EXPLORING THE HYDROPHOBIC POTENTIAL OF Colocasia esculenta

(TARO) LEAF IN MAKING WATER-RESISTANT

PAPER

A RESEARCH PROJECT

By:

AGUILAR, Ledymar C.
CAPUZ, John Dominique
S. CASTILLO, Dominador
L.
ECHIVARRE, Hanna Feonna
E. PALER, Maryic Jireh D.
TEMPLADO, Francis Ray L.
VALIOS, Mark Cyrill G.

GRADE 12 STEM - Hypergalaxy

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
GENERAL SANTOS CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Calumpang, General Santos City

September 2024
 Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In the world, trees are harvested for their cellulose fibers, which are

the main source material used to make paper products. People use paper

daily for a variety of purposes, including notebooks, newspapers, laminated

documents, and even toilet paper. Most paper produced worldwide has been

created from wood since roughly 1870. According to Integrated Learning

Solutions and Services or ILSAS (2023), the process of making paper has an

adverse effect on the environment. Approximately 13–15% of the world's

wood consumption is accounted for by the production of 405 million tonnes

of paper and paperboard. Regretfully, human consumption necessitates the

annual removal of billions of trees, speeding up the process of deforestation

in our world (Cartly, 2023).

In the Philippines, the quest for sustainable and eco-friendly materials

has gained momentum as the nation seeks to balance development with

environmental stability. As stated by Casiro and Catubig (2019), PICOP, or

Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines, is a multi-billion-peso wood-

based industry in the Philippines, operating the only fully integrated pulp and

paper mill in Southeast Asia since 1963. With a significant share of forest

concessions, PICOP significantly contributed to socio-economic development.

Consequently, the important contributions of the industry to the economy

were not sustained due to deforestation which, at its peak in 2016, went up

as high as

300 thousand hectares per annum. Based on research, the rapid depletion of
the country's forest brought about by various factors which include, among

others, massive
conversion to other land uses, forest fires and illegal logging, has severely

affected and continues to affect the economic contribution of the forestry

sector to the economy.

Moreover, the paper industry in Mindanao has faced major challenges

in recent years, including the closure of 22 paper mills due to the influx of

imported paper products and lack of government support. As explained by

the Global Forest Watch, South Cotabato in 2010 had 193,000 hectares of

natural forest, extending over 51% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 549

hectares of natural forest. Illegal logging activities such as in areas in Lake

Sebu have contributed to the deforestation happening in the Philippines.

These challenges have resulted in a major reduction of local production,

layoffs and reduced paper recycling activities.

With the increasing global demand for sustainable materials and the

environmental challenges posed by conventional paper production, there is a

growing need to explore eco-friendly alternatives. Considering the

abundance of paper waste and Colocasia esculenta (taro) in the country, its

unique hydrophobic properties offer a promising opportunity to enhance the

durability of paper products. This study aims to utilize paper waste and taro

leaf waste in the production of water-resistant paper, not only to improve its

water resistance but also to contribute to waste reduction, sustainable

resource use, and reduction of tree removal. By harnessing the natural

water-repellent characteristics of taro leaf, this research seeks to create a

more resilient and environmentally friendly paper, addressing both material

degradation and the broader issue of sustainability in the paper industry.

In this premise, the researchers would like to explore the potential of

Colocasia esculenta (taro) leaf in making water-resistant recycled paper by

understanding its
hydrophobic properties and investigating the viability of incorporating it

into paper compositions.

Statement of the Problem

Generally, this study will be conducted to explore the hydrophobic

potential of Colocasia esculenta (taro) leaf in making water-resistant paper.

Specifically, it will aim to answer the following research questions:

1. What are the properties of Colocasia esculenta (taro) leaf that make it a

good material for making water-resistant paper?

2. What is the water-resistant capability of paper with varying amounts of

taro leaf in the following treatments;

T1 - 75% taro leaf and 25% recycled paper;

T2 - 50% taro leaf and 50% recycled paper;

and T3 - 25% taro leaf and 75% recycled

paper?

3. What is the tensile strength of the paper with varying amounts of taro

leaf in the following treatments;

T1 - 75% taro leaf and 25% recycled paper;

T2 - 50% taro leaf and 50% recycled paper;

and T3 - 25% taro leaf and 75% recycled

paper?

4. Is there a significant difference in the water-resistant capability of paper

with varying amounts of taro leaf in different treatments?

5. Is there a significant difference in the tensile strength of paper with

varying amounts of taro leaf in different treatments?

Scope and delimitation

This study aims to determine the hydrophobic potential of Colocasia

esculenta (taro) leaf in making water-resistant paper. The study will involve

the incorporation of taro leaf in producing water-resistant paper at different

proportions to determine how these variations will impact the paper's water-

resistant capability and tensile strength. The taro leaf samples will be

obtained at General Santos City Public Market, however, the recycled paper

samples will be collected at General Santos City National High School. To add

up, this research will be conducted in 2 different laboratories, namely, the

Science Resource Center of the University of Immaculate Concepcion (UIC),

Father Selga, Davao City and the University of Southeastern Philippines

(USeP), Obrero, Davao City. The study will be conducted from September

2024 to December 2024.

Furthermore, the study is delimited to using only the leaf of the Colocasia

esculenta (taro) plant and will not attempt to utilize other plant parts.

Moreover, the study will only aim to determine the water-resistant

capability and tensile strength of the water-resistant paper produced

after incorporating varying proportions of taro leaf.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to explore the hydrophobic potential of Colocasia

esculenta (taro) leaf in making water-resistant paper and determine the

paper's water-resistant capability and tensile strength in various treatments.

With the concern that rapid deforestation and excessive paper waste are

affecting the environment globally, this study will be beneficial to the

following individuals and groups:

 Paper manufacturers. From this study, they can develop water-resistant

paper products for specialized markets by integrating taro leaf's hydrophobic

properties and recycling paper waste.

Taro growers. They stand to benefit from this research by gaining an

additional revenue stream through the commercialization of taro leaves for

water-resistant paper. These leaves could be repurposed into a high-value

product, reducing agricultural waste and providing growers with a new

income source. This innovation not only enhances the profitability of taro

farming but also supports sustainable agricultural practices by fully utilizing

the plant.

Community. This study could help communities by promoting the use of

sustainable and locally sourced materials like taro leaf for making water-

resistant paper, potentially creating new economic opportunities and jobs

within the community, while also contributing to environmental conservation.

Environmental Conservation Organizations. This research can help them

support the use of renewable resources in industrial applications. By

decreasing paper waste and lowering the environmental effect of paper

manufacturing, promoting the use of taro leaves is in line with more general

conservation goals.
 Researchers. This research can provide them with new knowledge and

insights about the topics included in the experimentation, which they can

then apply to mentor other students as they study the same material.

Future researchers. The conduct of the study will serve as their guide

and reference in pursuing new studies related to the topic which is about the

hydrophobic potential of the taro leaf. Likewise, this will provide an essential

amount of information that could help them understand the concepts and

get inspired to formulate more ideas that could benefit society.

Operationalization of Variables

The following terms were defined operationally to provide clarity and a

better understanding of the concepts presented in the study.

Colocasia esculenta (Taro). A tropical plant native to Southeastern Asia that is

widely cultivated for its edible corms and leaves. It belongs to the

arum family (Araceae). Operationally, it will be used in the production

of water-resistant paper, thus it will serve as the independent variable.

Hydrophobic Potential. Refers to the intrinsic ability of a material or substance

to repel water. Operationally, it will be measured through the Water

Absorption Test (Cobb Test).

Water-resistant Paper. Refers to paper products designed to withstand

incidental or light contact with water, maintaining their structural

integrity. Operationally, this will be the output of the study and will

serve as the dependent variable.

 References

Cartly. (2023, May 24). The impacts of paper on the

environment. Cartly. https://cartlyapp.com/en/the-impacts-

of-paper-on-the-environment/

Casiro, R., & Catubig, E.(2019). Paper Industries Corporation of the

Philippines (PICOP): Its History and Socio-Economic Impact in Bislig

City, Surigao Del Sur. SSRN Electronic Journal, 626.

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3515742

ILSAS. (2023, January 11). The negative impact of deforestation and the paper
industry.

TNB ILSAS.

https://tnbilsas.com.my/the-negative-impact-of-deforestation-and-the-

paper-indus try/