widely spreading (relative to the orientation of the peduncle). Goosegrass is often
found in heavy compacted, poorly drained soil. Because of its C4 metabolism, this grass is able
to tolerate hot weather and occasional periods of drought.

II. Paper Packaging

Paper packaging is the container in which the product is packed to ensure safe transfer to
consumers (Robertson, 2006). Manufacturers have widely used paper packaging as it provides
users with convenient storage and functional packaging that is appealing and easy to carry.
Additionally, manufactured in all shapes and sizes using recycled materials, this type of
packaging is exceptionally safe for the environment. Paper containers are made from renewable
resources such as paper and paperboard that provide distinct environmental sustainability
credentials. Like wood, the raw material can be sourced from sustainably managed forests and is
readily recyclable and, by definition, biodegradable. The packaging container can be in direct
contact or indirect contact with the product. The packaging holds, protects, preserves, and
identifies the product in addition to facilitating handling and commercialization. There are three
types of packaging: primary packaging which is in direct contact with the product or contents,
secondary packaging which contains one or more primary packages and serves to protect and
identify the primary, and tertiary packaging also known as transport packaging which offers
protection for the primary and secondary packaging while being transported. Each packaging
layer contributes to the overall process of product delivery from manufacturer to consumer
(Capsule, 2008).

III. Caustic soda

Caustic soda is an important commodity chemical for the pulp and paper industry.
Principal uses in pulp and paper production include the cooking/processing of Kraft pulps, the
extraction of lignin during the pulp bleaching sequences, and the on-site manufacture of sodium
hypochlorite. The general pulp bleaching procedure involves a bleaching sequence during which
impurities and colored matter in the pulp are oxidized and/or converted to alkali-soluble forms,
and an extraction sequence during which the impurities are removed. Extraction stages almost
invariably use caustic soda.

Caustic soda is used to some extent in all of the chemical pulping processes: sulfate,
sulfite, and soda. In the sulfate and soda processes, the pulping liquors are solutions of caustic
and sodium sulfide, and caustic, respectively. In the sulfate process, which is by far the most
important pulping process, maximum recycling is accomplished by concentrating the solids in
the waste pulping liquor, burning the concentrated liquor, and then re-causticizing the dissolved
smelt from the furnace with a lime causticizing system. Additionally, caustic soda is used in the
acid sodium sulfite pulping process for softening and swelling wood prior to making certain
types of mechanical pulps, for water treatment, and for scrubbing off-gases.

IV. Paper From Alternative Fibres

The paper and paper packaging industry depend on an efficient, abundant and economically
viable source of cellulose fibre to manufacture the huge variety of paper products we use today,
like; newspapers, magazines, tissue, and paper packaging. Most commonly fibre is sourced from
trees, a natural renewable and sustainable source but, cellulose can also come from other
agricultural sources. The key ingredient in papermaking is cellulose, which is derived from the
vegetable fibres found in trees and other plants. Wood fibre (including recycled fibre) is by far
the most common source used in modern papermaking, due to its cost-effective availability,
relatively high proportion of cellulose and reliable technical characteristics. Alternative fibres
come from grasses, seed hairs and other parts of plants (such as bast fibres and leaves) and have
historically been used too, albeit in relatively low volumes. In principle, almost any plant fibre
can be used to make paper, but characteristics vary and few are commercially viable. Straw was
once widely used but has traditionally suffered from drawbacks, such as slow drainage during
papermaking and greater pollution potential, coupled with higher cost and lower quality
compared to wood pulp. Cotton and linen remain excellent papermaking fibres, with very high
cellulose content. This gives superior strength and a luxurious feel but comes at a higher cost.
Bamboo has similar technical characteristics to wood pulp and is used commercially in some
parts of the world, particularly Asia, albeit in relatively small quantities. Bagasse, the fibrous
residue after extraction of sugar from sugar cane, behaves similarly to straw but is more difficult
to process. Sugar beet, meanwhile, has some potential, particularly because of a low lignin
content (the ‘glue’ that binds fibre together, causing impurities in paper) but is unproven at scale.
It is important to note that it is rare for any alternative fibre to be used exclusively in a paper
grade.

For technical and economic reasons, the ratio of alternative fibre to wood pulp is relatively
low, typically only up to 20%. German company Creapaper uses grass from European meadows,
the same as might be used for animal feed. The grass is mechanically processed, meaning that
any lignin content is not removed. In small-scale tests, paper has been produced with up to 50%
grass fibre, the remainder being conventional wood or recycled paper pulp. Proposed products
are aimed mostly at the packaging sector. The company claims a reduction in CO2 emissions by
up to 75%, compared to conventional pulp delivered to a paper mill in Germany. The published
lifecycle assessment (LCA) compares 50% grass fibre pulp (with 25% wood fibre and 25%
wastepaper) against a composite wood input including fibre from South America. It assumes that
the wood pulp is chemically processed (to remove the lignin for greater quality), has a lesser
yield per tonne of fibre, and will be used at a non-integrated mill. The reported benefits are
selective relating predominantly to transport and assume that the alternative fibre is sourced
locally to the mill, within a 50km radius.

V. Waste management in pulp and paper mill

The pulp and paper mill generates a large volume of wastes with an estimate of around
100 tonnes per 550 tonnes of pulp production. Though the toxicity of pulp and paper wastes is
minimal appropriate disposal technique is required for appropriate management of the land,
environment, and allied issues (Monte et al. 2009). As per the environmental policies
recommend based on directives of the waste framework the landfill must be reduced by avoiding
disposal of waste from industries. In certain cases, an obligation is placed for selected wastes to
terminate as a waste resource. The wastes from pulp and paper mills have a tremendous negative
and adverse impact on the environment. Inherently high consumption of water is the major
cause, and the problems are wider in terms of generation of effluent and other wastes of solid and
liquid type. These solid and liquid wastes along with air emissions require effective disposal and
treatment approach (Bajpai 2015d).

Three different approaches can be used in pulp and paper mill waste management. The
first choice is to minimize waste in ensuring product efficiency, higher yield of materials, and
lower waste management (Mladenov and Pelovski 2010). The second choice is to find a suitable
way for reuse to maintain cost improvement and lower environmental approach. This could be
done by material or energy valorization of the generated wastes. The final option is landfilling
which shall only be done when a choice is not an option.

In minimizing waste generation, it is necessary to cope up with established concrete

environmental legislations. In line with this concerns related to cost of disposal, treatment
technologies, and opt for new utilization schemes need to be taken into consideration. Different
techniques are adopted for the reuse of the mill wastes which include burning or incineration,
biofuel production, gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion (Bajpai 2015d; Mladenov and
Pelovski 2010). As far as the application is concerned; for solid wastes incineration techniques is
widely used, whereas anaerobic digestion is widely practiced for wastewater. Landfilling is still
the most widely adopted disposal technique.
 Related Studies

Potential of Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica) as an Alternative Fibre in Paper-Based

Industry

Kassim, Aripin, et al. (2006) examined non-wood plants as alternative fibre due to the
limited origin resources in paper production. The chemical compositions, fibre dimension, pulp
and mechanical properties of I. cylindrica were investigated for application in paper-based
production. The surface morphology of hand sheet was also visualized. The chemical
compositions involved in this study (holocellulose, cellulose, lignin, ash, hot water and 1%
NaOH solubilities) were determined according to the chlorite method, Kurscher-Hoffner
approach and TAPPI test method. Meanwhile, fibre dimension were measured following the
Franklin method. The mechanical properties of the hand sheet (tensile, burst and tear indices)
were measured according to the TAPPI test method. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was
used to visualize the surface morphology of I. cylindrica hand sheet. The I. cylindrica has lower
amount of lignin (5.67%), hot water (3.83%) and 1% sodium hydroxide solubilities (19.6%) than
polished C.tataria, switch grass and Palmyra palm fruit. Although I. cylindrica contains high
felting rate (139), the sheets produced showed higher tensile index (45.06 Nm/g), burst index
(3.90 kPam2 /g) and tear index (2.17 mNm2 /g) compared to other published non-wood fibers.
From SEM images, sheets of I. cylindrica contained abundant, straight and smooth fibre. In
conclusion of the characteristic study, I. cylindrica is a good potential alternative fibre in the
paper-based industry.

A Study of Purified Wood Fibers as a Papermaking Material

Rasch (1929) carried out a study to investigate the characteristics of purified wood fibers
and commercial papers from the standpoint of chemical purity, color, durability, and permanence
and compared with other typical papers and paper-making fibers. Tests have been made on
typical commercial grades of paper-making fibers, such as soda pulps, sulphite pulps, purified
wood pulps, and rag half stocks. A thorough study was made on the physical properties of
commercial papers made from fibers similar to the above. The effect of accelerated aging tests
on the chemical and physical properties of these papers and paper-making fibers was determined
in order to obtain information on the relative permanence of these materials. Accurate
evaluations of the quality of papers or paper-making fibers must be based on specified
performance tests. Fiber composition cannot be taken as a criterion of the excellence of a paper.
The manner in which the purified wood fibers and paper prepared from them react to the various
tests for durability, permanence, color characteristics, etc., indicates that they are well adapted
for conversion into high-quality bond and permanent record papers, which have hitherto been
made exclusively from furnishes of high-grade rag half stock.

Utilization of waste straw and husks from rice production

Pulp is used in making paper and cellulose products that have many industrial uses.
Although rice straw has never been used as a source of pulp in the United States, it has been used
for many years in Egypt for making commercial grade paper and in China for high grade artistic
paper. Neither of these countries have the wood resources of the United States. Paper made in
Egypt is from a mixture of rice straw pulp and a high grade pulp from wood imported from
Scandinavia. Rice straw pulps have been prepared which have alpha-cellulose contents and
degrees of polymerization comparable to those found in dissolving pulps manufactured from
wood. Dissolving pulps are normally made from wood or cotton sinters and have a variety of
industrial uses, including man-made fiber production and manufacture of cellulose derivatives.
Cellulose derivatives are used by many industries, such as the food, detergent and textile
industries.

Significant differences were found between the properties of rice straw cellulose and
those of wood and cotton cellulose. It is possible that these differences could be exploited to
either manufacture superior products from rice straw cellulose or to manufacture the products
more easily. (Davis, 2002)

Utility Potential of Parthenium hysterophorus for Its Strategic Management

 The search for new and prospective sources of fibrous raw materials for papermaking is
never ending. We decided to evaluate Parthenium hysterophorous L., a weed, commonly known
in India as congress grass, for its paper making potential. The study included pulping runs by
soda and soda anthraquinone processes to judge the suitability of the new raw material. We also
examined the resulting pulp fibers by microscope for their basic characteristics. The new raw
material was found to be convertible to an acceptable quality pulp with 40% to 45% yield, 24 to
34 kappa number, and 21 to 25 ISO brightness for the unbleached pulp. The pulp contained a
variety of cell types besides fibers that were found to be short, thin, and slender with a moderate
intrinsic fiber strength. (Ghatak, 2002)

Potentials of Agricultural Waste and Grasses in Pulp and Papermaking

Paper remains the dominant and essential vehicle of modern communication (MBendi,
2001). In summary, paper is one of the most versatile and common products of modern societies
(Garbony, 2005). Papermaking is one of the oldest crafts and one of the most modern industries.
In its technical form, paper is an aqueous deposit of any vegetable fiber in the sheet form. The
word paper comes from the Latin world “Papyrus” (Cyperus papyrus), a plant native to the Nile
valley, which the Egyptian made into sheets that could be used to write on. This is known to
have been used from 3500 B.C to 900 A.D (Edward, 1982). Paper consists of a web of pulp
fibres derived from wood or other plants from which lignin (complex organic materials that
binds together fiber in trees and wooden plants) and other non-cellulose components are
separated by cooking them with chemical at high temperature. In the final stages of
papermaking, aqueous slurry of fibre components and additives are deposited on wire screen and
water by gravity, processing, suction and evaporation (Biermann, 1993).

Potentials of some agricultural waste and grasses were investigated. Potassium

hydroxide from wood ash was used as alkali for pulping. Results from visopan Microscope
showed that banana stalk has the highest fibre length of 2.60 mm and Bahaman grass has the
least fibre length of 0.85 mm. Runkel Ratio (RK) for banana stalk, banana leaf, giant bluestem,
gamba grass and bagasse was 0.8 (RK<1) while pineapple leaf and maize stalk have Runkel
Ratio of 0.9 (RK<1). Peel from maize cob and Bahaman grass have Runkel Ratio of 1 (RK=1).
Calculated fibre derivatives indicated that the non-wood raw materials were good in pulp and
papermaking.

The results of the research show that giant bluestem, bagasse, maize stalk, Peel from
maize cob, bahamas grass, gambagrass, pineapple leaf, banana stalk, banana leaf and waste paper
can be utilized in the production of handmade paper.

Anatomical Characteristics and Fibre Dimensions of Some Grass Species of Arunachal

Pradeshand their Potential for Pulp and Paper

Non- woody plants are potential sources of raw material for pulp and paper and
supplement the depleted wood fibre resources. The present study was conducted on grass species
namely Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv., Neyraudia reynaudiana
(Kunth) Keng ex Hitch., Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud., Saccharum arundinaceum
Retz., S. spontaneum L., Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauv., Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. Var.
fertilis, Themeda caudate (Nees) A. Camus, Thysolaena maxima (Roxb.) O. Ktze collected from
district Papumpare to evaluate their suitability as a raw material for pulp and paper making. The
basal portion of the mature culms of selected grass species were taken to study the anatomical
characteristics, fibre and vessel dimensions. The derived indices like Runkel ratio, flexibility
coefficient, slenderness ratio, Luce’s shape factor and solid factor were also evaluated and were
compared with that of Bambusa tulda, a promising bamboo species in NE India for pulp and
paper making. The selected grass species had well developed fibrous sheath around the vascular
bundles. The additional fibrous ring was present in the periphery of Eleusine indica, Imperata
cylindrica, Phragmites karka andSporobolus indicus. The fibre percentage was more than vessel
and parenchyma in all selected grass species. The number of vascular bundles per mm 2 was
maximum in Imperata cylindrica and minimum inPhragmites karka. Based on the results, all the
selected grasses species have fibres with desirable derived indices and can be used as an
alternative source of raw material for pulp and paper making.

Conversion of Invasive Grasses into Hand Made Paper for Artistic Creations
 The devastating impact of invasive grasses has created serious challenges for casual
workers who consistently deal with this nuisance. The paper explores the possibilities of
converting invasive grasses which are prevalent at the Department of Painting and Sculpture, in
the Faculty of Art, into handmade paper to enhance artistic creations. Two grasses were
identified namely Goose grass (Eleusine indica) and Japanese Lawn grass (Zoysia Japonica).
Basic experimental procedures such as boiling and retting were followed before achieving the
desired results. Artistic creations made on the paper revealed appealing, interesting and natural
results. In sum, the tensile strength, and opacity of the paper produced was standard and an
artistic medium for art explorations. It is a new material that engenders new forms of
contemporary sculptural and painting works and challenges traditional philosophical ideas of
artists to go beyond to create new vistas in art. The results suggest that these invasive grasses
which are prevalent and nuisance at the Department of Painting and Sculpture can be converted
into something useful which would enhance artistic creations.

Some important factors though that needs to be looked at when making paper are water
purity. The pH of the water by acceptable paper making standards should be close to 7(neutral).
The invasive nature of these two grasses is a worldwide phenomenon and could pose a threat to
the balance of bio–diversity in the country as well as globally. Thus this research shows that if a
community based industry is encouraged it will become and not only bring a natural chain of
controlling these invasive grass but also simultaneously create value by recycling these grasses
into handmade paper thereby creating new jobs and income.

References

Kassim, A. S. M., Aripin, A. M., Ishak, N., Hairom, N. H. H., Fauzi, N. A., Razali, N. F., &
Zainulabidin, M. H. (2006). Potential of cogon grass (Imperata Cylindrica) as an alternative fibre
in paper-based industry.

Rasch, R. H. (1929). A study of purified wood fibers as a paper-making material.

Davis, 2002. Utilization of waste straw and husks from rice production.
Ghatak, 2002. Utility Potential of Parthenium hysterophorus for Its Strategic Management.
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Biermann, C. J. (1993). Essentials of pulping and papermaking. Academic press, San Diego, CA,
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Edward, F.T. (1982). Paper and Papermaking. New Age Encyclopedia (vol.14). Lexocon
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Vivek, K. and Macheswari, R.C. (1998). Handmade Papermaking in India: A sustainable

Production System. Center for rural development and Technology India institute of Technology,
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retrieved 11/19/21