“Production of Paper Using Rice Husk”
A research paper presented to the faculty of
Ifugao Provincial Science High School- Senior High
Department
In partial fulfillment of the requirements in
the subject Practical Research 2
By:
Duyapat, Wrizel Joy
Paddapad, Liezel Grace G.
Inohiaban, Shane P.
CHAPTER 1
I. Background of the Study
Paper is used for all types of printed material, from books to
encyclopedias, packaging industry, and electronics industry for insulation
in electrical boards or printed circuit, medical use such as disposable
medical clothing, furniture and also for art purposes.
Paper is a network of plant fibers laid down as a flat sheet. It is
made from a suspension of plant tissues in water known as pulp. Most
pulp is made from wood, but recycled paper and other plant sources
including hemp, cotton, esparto grass, sugar cane bagasse and bamboo
can also be used. (KEW; Paper, 2007)
Wood pulp obtained from trees has been a primary source of paper
for centuries, thus increasing deforestation which in turn has a detrimental
effect on the climate and environment. However, with the advancement in
sustainable technology, green alternatives can be used to replace paper
obtained from wood pulp or trees. Though many countries and cultures
are exploring these practices, a visible change needs to be brought into
the paper production industry. Some of the sustainable alternatives to the
tree-based paper are old t-shirts, seaweed, stones, leather, rice straw and
rice husk or hull.
Mankind uses a lot of various mineral resources for the
manufacturing of goods. Most of the natural resources are exhaustive and
non-renewable. However rice waste represents a rare exception.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), several hundred
million tons of rice hulls are generated annually. (FAO; 2020) It is the
protective covering which surrounds the paddy grains and accounts for
20% - 25% of its weight. It is a byproduct of rice milling and agro-based
biomass industry. It has been used as building material, fertilizer, and fuel.
Combustion of rice hulls produces rice husk ash (RHA) which is a
potential source of amorphous reactive silica. The amorphous silica
contained in RHA helps to strengthen materials and is also a very good
thermal insulation material. (Navin Chand, Mohammed Fahim, in Tribology
of Natural Fiber Polymer Composites (Second Edition), 2021) This is why
there is a spiraling demand for it in the production of cement, concrete
mixes and low permeability concrete used for construction of bridges,
nuclear plants and in marine environments.
Says Anthony Mugambi, Kilimo Trust Country team leader;
“Rice husks have many uses and can be processed into bio-
fertilizers and added to soil on the recommendation of scientists to
improve soil aeration. Husk with its rich reserves of potassium and
silicon helps to amend the soil, improve its properties by
decreasing soil bulk density, improve its fertility with the air
pockets created underground, and works as a rice conditioner,”
( Rice waste converts into wealth creation venture, 2022)
Which means rice husk can be used in horticulture for soil aeration and
improved productivity of plants with respect to its soil condition. This could
also reflect to its result for data basis in horticulture researches.
The paper industry generally uses wood as the primary raw material
sourced from increasingly limited natural forests and increasingly high
prices. Alternative raw materials are needed to reduce the dependence on
the use of wood as a raw material for the paper industry. In general, the
primary raw material for paper is cellulose which is obtained from wood or
non-wood plants. The high cellulose content of in rice husk shows that rice
husk has the potential as an alternative raw material for making paper.
Rice husk is a cellulose-based fiber and contains approximately 20 % silica
in amorphous form. (Hu et al., 2008; Mansaray and Ghaly, 1998; Nair,
Fraaij, Klaasen and Kentgens, 2008) In addition, it consist of 60%-65%
volatile matter, 10%-15% fixed carbon and 17%-23% ash. (Hu et al.,
2008; Mansaray and Ghaly, 1998; Kwong Christopher, Chao Wang and
Cheung, 2007) It also contains approximately 40% cellulose, 30% lignin
group and 20% silica. (Chindaprasirt, Kanchanda, Sathonsaowaphak and
Cao, 2007)
The chemical composition of paper will depend on the type or grade
of paper. Typically most grades of paper consist of organic and inorganic
material. Organic portion consisting of cellulose, hemi-cellulose, lignin
and/or various compound of lignin. Comparing to rice husk, the main
components are cellulose, lignin and silica. Rice husk contain high
concentration of silica in amorphous crystalline (quartz) forms. (Omoniyi,
2015) Cellulose is an important structural component of green plants
which is, in the paper industry, used to produce paper boards and paper.
Lignin, the natural glue that holds cellulose fibers together and stiffens
plant stems, causes paper made of wood pulp weaker and discolor
rapidly if not removed in the pulp mill; but the removal process are harsh
and shorten the fibers on which the paper’s strength depends. (New
ways to remove lignin, 1986) While silica is a chemical compound
commonly used in paper coating, especially on matte papers used in ink-
jet printing. The silica gel properties are very particular. Namely high
surface area, hydrophilicity and internal porosity allowing easy ink
diffusion along the coating layer. The components of rice husk are way
similar to the typical composition of a paper, making this as an
alternative raw material for paper production.
The use of alternative raw materials in making paper have been
introduced to the paper industry because of its impact to our
environment and its harmful by-products or wastes accumulated during
the process that contribute to worldwide environmental issues such as
pollution, deforestation and global warming.
Kempner, 2016, argues that it is no surprise to hear that pollution
from manufacturing and waste has a direct and negative impact on the
environment. Everything from paper clips to fax machines are
contributors to the problem. One of the largest culprits adding to
environmental damage and wastes is also one of the easiest to replace;
paper.
The increasing people’s demand for paper consumption promotes
the rapid development of the paper industry that produces
environmental sources to drainage. Deforestation is one of the main
environmental problems that humans are facing in these times because
42% of all global wood harvest is used for paper manufacturing.
Moreover, the paper industry would release harmful gases to the
atmosphere leading negatively to the environment with severe
environmental problems. (Suraj, M., Khan, A., 2015)
The process of manufacturing paper releases nitrogen dioxide,
sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the air contributing to pollution
such as acid rain and greenhouse gases (GHGs) which are responsible for
climate change like global warming. Besides, large amount of waste
water is discharged from the pulp in paper production from each stage if
the process to the environment. This waste water may result in the
increasing concentration of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and
chemical and chemical oxygen demand (COD) that may even lead to the
extinction of aquatic life. Thus, discussing and solving the severe
environmental impact of paper production has become a crucial topic.
II. Statement of the Problem
The study aims to find out the efficacy of rice husk as a raw
material in making paper or paper production.
Questions:
1. What are the methods and process of making paper from rice
husk?
2. What are the advantages of rice husk in paper production?
3. What is the durability level of paper made from rice husk?
4. Is there a significant difference between paper made from rice
husk and commercially produced paper in terms of;
a) Durability
b) Viability
c) Respondent’s preference
5. How high or how low is the approval rate of the product
according to customer’s preferences?
III. Significance of the Study
The findings of the study will be a benefit to the society
considering that paper has a wide range of usage in almost everything
that we do. The great demand for paper production in the paper industry
exhibit the need if mass production but as much as possible without
affecting the environment or contributing to deforestation and pollution.
Thus, alternative use of other organic material, rice husks in particular,
for paper production is recommended for this situation and it will be
justified whether it is effective as per the results of this study. A new
discovery will be continued to the paper industry and will also help the
society in mass paper production and environmental issues. For the
researchers, the study will help them explore the wide range of
possibilities using educational process to uncover the innovative ways in
paper production.
IV. Scope and Delimitation
To gather data on the efficacy level of rice husk as a raw material
in paper production. The researchers will conduct an experiment to
produce paper using the raw material and test its potential as new
alternative material in paper making. This study is limited to the quality
outcome of the rice husk paper. This experiment will be conducted at
Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao until the end of this semester S.Y. 2022-2023.
V. Conceptual Framework
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
A. profile of A. “Production of
respondents Paper Using Rice
1. Preparation of
Husk “
1. Age raw materials and
equipment
2. Year level
2. Making of
B. student’s
homemade paper
preference
3. Testing its
1. Quality;
durability level
- Texture
4. Collecting of
- Thickness data
2. Affordability; B.
-high priced 1. Preparation of
paper survey questions
-low priced 2. Administering
paper of survey questions
C. Respondent’s 3. Gathering of
approval rate to the survey questions
Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework of the study. The input is
the profile of respondents according to age and year level, student’s
preference according to quality and affordability, respondent’s approval
rate to the product and rice husk. The research process includes
preparation, making of homemade paper and testing its durability then
collecting of data. Next is preparing, administering and gathering of
survey questions. Lastly is tabulation of gathered data, statistical analysis
and interpretation. The output is the production of paper using rice husk.
