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INVESTIGATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF

COGON GRASS (Imperata cylindrica) AS AN
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF PAPER

A Research Project Presented to

the Faculty of Senior High School Department
RC Al-Khwarizmi International College Foundation Inc.
Basak Malutlut, Marawi City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfilment of the

Requirements for the Senior High School Curriculum
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Strand

Ramza A. Guiling
Ozair O. Malic
Nadzmyra Zyra B. Tabao
Sonaya H.U. Amanoden
Abdulhakeem M. Panggaga

January 2024
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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

Cogon Grass is an invasive perennial grass that is widely distributed in tropical

countries, and it is considered a weed due to its invasive nature. However, recent studies

have shown that cogon grass can be a promising alternative source of paper, which can

help reduce the reliance on traditional paper sources such as trees. Despite its reputation

as a weed, cogon grass presents an opportunity to address environmental concerns by

potentially mitigating deforestation and offering a renewable resource for paper

production. Investigating the performance of cogon grass in this context could pave the

way for a more ecologically sound paper production method, thereby contributing to

resource conservation and a greener approach to paper manufacturing.

Pena (2021) stated that the Philippines is one of the countries that has a high

potential for cogon grass as an alternative source of paper due to the abundance of the

grass in the country. However, there is still a need to conduct further research to

determine the feasibility and viability of using cogon grass for paper production. This is

where this experimental research comes in, as it aims to investigate the performance of

cogon grass as a source of paper.

According to Madung, Soloi, Majid, & Sarjadi (2022), since the principal source

of paper, trees, has become scarce due to the annual increase in demand for paper, non-

woody plants have emerged as an alternative fiber in the paper-making process. Because

imperata cylindrica has a high cellulose content and a low lignin level, it is used as a

substitute for wood fiber in the pulp and paper industry.

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The process of making paper using cogon grass involves several steps, including

harvesting and cleaning the grass, pulping the grass to extract the cellulose fibers, and

forming the paper sheets (Humphries (n.d.).

The primary objective of this study was to comprehensively assess the potential

for cogon grass as an alternative material for paper production. By conducting

experiments and analyzing the physical and chemical properties of cogon grass fibers,

this research aimed to determine its sustainability for papermaking processes. The

findings from this investigation contributes to essential insights into the feasibility,

viability, and environmental implications of adopting cogon grass as a viable and

ecologically friendly option in the realm of paper sourcing and manufacturing, potentially

reducing the demand for conventional paper sources like pine trees while promoting

sustainable practices.
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Statement of the Problem

This study was established and aimed to test the performance of Cogon Grass

(Imperata cylindrica) as an alternative source of a paper and investigate its performance

on certain properties to determine whether it is viable as paper. This precisely focused on

answering the following questions:

1. What are the qualitative properties that the paper from Cogon Grass have in terms

of:

1.1 Color; and

1.2 Texture?

2. What are the quantitative properties that the paper from Cogon Grass have in

terms of:

2.1 Grammage;

2.2 Coefficient of Friction;

2.3 Tensile Index; and

2.4 Tensile Strength?

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework of this study illustrates the different concepts of the

variables involved and investigated.

This study focused on the investigation of Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica) as

an alternative source of paper. The independent variable is the use of Cogon Grass. It

ascertains the dependent variable, which is the performance of Cogon Grass as an

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alternative source of paper, in terms of: the qualitative and quantitative properties of

cogon grass as source of paper.

Dependent Variable
Quantitative Properties:
Independent Variable
 Color
 Texture

Cogon Grass Quantitative Properties:

 Grammage
 Coefficient of Friction
 Tensile Index
 Tensile Strength

Figure 1. Research Paradigm

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study focused on investigating the performance of Cogon Grass (Imperata

cylindrica) as an alternative source of paper that was found in an area after entering the

Agus Bridge 1 (Banggolo Bridge), Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Philippines. This study

was delimited to Cogon Grass as an alternative source of paper and examining its

qualifications as a paper. The grass was utilized and experimented as an alternative to

paper. The grass paper produced was then subjected to examination and determination of

its qualitative properties, in terms of color and texture, and quantitative properties, in

terms of grammage, coefficient of friction, burst index, burst strength, tensile index, and

tensile strength. The location where the Cogon Grass originated and its condition, its age

and duration of expiration is beyond the scope of the study. This study excluded the

comparison of cogon grass paper to commercial paper as this study was only focused on

the potentiality of cogon grass as an alternative source of paper.

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Significance of the Study

The invasive growth of Cogon Grass is an opportunity to develop it into

something beneficial for everyday use. This study can make use of an invasive plant to

produce an alternative to paper. This study can be a great help to benefit the following

individuals:

Community. This study can be a great benefit to the community that has massive

growth of cogon grass; they can make use of the cogon grass by producing paper out of

it. It will not only help discard unwanted grass, but it can also be utilized and contributed

to the community.

Farmers. This study can help the farmers profit from turning the invasive Cogon

Grass around their areas into paper. This can help them with financial benefits.

Paper Industry. This could give them information about the potential of Cogon

Grass as an alternative source of wood-free paper. They can utilize the cogon grass into

paper and produce it.

Future Researchers. The findings of this research may be a helpful guide for

them and their future research. They can use this study as their reference for their

research and pave the way for more clarified studies on this similar field.

Definition of Terms

To further understand terms mentioned in this study, the researchers provided a

conceptual and operational definition of the following significant terminologies based on

how it was used in this investigatory project.

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. In this study, it is referred to as the average of the burst test of the paper made

from cogon grass.

Burst Strength. It is defined as the amount of force required to induce a rupture

(Testronix, accessed 9 January 2024). In this study, it is referred to as the maximum load

the paper made from cogon grass can withstand before it ruptures.

Cogon Grass. It is an invasive grass with stiff stalks and saw-toothed leaves that

quickly takes over any bit of land (Pena, 2021). In this study, it is the experimental

specimen that will be utilized as paper.

Coefficient of Friction. It is a dimensionless quantity defined as the ratio of

friction force to normal force (Zhang, 2016). In this study, it is referred to as the

minimum force required to start the paper made from cogon grass moving on a surface by

calculating the maximum frictional force.

Color. It is the aspect of any element that may be expressed in terms of hue,

lightness, and saturation; or in physics, it is associated specifically with electromagnetic

radiation of a specific wavelength range visible to the human eye (Nassau, 2024). In this

study, it is referred to as the complexion of paper made from Cogon Grass.

Grammage. A weight measurement, grammage is most typically used to define

the weight of paper, although it is also commonly applied to polymers and fabrics (Label

Planet, accessed 6 January 2024). In this study, it is referred to as the weight of paper

made from Cogon Grass.

Tensile Index. It is the assessment and evaluation of the inherent strength of

different types of paper grades (Adams, 2023). In this study, it is referred to as the

measure of tensile index in terms of the tensile strength in Nm divided by grammage.

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Tensile Strength. It is the highest stress a material can withstand before breaking

when allowed to be stretched or pulled (Pal et al., 2022). In this study, it is the maximum

load that the paper made from cogon grass can support before it fractures.

Texture. It is the property of something that may be determined by touch, such as

roughness or smoothness, softness or hardness (Cambridge Dictionary, accessed 6

January 2024). In this study, it is referred to as the tactile surface consistency of paper

made from Cogon Grass.

Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

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This chapter presents a view of literature and studies related to this study of the

investigation on the performance of cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) as an alternative

source of paper, including foreign and local literature and studies. It also discusses the

different ideas, generalizations and conclusions made by authors and researchers.

Related Literature

Cogon Grass

Miller (2003) stated that Cogon Grass is a perennial, rhizomatous grass (Poaceae)

that grows approximately 2 to over 4 feet in height. The leaves are about an inch wide,

have a prominent white midrib, and end in a sharp point. Leaf margins are finely toothed

and are embedded with silica crystals. The lower surface of the leaf blade is often hairy

near the base; the upper is hairless. The white plume-like flowers are arranged in a

silvery, cylindrical, branching structure, or panicle, about 3-11 inches long and 1½ inches

wide. Cogon grass reproduces both vegetatively and from seed. In spring, a single plant

can produce up to 3000 seeds per seed head that may be carried great distances by the

wind. Vegetative spread of cogon grass is aided by its tough and massive rhizomes that

may remain dormant for extended periods of time before sprouting. Rhizomes can grow

from

1.5 to 3 meters per year.

As defined by Matic Hub (n.d.), with its long stem-less clumps of up to 1.5m leaf

blades; its extensive rhizome root system; and its feathery white flowers over productive

seeding capability, and its allelopathic tendencies – cogon sucks nutrients and insinuates

itself in crops and fields.

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Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) is a highly invasive species that is native to

Asia but has now spread to other regions of the world. It is a perennial grass that can

grow up to two meters tall and has long, narrow leaves. Cogon grass is known for its fast

growth rate, aggressive root system, and high tolerance to various environmental

conditions. It reproduces through rhizomes, which can grow up to one meter deep in the

soil, making it difficult to control. The plant is known to alter soil properties, reduce

biodiversity, and increase the risk of wildfires. However, its abundance and fast growth

rate make it a potential source of raw material for paper production (Kumar, Barrett, &

Kaewkuekool, 2015).

Fiber Pulp

Research studies have shown that Cogon Grass can be used as a source of pulp

and paper. The cellulose content of cogon grass is about 45%, which is comparable to

other commercial pulpwood. The lignin content of cogon grass is low, which makes it

easier to break down the plant material into fibers during the pulping process. However,

the high silica content of cogon grass can pose challenges in the pulping process, as it can

cause wear and tear on the machinery (Kumar et al., 2015).

Paper

According to Cordis EU Research Results, European Commission (2020), paper

manufacturing is amongst the most intense CO2-emitting industries. Grass Paper has

mined nature for an alternative plant-fiber material derived from grass, preserving natural

forest resources. The first grass paper on the market has a premium look and feel, with

folding capability for packaging.

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Grass fiber, together with wood pulp and recycled paper, has the potential to

become the paper industry's third raw material supply. It cannot completely replace virgin

fibers or recycled pulp (wood), but it can currently account for up to 50% of the fiber

content in the finished product. Grass fiber can also be up to 70% less expensive than

wood pulp. Grass fiber provides industry with a more sensitive and gentle way to treat

forest resources. "I believe grass and wood is the perfect symbiosis when it comes to

paper products and packaging in the near future," Schatzschneider said. Furthermore,

grass fibers provide farmers with an extra cash stream when it comes to abandoned

pasture hay, which is currently being burned or used to fill biogas plants (Cordis, 2020).

Grammage

Grammage is the mass of a sheet of paper divided by its area, and it is expressed

in grams per square meter (g/m2). Grammage is an important factor in determining the

selling price of paper. Other paper qualities, such as bursting strength, thickness, and

volume, are specified in terms of grammage. Mass per unit area is also known as basis

weight in the United States. The basis weight is determined by the weight in pounds of a

ream of paper of a specified size and quantity, which is normally 500 sheets but can be

480 sheets. The grammage of paper is primarily controlled by the loading of fiber stock

onto the paper machine, but it is also influenced by fillers, coatings, sizing, and the

paper's end moisture content (Lapp, 2014).

Coefficient of Friction

According to Arthurs, Anthony, & Christopher (2005), friction is the force that

opposes the relative motion of two objects in contact. It is a vector quantity. Friction

always acts in the opposite direction of slippage and is always parallel to the two surfaces
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in contact. The force that opposes the commencement of motion is known as static

friction. Kinetic friction is the friction that exists between moving things. The force of

friction is directly proportional to the size of the normal force and is determined by the

friction coefficient (µ).

Tensile Index

A tensile tester is used to measure the test strip at a steady rate of elongation.

tissue, crepe paper, copier paper, medical paper, carton board, and liner boards were

among the materials he tested. Tensile index = tensile strength per grammage, expressed

as Nm/g. The tensile energy absorbed is estimated from the area under the

load/elongation curve in addition to the maximum tensile load and elongation. This is the

result of the work done in breaking the test strip. Tensile energy absorption units are

measured in J/m2 (Taylor, 2014).

Tensile Strength

According to Ahmed (2019), tensile strength is defined as the greatest tension

required to break a strip of paper sheet. It is one of the most essential fundamental

physical features of paper and paperboard. Tensile strength varies depending on fiber

direction. Tensile strength is assessed in both directions because the fiber orientation

differs between machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD). Machine direction

refers to the direction of the paper web running on the machine, whereas cross direction

refers to the direction perpendicular to the paper sheet running on the machine during

paper production. It's higher in the machine direction than in the cross direction. It is

calculated as N/m using the force per unit width.

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The tensile strength test of paper sheet is like the tensile strength test of other

materials, but the manner of expression is different. Tensile strength is usually expressed

in terms of load per unit cross-sectional area, however in the paper sector it is reported in

terms of load per unit of the test specimen. If the tensile strength of paper is low, the

quality of the paper is low and must be improved by enhancing several factors (Ahmed,

2019).

Related Studies

The following research studies were already conducted and were useful while

conducting the study, for some of their methods were adapted by the researchers.

Cogon Grass

A research study of Aripin (2014), stated that the global demand for wood fiber

has increased due to increasing population and new applications for wood fiber.

Therefore, to supplement the limited wood fiber resources, non-wood fibers have been

introduced as alternatives in pulp and paper-based industries. The objective of this study

is to determine the potential of cassava peel, cocoa pod husk, cogon grass and oil palm

leaf as alternative fibers for pulp in paper-based industries based on its chemical, physical

and mechanical properties. The mechanical strength of hand sheet produced (tensile,

burst, tear and fold) was investigated according to the TAPPI test method. To propose the

suitability of the studied plants as alternative fiber resources as pulp in papermaking, the

obtained results are compared to other published literatures from wood resources.

Although cogon grass contains shorter fibre than oil palm leaf, the handsheet product

showed the highest tensile (45.06 Nm/g), burst (3.90 kPa. m 2/g) and tear (2.17 mN. m
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2/g) indices when compared to oil palm leaf (12.08 Nm/g, 0.95 kPa. m 2/g and 1.80 mN.

m 2/g) and published wood resources. From SEM images, handsheet of cogon grass

contains compact, straight, and smooth fibres. In conclusion, apart from the chemical,

pulp, physical and mechanical properties and the surface morphology of the cocoa pod

husk, cogon grass and oil palm leaf sheets indicate that they are suitable to be used as

alternative fibers for pulp and paper-based industries with cogon grass being the best.

Fiber Pulp

The study by Tamrin, Pratama, Purnomo, & Davitri (2017) stated, the

investigation of aquatic and dry land weeds as fibers resources for paper making was

carried out. The selected fiber resources of aquatic weeds were water hyacinth

(Eicchornia crassipes) and water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis), and blady grass

(Imperata cylindrica) as the selected dry land weed. Research was designed as a factorial

completely randomized design with two factors. The first factor was fibers origin

(Eicchornia crassipes, Imperata cylindrica, Eleocharis dulcis) and the second factor was

the fibers pulp slurry concentrations (30%, 50%, and 70% v/v). Results showed that the

fibers origin and fibers pulp slurry concentration had significant effect on the tensile

strength, mass density, water absorption, and frictional resistance of paper. The

interaction between the fiber’s origin and fibers pulp slurry concentration had significant

effect on tensile strength, frictional resistance, water absorption; but had no significant

effect on mass density of paper. The paper that was made of 70% (v/v) of water hyacinth

fiber pulp slurry showed the best characteristics with the tensile strength of 3.65 kgf mm-

1, mass density of 0.87 g cm-3, water absorption of 0.235 g cm-2, and frictional

resistance of 0.028 g cm-2.

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Paper

The study of Kassim, Aripin, Ishak, & Zainulabidin (2015) stated that the

increasing demand in wood fiber consumptions especially in pulp and paper making has

pushed forward the search for alternative fiber resources. Non-wood derived fiber could

be good candidates due to its abundance availability. Agriculture residues or non-wood

annual plants are good potential fiber resources for pulp and paper making. The objective

of this study is to determine the suitability of cogon grass as an alternative fiber for pulp

and paper making by analyzing its chemical and surface morphological properties.

Quantification of chemical compositions was conducted in accordance with relevant

Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) Tests, Kurscher-Hoffner

and Chlorite methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the

surface morphology of the cogon grass fibre. Results obtained indicate that the

holocellulose (64.93%) content is comparable with other published non-woods and the

lignin (5.67%) content is favorably the lowest. Based on the chemical and surface

morphological properties analyses, cogon grass is a good alternative fiber resource

especially for pulp and paper making industries.

Grammage

According to Bloch, Engin, & Sampson (2019), in this study, they showed how

the structure of sheet surfaces affects the porosity profile and hence the sheet thickness

using standard grammage and thickness measurements combined with X-ray

microtomographic analysis. Furthermore, despite their higher porosity, they also showed
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that the mean pore height in low grammage sheets is lower than that in higher grammage

sheets, meaning that pore heights in surface layers are lower than those in the bulk.

Coefficient of Friction

According to Burwell and Rabinowicz (1953), the contemporary theory of friction

between dry metal surfaces attributes it to tiny minute welds or adhesions between the

surfaces and proposes that the friction force is uniquely defined for a particular pair of

surfaces by the normal load alone. It is shown here that this cannot be true in general and

that some additional operating conditions must be defined. Experiments show that one

such feasible condition is the sliding speed, so that the friction force is a function of both

the normal load and the sliding speed. It is noted that speed can influence friction force in

two ways: first, by the ensuing shear strain rate in the area of the welded junction, and

second, by the amount of time required for a full-strength connection to develop.

Tensile Index

According to Chauhan and Bhardwaj (2014), inorganic fillers, the second most

common component of papermaking, have poor bondability with cellulosic fibers,

interfere with interfiber bonding, and impair paper strength. Filler

preflocculation/modification is a useful technique for improving interactions between

filler particles and fibers. The impacts of filler content and preflocculation on the filler

bondability factor estimated based on first-pass ash retention and paper strength

parameters such as the tensile, Z-direction tensile, and composite tensile indexes are

discussed in this article. Talc filler preflocculated with 0.1-0.8% doses of cooked cationic

starch based on the dry weight of the filler was put in paper to achieve filler
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concentrations ranging from 15 to 24 percent. For all studies, the filler bondability factor

(FBF) and other tensile properties of paper were determined and studied. FBF and paper

strength decreased as filler content in paper increased, but increased when preflocculated

filler was added. At a filler content of 24%, preflocculated filler resulted in increases in

FBF and composite tensile index of 13-24% and 7-15%, respectively.

Tensile Strength

According to Niskanen, Sirviö and Wathén (2005), traditional micromechanical

theories regarding tensile strength of steel paper do not take into account the tensile

rigidity of paper, tensile strength is strongly related to tensile strength in practice

stiffness. Another issue is the micromechanical input. Few factors have a definite

meaning in real paper. The meaning of inter-fiber bonding, in particular, is uncertain.

None of the existing ideas link tensile strength to bonding degree or bonding value that

can be measured independently strength. As a result, the traditional understanding of

tensile strength is no longer valid. Strength data is untrustworthy.

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Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter includes all about the tools and procedures and covers the analysis

and techniques that the researchers utilized and found useful. This presents the study's

setting, the methods used to acquire the data, and the data analytic techniques used to

examine and analyze the data.

Research Design

This study used an experimental method of research design of researching the

performance of Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica) as an alternative source of paper. An

experimental design is an intelligent method of selecting input combinations for the aim

of decreasing the number of computer model runs for data analysis, inversion problems,

and input uncertainty evaluation (Mishra & Datta-Gupta, 2018). This study harvested,

utilized, and produced cogon grass as paper to determine its efficiency as a paper. The

Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica) paper was tested by researchers to learn its

performance and condition.

Locale of the Study

The experiment was conducted at the residence of one of the researchers. It is a

private household with an open area and access to direct sunlight that was needed for the

experiment. This residence is situated in Purok 1, Basak Malutlut, Marawi City, Lanao
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del Sur, 9700, Philippines. This neighborhood is comprised of different families mainly

from the Meranao tribe. A household in this neighborhood may be home to nuclear

families and even to clans. This residence was chosen because it has the needed utilities

and equipment for the experiment.

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Figure 2. Map of the locale of the study

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Research Instrument

This segment includes the ingredients and materials needed for the production of

cogon grass paper. The following is the list of all the materials and tools that will be used

in conducting the experiment.

Table 1

List of all the Materials and Equipment that will be used in the Study.

Materials Quantity Uses

Cogon Grass 300 grams It is the experimental
specimen.
Calcium hypochlorite 200 grams To bleach the cooked grass
(Chlorine) pulp for a brighter color.
Cassava Starch 1000 grams To have a thicker consistency
of the mixture.
Potassium Alum 120 grams To increase the toughness of
(Tawas) the paper.
Sodium bicarbonate 54 grams To soften the grass and make
(Baking Soda) the pulp appear.
Basin 2 pieces To store water and the
solutions.
Large Basin 1 piece To mix the binding agents and
pulp.
Small Basin 3 pieces To contain grass and pulp, and
to combine small batch of
solutions or mixtures.
Blow Dryer 1 piece To dry the paper from cogon
grass.
Cauldron 1 piece To cook the grass.
Commercial Blender 1 piece To grind the grass.
Container 1 piece To store the grinded grass.
Dry Clothes 28 pieces To stick the damp product for
drying.
Food Processor 1 piece To grind the grass into even
finer pieces.
Gas Stove 1 piece To cook the grass by heating
and boiling the cauldron.
Gloves 5 pairs To ensure safety from
potential harm.
Kitchen Scale 1 pair To measure the mass of cogon
grass harvested.
Slotted Kitchen Turner 1 piece To stir the mixtures.
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Ladle 1 piece To stir the mixtures.

Soup Ladle 1 piece To scoop grass and pulp.
Measuring Cups 1 set To measure the powdered
substance used in binding
agent.
Measuring Spoons 1 set To measure the powdered
substance used in solutions
and mixtures of binding agent.
Pestle and Mortar 1 pair To crush the paste like grass
into even finer substance.
Large Pestle and Mortar 1 pair To crush a large batch of grass
into a paste like substance and
to bond the grass while it is
crushed.
Rolling Pin 1 piece To flatten out the surface of
the product before drying.
Sack 1 piece To store the gathered grass
during harvest.
Scissors 4 pieces To cut the grass finer.
Silk Screen 5 pieces To shape and maintain the
mixed slurry inside the wire-
facing mold’s bounds.
Skimmer 1 piece To filter substances from
liquids.
Sponge 5 pieces To damp the pulp and remove
excess water.
Strainer 1 piece To filter the substances or pulp
from water.
Large Strainer 1 piece To segregate the substances or
pulp from water.
Water Immeasurable To rinse the grass and pulp,
used to boil and cook the
grass, and used in solutions
and mixtures.
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Data Gathering Procedures

The researchers conducted an experiment on utilizing Cogon Grass (Imperata

cylindrica) as paper. The researchers began their data collection as soon as they had the

materials that are needed. The procedure for this experiment was observed in the video

“Kanami Koronadal – Cogon Paper Making”, as well as observed significant steps from

other related studies, and was applied in this experiment to make Cogon Grass (Imperata

cylindrica) as an alternative source of paper. After the experiment, the Cogon Grass as

paper was examined through a thorough investigation of its performance as an alternative

of paper, in terms of the qualitative and quantitative properties of cogon grass as source

of paper. Then subjected to a statistician to calculate the quantitative properties of the

cogon grass paper. The step-by-step procedure and process is listed below.

Production of Paper from Cogon Grass

A. Preparation of Cogon Grass

To begin with, the Cogon Grass was harvested and collected. Exposure to direct

sunlight was requisite to the harvested grass to dry for a week. The color of the grass

turned brown or fully dried after a week of exposure from the sunlight, ensuring there

was no moisture found in the grass. The grass was removed from its stem and cut for

about 1 to 2 inches long. The cut grass was placed on the kitchen scale to measure its

mass.

B. Production of Cogon Grass Pulp

The dried grass was soaked in a large basin with sodium bicarbonate for it to be

easier to process and made the grass pulp appear. After 30 minutes, the soaked grass was
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strained from the solution of sodium bicarbonate and water. In a boiling water-filled

cauldron, the grass was cooked for 5 hours long that made it tender. Five hours of

cooking has pass and the grass was let sit to cool down before rinsing. The cooked grass

was rinsed under running water twice to remove any toxins that were may be present

during cooking. The grass pulp was pounded using a pestle and mortar. The pounded

grass was then granulated using a commercial blender and grinded again but using a food

processor for even finer pieces. The grinded cogon grass was bleached in a water-filled

basin with chlorine to brighten its color. After 2 hours of bleaching, the bleached grass

pulp was rinsed multiple times under running water to remove the remains of chlorine

lingering to it.

C. Procedure of Cogon Grass Paper Making

In a basin, the binding agents, starch and potassium alum, were mixed in water.

The bleached cogon grass pulp was gradually added onto the mixture of binding

agent and stirred. The Silk screen was soaked in the mixture to gather pulp then

removed after accumulating the desired amount. The silk screen was wrapped in a dry

cloth; flipped together to make the dry cloth face downwards and silk screen facing

upwards. Excess water on the silk screen was discarded by gently dabbing a dry

sponge on top of the screen multiple times. Ensuring that the paper pulp was

transferred onto the cloth, the silk screen was gently removed. A rolling pin was used

to spread and flatten the surface of the pulp. The pulp on dry cloth was blow dried for

at least 10 minutes. Then the pulp was ironed by layering it with dry cloth on top to

ensure it does not burn from the hot flat iron. the ironed pulp was exposed to direct

sunlight to ensure no moisture was present and to fully dry the pulp. After the pulp
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was dried, it was detached from the cloth that it was transferred to. The cogon grass

paper was trimmed to even out the sides.

Analyses of Paper made from Cogon Grass

D. Qualitative Properties of Cogon Grass Paper in terms of Color and Texture

The researchers will analyze the qualitative properties of cogon grass paper in

terms of colors and textures. The researchers will meticulously examine the texture of the

cogon grass paper using their sense of touch. The researchers will flash a light onto the

paper using their mobile phones to scrutinize the texture of cogon grass paper through its

appearance. To assess the color of the grass, the researchers will use the Color Grab

Software installed on their mobile phones to determine the color of the paper,

guaranteeing the presence of nature lighting for accurate color detection.

E. Quantitative Propertes of Cogon Grass Paper in terms of Grammage,

Coefficient of Friction, Tensile Index, and Tensile Strength

The researchers will measure the quantitative property of cogon grass paper in

terms of grammage. In this analysis, scissors, digital weighing scale and tape measure are

required. To begin with, the researchers will trim the cogon grass paper into similar sizes.

A digital weighing scale is needed in this analysis to determine the grams of each cogon

grass paper. Each cogon grass paper is scaled by the researchers using this device while

ensuring to tare the scale. Next, the length and width of the cogon grass paper will be

measured by the researchers using a tape measure. Lastly, the area of each cogon grass

paper is calculated using the garnered data. The researchers will apply this technique to

each paper produced from cogon grass to measure its grammage.

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The researchers will assess another quantitative property of the cogon grass paper

in terms of coefficient of friction. In this experiment, a Newton Meter or also known as

Spring Balance is used to measure the friction force of the cogon grass paper, and

marbles used as the load for this measurement. Firstly, the cogon grass paper is lain on a

flat surface. Marbles filled an empty pencil pouch to act as the load. The weight of the

load is calculated. Then, the newton meter is attached to the pencil pouch that has

marbles and is placed on the other end of the cogon grass paper. Next, the newton meter

is gently pulled across the opposite end of the cogon grass paper to measure the stability

of friction force that the cogon grass paper possesses.

The researchers will gauge the quantitative property of cogon grass paper in terms

of tensile index. Tensile index was used to measure and compare the inherent strengths of

the paper produced from cogon grass.

The researchers will evaluate the quantitative property of cogon grass paper in

terms of tensile strength. In this method, the researchers required the cogon grass paper,

marbles, a small disposable cellophane, an inch sized binder clips, and digital weighing

scale. The researchers will cut the cogon grass paper to make paper strips that has the size

of 0.5 inch in width and 6 inches in length. Both ends of the paper has binder clips in it,

one hanging on the wall and the other carrying the weight. Marbles were gradually added

onto the cellophane to measure the load a cogon grass paper can withstand until it can no

longer cope with the load and ruptures.

 26

Statistical Treatment of Data

In accordance with the objectives of this study and the statement of the problem,

the data that the researchers will gather will be subjected to tabulation, statistical analysis,

and interpretation. These analyses tend to show the patterns present in studies. The data

will be computed and analyzed using statistical tools to answer the problem of the study.

1. Grams per Square Meter. It is used to determine the grams of each paper

produced from cogon grass.

Formula: GSM = M × 10000 L mm × Width (mm) ×100

Where:

M = Mass of Cogon Grass Paper

10000 = Constant

L = Length of Cogon Grass Paper in Millimeters

W = Width of Cogon Grass Paper in Millimeters

100 = Constant

2. Coefficient of Friction. It is used to determine the ratio between friction force

and normal force on the paper produced from cogon grass.

Formula:

Where:

F = Frictional Force

N = Normal Force

3. Tensile Index. It is used to measure and compare the inherent strength of

different types of paper grades.

 27

Formula:

Where:

Nm/g = Tensile Index

Nm = Tensile Strength

g/m2 = Grammage

4. Tensile Strength. It is used to measure the maximum load that a material can

support without fracture when being stretched, divided by the original cross-

sectional area of the material.

5. Descriptive Statistics. It is used to thoroughly calculate, define and encapsulate

the collected research data in a systematic and logical manner to properly assess

the findings of this study.

6. Weighted Mean. It is used to determine the average of elements from the

analyses of paper made from cogon grass.

7. Standard Deviation. It is used to measure the tensile index of cogon grass

(imperata cylindrica) paper. This statistic measures the mean, median, mode, and

the central tendency of the provided information by the researchers, of the central

data.
 28

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