SBF 3032

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

MINI PROJECT PROPOSAL

TITLE: HANDMADE PAPER FROM SUGAR CANE BAGASSE

PREPARED BY :
BIL NAME MATRIC NUMBER

1. LOH CHAIN HUI D20172078124

2. NUR FAREHAH BINTI ZAIDI D20171078129

3. EASTER GILLIAN ANAK NELSON D20171078139

4. RONALD DECK YAMI D20171078135

GROUP :B
LECTURER : PROFESOR MADYA DR. HASIMAH BINTI ALIMON
Tittle : Handmade paper from sugar cane bagasse.

Objectives :

1. To produce eco-friendly and quality paper for daily uses.

2. To produce rapidly renewable and sustainable paper.
3. To produce biodegradable paper.

Research questions :

1. Can the sugar cane bagasse be converted into paper?

2. How we converted the sugar cane bagasse into paper?
3. Are the qualities of the paper that made of sugar cane bagasse same as the regular
paper?
4. What is the advantage of using the handmade papers from sugar cane than regular
paper?

Hypothesis :

The quality and uses of handmade paper from sugar cane bagasse are better from the
regular paper.

Introduction :

Solid waste and logging forest are one of the biggest problem in civil society. In this
project, agriculture waste will be used to produce handmade paper. Papers are very
important and have many uses such as for writing, cleansing product, construction
processes and even as a food ingredient. Papers are made using wood largely from soft
coniferous tree and non-wood material such as sugar cane bagasse. By making the eco-
friendly paper we could help to reduce deforestation, by creating paper that doesn't require
fresh trees. Reducing deforestation reduces habitat loss for wildlife, and keeps more
oxygen in the atmosphere. In this project, the handmade papers are made from bagasse.
Bagasse is a plant fiber. More specifically, it is the fibrous matter that is left over after the
production of sugarcane, sorghum or agave. So in another word, it is bio-waste. Bagasse
was treated as unusable and disposed, and burned or left in open piles to rot. It was not
seen as a useful by-product. But we can change bagasse to be seen as a valuable, renewable
resource such as tree-free paper production. Bagasse is well suited for tissue, news print
and writing paper.

Significances:

1. Save the trees.

There are a lot of significances in producing of paper from sugar cane bagasse
which are the bio-waste. We know that world paper and paperboard demand
increasing rapidly. So, by using the bio-waste to make a paper, we can reduce the
uses of tree. About 27,000 trees daily are used to make a toilet paper globally.
Sugar can replace trees for pulp production and help to save trees and endangered
forest.

2. Sugar canes are biodegradable and compostable.

Sugar cane fibers are quickly dissolves back into the soil so that it is safe for all
disposal system.

3. Reduce air pollution

One way to get rid of sugar cane fiber after sugar processing is to burn it. However,
this will increase the air pollution and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Rather
than burning it, the fiber can be directed to be processed into fiber.
Materials :

 Bagasse of sugarcane
 Sodium hydroxide
 Sodium sulphide
 Calcium carbonate
 Starch
 Tray
 Blender
 Deckle
 Cloth

Methods and procedure :

1. Preparation of bagasse

Crash the sugarcane to extract its juice and collect the fibrous residue. Dry the bagasse
under the sun for few days and then wash it by tap water repeatedly to remove impurities.

2. Pulping process

Cook the bagasse for approximately 15-30 minutes by adding sodium hydroxide and
sodium sulphide. Then, wash it with hot water and tap water repeatedly.

3. Blending process

Mix the pulp in blender for 5 minutes with little of water and additives such as calcium
carbonate and starch.

5. Sheet formation

Screen the mould with a deckle to remove water. A thin layer of pulp is left on the screen.
Transfer the wet sheet to a cloth and compress it to get a smoother surface.

6. Drying

Put the sheets under the sun until it completely dry.

Analysis :

Quantitative Analysis

1.Time consumption

A complete sheet of paper can be produced within 2-3 days. Although the procedure is
time consuming, a large amount of products can be produced simultaneously.

2.Cost

The expenses for the research is low and affordable. The sugarcane bagasse is an eco-
friendly and renewable raw material as it is the by-product from sugar industry which is
usually disposed as waste.

Qualitative Analysis

Testing of paper quality:

1.Grammage test

The mass per area of the paper is measured as gsm (grams per square meter). Paper sheets
are cut to a size of 10 cm x 10 cm, then the sheets are massed individually. The mean of
the masses is used to calculate the mass of the paper per square meter, and the standard
deviation is determined from all samples.

2.Water absorbency Test

Klemm method

Test pieces are immersed to a set depth in water and the height of the water rise is measure
after a set time.