CONCEPT PAPER

TREELESS PAPER MADE FROM SHRIMP SHELL

Empowerment Technologies

Concept Paper

Group 7 FantasTech Royalties

Members:

Melanie Joy A. Brumuela

Ira Gwyneth Pastor

Jan Florence Domingo

Abegail Anne O. Villaruz

Christ Ever Macaraig

Alliah Jurielle D. Sabiniano

Airish F. Bueno

Alicia Nikolle N. Orfinada

Teacher:

Mr. Dandy Dennis Cabusao

Title:

Are Shrimp Shells and Used Papers Feasible as an Alternative Material for Paper Production?

Introduction:

Deforestation is one of the largest issues the world is facing today. Deliberate chopping of trees disrupts not only the environment but also the life of the people as well as the animals- it drastically affects biodiversity. Meanwhile, due to the increasing population, and with the ever-improving industry, paper goods became in demand nowadays. As the majority of people are aware, papers are made from wood pulp thus, the utmost decimation of forest or trees are needed to produce paper. A Sum of 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of the forest is demolished annually as a result of paper manufacture.

Furthermore, chitin, which is known as the second most abundant polymer and is found primarily in crabs and shrimps caught the interest of the researchers. Due to its distinct set of biological features, such as biocompatibility, chitin and its derivatives have been found to be desirable materials for several high-value-added goods, such as food additives, pharmaceutics, and biodegradability. A significant portion of the crustacean shells produced by the seafood industry—a significant waste source with high pollution costs—contains chitin to the extent of around 30% of their volume. These valuable wastes can be transformed into more high-quality, low-volume byproducts. Chitin and chitosan are primarily chemically derived from shrimp shells on a commercial basis.

Meanwhile, paper is in high demand worldwide, hence paper waste is a major problem in many sectors of the economy and workplaces. The amount of paper being recycled is increasing as a result of economic and environmental initiatives. Coping with too much paper waste is challenging. In addition, recycled materials like waste paper make up 28% of the 14.66 million metric tons of trash in the Philippines. With that said, researchers took this as an opportunity to try and make a paper with the use of waste paper materials to counter this issue.

To conclude, with the natural substance of chitin from shrimp shells which is polymer, and used paper, researchers ought the feasibility of this material to become an alternative material for paper production. The use of shrimp shells and used papers are not just for mitigating deforestation or deliberate cutting down of trees but to also reduce waste products. With the use of these alternatives, we can produce an environmentally friendly by-product.

Purpose:

The general intent of this study is to determine the possibility of shrimp shells and used papers as a substitute material for paper manufacture. It is intended to give various sectors a new and effective way to produce treeless paper, manage shrimp products, and reduce paper waste as a counter to deliberate deforestation and highly numbered waste materials that were produced annually around the globe.

To the world's biodiversity, this will serve as an aid to fewer trees that needs to be felled for the purpose of making paper and to enhance the conservation of trees.

To the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), this research will aid them in avoiding increased global deforestation and convince the public to protect all kinds of natural resources.

To the Paper Manufacturing Industries, it would consequently be an approach for a sustainable method of creating more paper without requiring chopping down trees.

To the researchers, this will help them advance their research skills, attitudes, and beliefs as well as share their opinions on world issues and produce future problems with their inventiveness. This will also compel and nudge them to learn more and reduce the amount of waste produced each year and find alternative materials that may be used for paper production.

To the farmers, this study will assist local farmers, particularly those who raise shrimp, in raising productivity as shrimp are the source of the essential ingredient needed to make paper. So, the greater output will result in greater revenue.

To the citizens, this study will serve to educate them about the treeless production of paper, and the community will be given multiple opportunities to protect the environment.

Description:

This research paper presents a study that was conducted to determine the feasibility of using shrimp shells as an additive material for paper production. Shrimps were chosen because they are not seasonal, are abundant in the researchers' area, and, most importantly, have the properties required to have a high potential as an alternative material used in paper production.

In line with the researched information, with the ever-increasing demand for paper products, the paper industry must provide treeless kinds of goods to assist in preventing further deforestation. Therefore, this prompted the researchers to devise this approach to seek an alternate material that might be employed in the paper manufacturing process.

During the course of the study, the researchers are going to prepare several instruments and materials, which they will define operationally. Three hundred (300) grams of shrimp shells and used papers will be used as the raw materials of this study. It will then be weighed accurately using a digital weighing scale. Pairs of gloves are required to protect the hands of the researchers while carrying out the experiment. A strainer will be used in rinsing and raising the shrimp shells and trays for holding the cleansed raw materials when draining them. Scissors will also be used for cutting the shrimp shells and used papers into small uniform pieces. The mortar and pestle will then be used for slightly grinding up the cut shrimp shells, forming them into smaller pieces.

On the other hand, tubs will be needed for holding up substances like water, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide which are going to be used in soaking up the raw materials. These will also be used in making the actual bio paper, holding the water-pulp mixture. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will also be required for this study.

In creating the binder, the researchers will be using Aloe Vera gel and cornstarch. A small container is required to carry the aloe Vera and cornstarch and a disposable fork for nicely mixing them up together. A blender will also be needed in combining all the materials and mixtures evenly. Papermaking screens will be used to collect and keep the paper pulp slurry inside the constraints of the mold’s wire face and regulate the size of the sheet being produced. A tray with a pillowcase will be used as a flat surface where the paper pulp sheet would be laid down and dried under the sun. Lastly, the researchers will use a small rolling pin in order to press the sheet to flatten and straighten it.

Throughout each of the processes in the collection of materials and paper making, preventative measures will surely be taken by every researcher to prevent unwanted harm and unanticipated incidents. The researchers will seek the guidance of their project adviser and authorized adults while conducting their experimentation, while knowledge and awareness about the potential risks that may occur will be announced to the researchers for it is very essential during the procedure. Lastly, safety gear like gloves will also be used.

Three hundred (300) grams of shrimp shells and three hundred (300) grams of used paper will be collected from the researchers’ house. The homemade binder made from Aloe Vera and corn starch will be prepared by one of the researchers. Other materials such as hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, water, tubs and containers, gloves, paper-making screens, and digital weighing scales will be purchased from Nepo Market Alaminos City.

On the other hand, equipment like scissors, disposable forks, trays, cloths, pillowcases, rolling pins, and blender will be provided by the researchers from their sources at home.

The freshly gathered shrimp shells from the researchers’ house will be washed thoroughly using tap water and a trainer. After that, the cleaned shrimp shells will be cut into small pieces and weighed using a digital weighing scale.

Using a mortar and pestle, the shrimp shells will be grinded into smaller pieces, making it easy to mix them with the other components afterward. It is then stored in a container and will be soaked in the mixture of cold 500 mL water and baking soda for an hour to maintain the alkalinity of the water and loosen up the chitin present in the shells. This will also serve as preparation so that the content will be boiled readily after soaking them. Consequently, it will be drained using a sieve, will be boiled, with again, 500 mL of tap water for 5-10 minutes, and then will be allocated later.

On the other hand, the used papers will be cut into smaller pieces and then will be bleached using hydrogen peroxide simultaneously with the set-aside shrimp shells in a separate container to attain a light-colored paper product.

Binder is as important because it keeps the components together. For preparing this, aloe Vera pulp and corn starch are utilized. Aloe Vera exhibits strong anti-microbial activity, extending the lifespan of paper and inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi. Additionally, corn starch serves as a good natural binder and gives the paper a smooth texture.

The bleached shrimp shells and used papers, together with the binder, will be combined using a blender. The different treatments will be replicated three (3) times.

Following that, the pulp will be put into a tub and mixed with water, until there are no lumps. The paper-making screen will then be submerged into the mixture, collecting and securing the paper pulp inside the edges of the mold’s wire at the center the moment it is raised from the tub. After draining, the paper-making screen will be overturned and laid down in a tray with a pillowcase.

It is then damped with a sponge or an absorbable cloth to remove excess water from the paper and be pushed from the wires. Slowly, the paper will be detached from the paper-making screen and the paper will be dried under the sun for at least 1 to 2 days. Lastly, for a better, smooth, and straightened-out paper product, the researchers will also use a wooden rolling pin, pressing the paper sheet made by the researchers themselves.

After the experimentation, for it to not cause a disturbance to the neighborhood or be a place for mosquito breeding, the treatments and experimental residuals like the paper pulps and water, will be disposed of properly in regular trash or the sewer system as it is a nonhazardous industrial or chemical waste.

Support:

This section includes a single bottom-line request amount and a summary of how that amount will be used and who will provide funds.

The project is expected to cost between PHP 200.00 and PHP 300.00, including the collection of alternative materials for paper manufacturing and treatment. The funds needed shall be provided by the researchers. The budgetary requirements for support are 500 grams of cornstarch and five (5) bottles of agua oxinada. The main variables, used papers, are free of charge as they will be obtained from the SHS Grade 12 STEM students, as well as the shrimp shells, which will be donated by the researchers. A member of the research team will handle aloe vera, a plant that will be mixed with cornstarch to condense the alternative materials.

Contact Information:

Name: Brumuela, Melanie Joy A.

Address: Tangcarang Alaminos City, Pangasinan

Contact number:09153821424

Email: MelanieBrumuela@gmail.com

Web portal/Website: CLICK THIS TO GO TO MELANIE'S WEBSITE

Name: Abegail Anne O. Villaruz

Address: Macatiw Alaminos City, Pangasinan

Contact Number: 09672009617

Email: Villaabegail5@gmail.com

Website/Web portal: CLICK THIS TO GO TO ABEGAIL'S WEBSITE

Name: Ira Gwyneth Pastor