ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE LABORATORY HIGH SCHOOL

“ACCEPTABILITY OF BANANA STEM FIBER AS AN ALTERNATIVE IN MAKING

PAPER”

A RESEARCH PAPER PRESENTED TO DR. JONATHAN DELA CRUZ

ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

LABORATORY HIGH SCHOOL

STA MARIA, ILOCOS SUR

PACLEB, JESSALYN B.

DELA CRUZ, MARLON D.

ELECCION, DANTE G. JR.

CABALAR, AIDAN ZEINA NEDINE A.

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUBJECT

INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION AND IMMERSION

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS

CHAPTER I

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INTRODUCTION

Overview

Banana (Musa paradisiaca), is a fruit-bearing plant which is unseasonal, making it

abundant specially in rural areas. It is also a fruit that can produce or create many different

industrial products and can benefit the banana planters.

Banana has a large herb, with succulent, and very juicy stem. Banana contains fiber,

potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B6 and almost all the parts of this plant like the flower bud,

leaves, fruits, trunk and pseudo stem can be utilized. Banana fiber obtained from the pseudo stem

and it is effectively durable. The pseudo stem portion of the plant fiber is incredibly suitable for

making paper (Saika et al., 1997).

Banana is useful in every part just like the food, feed, pharmaceutical, packaging,

handicrafts and many other industrial products. Banana is one of the most important and healthy

fruit crops. Banana continuous the huge quantity of the waste bananas that is from the pseudo

stem, and it also increase in production that causing detrimental impact in environment

(Debabandya Mohapatra,2010).

Fibers can be used as a raw material in the production of papers. Banana fibers from the

pseudo stem can have potential in making different products such as papers. It found out that

banana was very useful that has rich in cellulose and low in lignin content compared than the

hardwood. It also proves that some of the banana was potential resource of raw material such as

natural fibers, which can effectively use as reinforcement for composite or handmade materials

(Vigneswara, 2015).

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The bananas from pseudo stem have composition properties and structures that are

effectively suitable for using in making industrial products in our industry. It found out that there

are available technologies for extracting fibers and paper making form pseudo stem, but the

people in our industry is not aware of the handmade paper product from the banana pseudo stem,

so it is not being adopted in our industry due to lack of awareness (Ravindran, 2016).

Banana fiber has a natural strength, that can be blended easily with a cotton or synthetic

fiber that can effectively produce a composite material. It found out that the waste banana fiber

and the extracted banana fiber where characterized in terms of morphological properties and

chemical properties that can produce a handmade paper product from the pseudo stem fiber

(Omotso and Ogunsile, 2010).

The pulping of waste banana fiber and extract banana fiber was carried out in terms of

varying in cooking time at the boiling temperature and then pour some sodium hydroxide, and

then blend it at the blender. So that finally it aimed at producing a handmade paper product from

the waste banana fiber from its pseudo stem (Heikal, 1976; Heikal and Fadl, 1977).

The result of this research will decrease the usage of plastic bags to prevent some

disasters like flooding. This past years, we experience grave flooding and human waste,

especially plastic, is the pivotal or the main cause of this phenomena. This days, people doesn’t

have any discipline within their selves especially or with regards to waste management. Few

would probably throw their garbage on their right bins and segregate them into biodegradable,

non-biodegradable, and recyclable. Unfortunately, there are a lot of us that doesn’t know how to

manage these trash, some would just throw their garbage to a place where no one can see them.

If we could replace plastics into something that is eco-friendly and people will become eco-

conscious it will be a totally big help to our environment to lessen using plastics and to prevent

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disasters like flooding. The researchers decided to create eco-bags that will be incredibly durable

and useful using banana stem fiber since we all know that this fibers can be used in making

papers.

In conclusion, Banana is one of the most useful plant to use as a raw material and

alternative in production of useful products. The banana fiber was from the pseudo stem that can

utilized to be an ingredient to an effective product such as paper that can be useful such as eco-

bag or eco-paper and etc. It has a natural strength that can be blended easily with a cotton fiber

that can produce many different composite materials. The banana farmers will be benefited since

this study will develop or create a way to use banana stem in producing a profitable and eco-

friendly product.

Objectives of the Study

This study aims to determine the acceptability of banana stem fiber as an alternative in

making paper.

Specifically, it will determine the:

1. Acceptability of the paper made from banana stem in terms of:

a. Texture;

b. Color;

c. Durability; and

d. Cost

2. Significant difference between the paper made from the Pseudo stem fiber and the

commercial paper in terms of:

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a. Texture;

b. Color;

c. Durability; and

d. Cost

Scope and Delimitation

This study is only limited to find out that banana stem fiber can be made into. This study

will test and observe the quality of paper made from banana stem fiber. Specifically, the

researchers aims to determine the acceptability of paper with banana stem fiber which is

delimited only to its texture, color, cost, and durability of the desired product

Importance of the Study

This study is deemed beneficial to the following:

Farmers- this study provides them an idea on the potential of banana stem fiber as an

alternative paper.

Students- This study will be a significant endeavor to all people, especially to students.

The student can use paper made from banana stem fiber and knowing this information will lessen

the amount of money that they’d spend in buying a paper as a student.

Environment- this study will benefits the environment in terms to lessen the amount of

trees to cut down for the production of paper by creating another way to produce paper. Since the

Philippines has an abundant plantation of banana plant, it won’t coast a big amount of money.

Researchers- the result of this study gives them a sense of fulfillment since development

of banana stem fiber is a relevant contribution in our environment.

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Future Researchers- this serves as reference for future researchers to be considered

which are related to their study.

Definition of Terms

Acceptability- this is defined as the banana stem fiber are acceptable in using for making a

paper.

Banana Stem Fiber- is from the pseudo stem of the banana that is effective to use in making

paper.

Paper- it refers to a material or product that we are aiming to create using the fiber of the banana

stem.

Texture- it refers to the surface of the paper that is made from banana stem fiber.

Color- it refers to the shade of the commercial paper and the paper made from banana stem fiber.

Cost- it refers to the amount of the commercial paper and the paper made from banana stem.

Durability- to determine if the banana stem fiber can be durable in making a paper.

Commercial Paper- refers to the paper that we are commonly used.

Review Related Literature

According to Khan et al. (2013), Banana stem was cooked by the craft process with

different chemical charges and a wide range of time and temperature and the optimal pulping

conditions were established. Heikal (1976) also stated that the fiber lengths were varied from

medium to longer range from species to species. While the study of Simmond (1962) also

stressed that Banana fiber composite is less and indicates banana as a good insulator and also

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developed composite can be used as insulating materials in building, automotive industry and in

steam pipes to save energy by reducing rate of heat.

According to Kellog (1975), the majority of variation of burst and tensile strength in

hardwood pulp sheets could be accounted for by fiber strength make it usable in a number of

different textiles with different weights that thickness based in what of the banana stem fiber was

extracted from. While the study of Malhan (2005), as an indication of potential paper-making

properties, they are important for the pulp producer in the control of fiber characteristics. The

brightness was achieved at 45% ISO, with a viscosity level at 585mL/g. Drainage of pulp was

extremely slow and paper-making properties were characterized by low strength, low bulk, rough

surface, and extremely poor optical properties. Saika et al (2010), stated that the texture of the

product is not that uniform and its color is kind of dark brown or brown. The paper turned out to

be not so smooth, compared to an ordinary paper usually brought in stores according Prezi

(2019).

According to Prechtl (2013), Pseudo stem and peduncle are the major source of fiber for

banana. These fibers can be used as raw naturals for making paper, card boards, tea bags, and

etc. Poonam and Gupta (1991), also stated that other agricultural residues such as banana stem

possesses characteristics is suitable for paper making. Banana stem is easily available raw

material as a source of making paper pulp for production of various types of papers. The process

of making pulp is economically violable. The lignin separated for cellulose with the help of

chemical treatment. While the study of McLeod (1995), he stated that in production of paper

through banana stem, kraft pulp process is preferred. It is the oldest and very famous process to

prepare a pulp. When the paper was manufactured through the kraft process, the paper obtained

was much stronger than any paper previously manufactured. The different uses of banana stem

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consist of manufacturing grease proof paper, fiber, board, writing paper and tissue paper. As a

point of economy, the banana stem raw material is cheaper than wood.

According to Ganan et al (2004), a technology turning banana waste into paper is gearing

up to go commercial. And it has several distinct market advantages a commercially viable cost

structure, superior product and positive environmental benefits. While the study of Thykeson

(1995), stressed that the total cost of manufacturing banana paper is as high as Rs 200 per kg, a

manufacturer often has profit margin of Rs 200-220 per kg, with the handmade paper selling at

Rs 400-420 per kg. And the study of Lam et al (2001), banana paper making seems to be the

only avenue for utilizing sustainable resource most appropriately. If all the banana plants were

harvested and their fiber extracted from the trunk, around 2.1 lakh tonnes of the fiber would be

available per annum, yielding 1,65 lakh tonnes of handmade paper.

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CHAPTER II

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A. Materials

The following is the materials in implementing the study:

 Blender

 Measuring Cup

 Graduating Cylinder

 Ladle

 Strainer

 Picture Frame

 Basin

 Knife

 Chopping Board

B. Methods

Research Design

A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) is the simplest design for comparative

experiments, as it uses two basic principles of experimental design: randomized and

replication. Its power is best understood in the context of agricultural experiments (for which

it was initially developed), and it will be discussed from that perspective, but true

experimental designs, where acceptable, are useful in social sciences and medical

experiments.

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In completely randomized design, the treatments are allocated to the experimental units

or plot in a completely random manner. CRD may be used for single or multifactor

experiments. This entry discusses the application, advantages, and dis advantages of CRD

studies and processes of conducting and analyzing them. Neil J. Salkind (2010).

For the study, the researchers will use completely randomize design. There will be 4

independent variables, for treatment 0 is the commercial paper, treatment 1 is made of paper

from the banana stem with 25% of banana stem fiber and 75% lye water, treatment 2 is made

of paper from banana stem with equal amount of banana stem and lye water, treatment 3 is

made of paper from banana stem with 75% of banana stem and 25% lye water.

Treatments

There were four treatment combinations which were replicated thrice as presented below;

Treatments
T₀ Control
T₁ 25 % Banana Stem Fiber + 75% Lye Water

T₂ 50% Banana Stem Fiber + 50% Lye Water

T₃ 75% Banana Stem Fiber + 25% Lye Water

Experimental Procedure

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The following is the process in making banana stem fiber as an alternative in making

paper:

Statistical Tools and Analysis

The gathered data will be presented, analyzed and interpreted by the following statistical

treatment:

Mean- will be used to determine the level of acceptability of the banana stem fiber as an

alternative in making paper in terms of color, texture, durability, and cost.

Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)- will be used to determine the significance difference

between and among the 3 treatments.

Tukey Cramer Multiple Comparison Test (TCMCT)- will be used to trace which pair

of treatment show significance differences.

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Data Categorization

RUBRICS IN DETERMINING THE ACCEPTABILITY OF BANANA STEM AS AN

ALTERNATIVE IN MAKING PAPER

Table 1. The Likert scale for Texture adopted from Flores, Bacang, and Gualberto (2015).

Scale Range Descriptive Rating Overall Description

5 4.21-5.00 Highly Acceptable (HA) The surface of the paper is

totally rough

4 3.41-4.20 Acceptable (A) The surface of the paper is rough

3 2.61-3.40 Moderately Acceptable (MA) The surface of the paper is not so

rough

2 1.81-2.60 Slightly Acceptable (SA) The surface of the paper is smooth

1 1.01-1.80 Not Acceptable (NA) The surface of the paper is very

smooth

Table 2. The Likert scale for Color.

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Scale Range Descriptive Rating Overall Description

5 4.21-5.00 Highly Acceptable (HA) The paper is dark brown in color

4 3.41-4.20 Acceptable (A) The paper is brown in color

3 2.61-3.40 Moderately Acceptable (MA) The paper is light brown in color

2 1.81-2.60 Slightly Acceptable (SA) The paper is dull or dirty color

1 1.01-1.80 Not Acceptable (NA) The Paper is completely white

Table 3. The Likert scale for Durability.

Scale Range Descriptive Rating Overall Description

5 4.21-5.00 Highly Acceptable (HA) The paper is sturdy with no evident

deformations

4 3.41-4.20 Acceptable (A) The paper has a slight deformation

3 2.61-3.40 Moderately Acceptable (MA) The paper can be easily ripped

2 1.81-2.60 Slightly Acceptable (SA) The paper is not strong and the parts

are not strongly united

1 1.01-1.80 Not Acceptable (NA) The paper is obviously disintegrated

Table 4. The Likert scale for Cost.

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Scale Range Descriptive Rating Overall Description

5 4.21-5.00 Highly Acceptable (HA) Each sheet of paper cost more than 5

pesos

4 3.41-4.20 Acceptable (A) Each sheet of paper cost more than 4

Pesos

3 2.61-3.40 Moderately Acceptable (MA) Each sheet of paper cost more than 3

pesos

2 1.81-2.60 Slightly Acceptable (SA) Each sheet of paper cost more than 2

pesos

1 1.01-1.80 Not Acceptable (NA) Each of sheet paper cost 1 peso below

References:

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