MAKING PAPER FROM SUGAR CANE BAGASSE: S-CANEPER

MAKING PAPER FROM SUGAR CANE BAGASSE: S-CANEPER

Danial Faris Haikal bin Jamal Abd Nasher, Adriana Mizanie binti Amis Ruzi, Ahya

Natasya Mohd Redzuan, Wan Najla Faqihah binti Wan Othman

Norhidayah binti Shafei

Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Kuantan, Bandar Indera Mahkota,
25200 Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia



ABSTRACT


This study aims to address one of the major problems in the paper production
industry. As is well known, the demand for paper around the world is increasing
while the natural resources to produce it are declining. In our research, we intend

to study the suitability of sugar cane bagasse as a papermaking source. Through
our observations, a massive amount of sugar cane bagasse is thrown out every
day. This will spoil the surrounding view which leads to environmental pollution.

This situation prompted us to find more economical and eco-friendly methods to
overcome the problem. We have taken sugar cane bagasse from a night market

hawker as a sample for our study. The process begins by simmering the dried
sugarcane bagasse chunks in sodium carbonate solution. We found that sodium
carbonate solution was an effective solvent for softening fiber from sugarcane

bagasse. The soften fiber then soaked in eco-friendly bleach to whiten it. Then
the fiber was grounded with water to produce pulp. The pulp was compressed

into a mould to form a sheet of paper and dried. Experiments were conducted to
determine the quality of the paper and identify uses of the paper. This project
proves that sugar cane bagasse has potential as an alternative basic resource in

paper making. It is hoped that this project will be able to provide alternative
sources in the production of pulp and paper, further assisting in the development
of the national paper manufacturing industry.


Keyword: eco-friendly, fiber, paper, sugar cane.

INTRODUCTORY

The demand for paper is increasing among the community, especially among

students. This has led to an increase in logging projects, those affected the
population of trees. We have other alternative to produce paper, which is using
sugar cane bagasse. Based on the statistic published by Department of

Agriculture in Peninsular Malaysia, in the year of 2021, 23 519 Mt of yellow sugar
cane was harvested in Malaysia, slightly increased from 20 761 Mt in the year of
2019. To prevent more problems in managing sugar cane bagasse and

environmental pollution from occurring, appropriate steps are needed to turn this
problem into a national economic generation opportunity.


How to convert sugar cane waste into more useful materials without causing
pollution to the environment?


This project is about making papers from sugar cane bagasse efficiently and
cheaply while being able to preserve the environment.




METHODOLOGY


The sugar cane bagasse was obtained from a side road hawker who sells fresh
sugar cane juice. First, the bagasse was dried under the sun for 24 hours. Next,

the softer part of the bagasse was taken out and chopped into smaller chunk.
After that, the bagasse chunks were soaked in water for at least 24 hours. Then,

the bagasse was simmered with sodium carbonate powder to soften it.
Afterwards, the bagasse chunks were rinsed with excess water. The wastewater
was neutralised with vinegar before releasing it into the drainage system. The

bagasse chunks were blended into pulp. The pulp was then soaked in oxygen
bleach for a few days to decolorise it. Later, the pulp was rinsed with a plenty of

water. It was soaked again in natural coloring such as pea butterfly, turmeric, and
red cabbage juices for two to three days to add colour to the pulp. The pulp was
put into mould and compressed into suitable thickness and to remove excess

water. The molded pulp was dried under the sunlight. Lastly, the paper was taken
out from the mould.

PROCESS

In this project, the conversion of sugar cane bagasse to paper makes a huge

contribution to environmental sustainability where we have carried out a process
that has the least impact on the environment with the use of more eco-friendly
chemicals including materials obtained from natural sources. The wastewater

from boiled sugar cane bagasse was neutralised with vinegar before being
released into the drainage system. When sodium carbonate dissolves in water,
an alkaline solution reacts to neutralise the sodium hydroxide solution and

produces a neutral solution of sodium ethanoate and water. The two resulting
compounds will not affect the pH value of the water. The use of biodegradable

oxygen bleach also very helpful in preventing the accumulation of harmful
chemicals in the environment. We did not use chlorine bleach because when
chlorine dissolves in water, the resulting substance will react with light to produce

pollutants that can disturb the balance of the environment and have a negative
impact on living things.




RESULTS


There are many tests that have been done to test the quality of paper from sugar
cane compared to regular paper. This test is divided into two, namely the physical

test and the chemical test. Physically, we found that the paper surface of sugar
cane is more crumpled and rougher than regular paper. It is also thinner and

dense than regular paper. The folding ability of sugar cane paper is just similar to
the ordinary paper. Therefore, the flexibility of sugar cane is the same as that of
ordinary paper. We have tested sugar cane paper in terms of strength and

stiffness and found that it is easier to tear than regular paper. In addition, we
performed experiments in terms of its density in a container filled with water. We
found out that sugar cane is less dense than regular paper.


In the second experiment we tested sugar cane paper in terms of chemical
properties. First, we carried out a fire test and as a result the sugar cane burnt

slower than regular paper. Next, in the decomposing test the result was sugar
cane decomposed more easily than regular paper. This is because the atomic
bonds between sugar cane are weaker than ordinary paper.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

In this era of globalisation, the use of paper and its production is increasing.

Practically, this project produces more papers to be used in daily lives using an
eco-friendlier process starting from the beginning until the end, at a lower cost.
This process also can produce papers of good qualities. Based on the results of

our work, namely the S-caneper, it can be concluded that the study that we have
done is successful and effective. This proves that sugar cane bagasse has
potential as an alternative basic resource in paper making. The resulting product

from this study is a user-friendly product which suits the consumer needs in daily
activities. Printing process by using this paper is smooth and the paper does not

make the ink expand. When ink gel is used in writing, the ink dries quicker
compared to common papers. The sugar cane bagasse can be converted into a
useful material so that they do not become a waste. We are confident that this

project has an economical value for our country. At the same time, this project
brings a lot of benefits to humankind and the environment including to the

advancement of Green Technology in Malaysia.

REFERENCES

https://carriagehousepaper.com/soda-ash-558


https://www.google.com/search?q=sugar+cane+usage&sxsrf=ALiCzsa1XZIRWF
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ved=0ahUKEwiMgaeAia_4AhVKTgGHcGxAsIQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=sugar+ca
ne+usage&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EANKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQAFgAYMwCaAB
wAXgAgAEAiAEAkgEAmAEAwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz


https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/making-paper-from-plants-zm0z17jjzqui/


https://www.nontoxichub.com/papermaking

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/canesugar#:~:text=Cane%20s

ugar%20is%20one%20of,for%20various%20materials%20in%20production.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/sugarcane


Statistik Tanaman (Sub-Sektor Tanaman Makanan). 2021. Putrajaya. Jabatan
Pertanian Semenanjung Malaysia.


Yeap Tok Kheng, Fazilah Hamzah, Salida Sani. 2022. Rujukan Komprehensif
dan Efektif Masterclass Kimia SPM Tingkatan 4 & 5 KSSM. Petaling Jaya.

Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd.

Source person:


Dr. Nadiya binti Haji Abd Halim, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Chemical & Process
Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak,

26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Bestarinah binti Ibrahim, English Panel member, SBP Integrasi Kuantan.


Marlina binti Mat, Head of Chemistry Panel, SBP Integrasi Kuantan.


Muhammad Amjad Muhaimin Bin Mustafa, committee member of Innovation
Science Club, SBP Integrasi Kuantan.