Waste banana plant (Musa sp.) Trunks as an Alternative source of pulp for paper making Essay

Edible Banana (Musa sp.) the give is a gigantic herb that springs from an underground stem, or rhizome, to form a false trunk 36 meters (1020 feet) high (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006). Bananas cannot be grown anywhere beca intention they are very sensitive to strong winds, hence, if arrangeed on open areas, one must use windbreakers for the banana plant not to be harmed, the plant can be also planted on dry lands provided that there is a stable irrigation (Department of Agri-culture, 2010). report is a genuine made of cellulose slop, derived mainly from wood, rags and certain grasses, processed into flexible sheets or rolls by deposit from an aqueous suspension (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008).It is the most widely apply material by mankind since its discovery in China. The average dimensions of a letter sized paper is 8.27*11.69mmThe aim of this study is to find out if the pulp from trunk banana is suitable for paper production.Statement of ProblemGeneral ObjectiveThis study primarily aims to find out if pulp from the banana guide trunk is a better alternative than wood pulp Specific Objectives1.) This study aims to find out if paper produce using banana plant trunks pulp is more economic than the commercially utilize tree trunk pulp 2.) And to find out what is better 100% banana plant trunk pulp of banana tree trunk pulp plus recycled paper. HypothesisThe paper made in this study will be more cost efficient than paper mass produce by companies using commercial grade wood pulp Significance of the study The paper made from the waste banana plant trunk pulp will Increase the income of the Banana farmers here in the Philippines because instead of simply discarding the Banana plant short pants after harvesting the ripe bananas, they could sell it to factories for added income Scope and Limitation of the StudyThis study is only limited to the use banana plant trunks and recycled paper in the creation of paper that will be produce by this study.Definition of termsBanana-a treelike tropical palm with large leaves and flowering clusters that develop into a bunch of finer shaped fruit which are yellow or red when ripe(Websters New encyclopedic Dictionary, 1999). Wood Pulp-a material prepared by chemical or mechanical means chiefly from wood and used in make paper and cellulose products (Websters New Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1999).Review of Related Literature and Review of Related StudiesBanana (Musa sp.)Name for several species of the genus Musa and for the fruits these produce. The banana plant-one of the largest herbaceous plants-is said to be native in tropical Asia, but is now cultivated throughout the tropics (The Free Dictionary 2010). Wood PulpPulp from wood used in making cellulose derivatives (as paper or rayon) Mold and DeckleA mold is a wooden frame with wire mesh stretched on it while a deckle edge is just a wooden frame the same size as the mold but is has no wire mesh stretched over it. Related Studies in that respect is a study conducted by the students of University of Cordoba and University of Pablo, Spain (2012) to characterize the banana plant residues and use it in pulping and combustion processes.Another study conducted by the North East skill and technology Institute (2008) which aims to make grease proof paper out of banana pulp fiber.MethodologyTools and MaterialsThe waste banana plant trunk that was used in this study were taken from Brgy. Punta Tabuc, Roxas City, Capiz. The materials that were a machete,3 pcs lower banana plant trunks, a deckle, 3 pcs 107 silk screen and mesh wire screen molds, a large stainless steel pot and sodium hydroxide.