1 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POTENTIALITY OF FROG GRASS (Juncus Bufonius) AS

ALTERNATIVE PAPER

An Experimental Research
Submitted to the Faculty of
Senior High School Department
Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
Navarro, General Trias City, Cavite

In partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the
ATS 4: Practical Research 2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

CAYAGA, KIRBY C.
INTANO, JOSHUA L.
PASAMONTE, SHERWIN
DE GUZMAN, BEATRIZ SOPHIA E.
DUMDUM, ELLIJAH RUTH L.
LUMACANG, HAZELEEN MAY M.
RELLES, ICIE MAE
October 2023
2 Samuel Christian College of General Trias, Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study will use an experimental design to test the potentiality of frog

grass that is rich in cellulose and fibrous stems as alternative paper. The

researchers will conduct an experimentation to obtain accurate data results in the

following testing parameters: odor, color, texture, and durability. The findings of

this study may aid in providing alternative methods to lessen the use of trees in

making paper that can be a potential harm in both environment and organisms.

Materials

Material Quantity Image Description

Frog grass 540g Ingredient that

will serve as filler
to be a paper.

Mould and deckle 1 Use to collect

each sheet of pulp
during the
handmade paper
process and shape
the paper
production.
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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Lye water 450 ml Use to whiten the

pulp or paper.

Tap water 4.9 L Use to smoothen

the pulp.

Glycerin 270 ml Use for the paper

to be stretchable
or to make it
plasticize.

Cornstarch 9 cups Ingredient that

will serve as a
binder agent.

Blender 1 Use to combine or

blend the
ingredients.
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Measuring cups 1 set Material to

measure the dry
ingredients like
cornstarch.

Pair of tongs 1 Use to hold the

ingredients
without direct
contact.

Pair of scissors 1 Use to cut the

ingredients into
small pieces.

Plastic Container 1 Material to be

used to hold the
ingredients.

Casserole 1 Tool for cooking

the ingredients.

Triple beam 1 weighing scale To weigh the

balance/weighing ingredients that
scale will be use.
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Experimental Units

The experimental units in this study will be fresh frog grass, glycerin as

plasticizer, lye water as whitener, tap water as smoother, and cornstarch solution

as the binder for pulping to formulate an alternative paper. The researchers will

test the potentiality of the paper according to the following parameters:

a. odor;

b. color;

c. texture; and

d. durability.

Experimental Design

The researchers will utilize the Quantitative Research Design in a true

experimental research study. Furthermore, the potentiality of frog grass as

alternative paper will be investigated by the researchers using the testing

parameters; odor, color, texture, and durability.

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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Figure 3. Formulation of Paper

Experimental Set-Up

The researchers will test the potentiality of frog grass as an alternative

paper in the Chemistry Laboratory of Samuel Christian College. The primary

materials to be used in the formulation of frog grass paper are frog grass, glycerin,

lye water, cornstarch, and tap water. The frog grass paper will have four different

concentrations, and three trials will be conducted for each concentration.

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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Paper Testing

Initially, the alternative paper made from the four treatments with three

trials each will be evaluated by nine (9) respondents selected in Samuel Christian

College from the testing parameters:

a. odor;

b. color;

c. texture; and

d. durability.

Experimental Treatment

The four treatments to be used in this study are Treatment 0, Treatment 1,

Treatment 2, and Treatment 3 with different amounts of frog grass filler pulping

ratios. The treatment 0 will use 30mL of glycerin, 50mL of lye water, 50mL of

tap water, and 750mL of cornstarch solution. Treatment 1, Treatment 2, and

Treatment 3 will use the same amount of ingredients as Treatment 0 but will differ

in adding 30g of frog grass as treatment 1, 60g of frog grass as treatment 2, and

90g of frog grass as treatment 3. Tabian (2018).

Data to be Gathered
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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

The potentiality of frog grass will be tested and examined by the

researchers. This study will determine whether the frog grass as the main

component of paper can be a potential alternative paper. By allowing the selected

respondents to evaluate the color, odor, texture, and durability as the parameters

of the study, the data will be recorded, analyzed, and interpreted.

Data Gathering Procedure

A. Collection of Frog Grass

The frog grass will be purchased from an online shop. The following

materials needed for the process of making paper is adopted from the study of

Tabian (2018).

● 540g of frog grass will be bought from an online shop.

B. Pre-pulping preparation

The process is adopted from the study of Tabian (2018). The following are

the steps to be followed before entering the pulping process

● Wash the collected frog grass to remove the debris.

● Place the frog grass into a plastic container.

● Sun-dry the frog grass for 2 days.

C. Pulping of Frog Grass

The process is adopted from the study of Tabian (2018). The following

process needs to be done to make the frog grass turn into a pulp.
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● Boil the dried frog grass in casserole with half-filled water until the size of

the leaves expands.

● After boiling, let it cool for 10 minutes.

● Using scissors, cut the boiled grass into smaller pieces.

● Prepare batches for each treatment.

D. Creation of Mold and Deckle

The making of self-made mold and deckle is adopted from Hiebert (2018).

● The materials that are needed to prepare are duct tape, scissors, two old

picture frames or canvases, a window screen made from

fiberglass/aluminum, and a staple gun.

● Remove the canvas/picture frames.

● A piece of window screen will be cut in a slightly smaller form than the

frame.

● Use a staple gun to attach the piece of window screen.

● Apply the duct tape to cover up the edges of the screen.

● Use duct tape to fasten the screen to the frame if a staple gun isn't

available.

● Create another frame with a size of 8.5 by 11 inches the same size as the

deckle.

E. Formulation of Frog grass paper treatments

The formulation is adopted from the study of Tabian (2018). Treatments

for creating an alternative paper are:

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Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

● In treatment 0, 30 mL glycerin, 50 mL lye water, 50 mL tap water, and

750 mL cornstarch solution will be used

● In treatment 1, blend the boiled 30g of frog grass, 30 mL glycerin, 50 mL

lye water, 50 mL tap water, and 750 mL cornstarch solution for 5 minutes

● In treatment 2, blend the boiled 60g of frog grass, 30 mL glycerin, 50 mL

lye water, 50 mL tap water, and 750 mL cornstarch solution for 5 minutes

● In treatment 3, blend the boiled 90g of frog grass, 30 mL glycerin, 50 mL

lye water, 50 mL tap water, and 750 mL cornstarch solution for 5 minutes

● After blending, strain the pulp in a mould and deckle.

● Using the sponge, transfer the molded pulp into the plywood.

● Dry it under the sun for 3 days.

F. Testing parameters

The researchers will use a 4-point Likert scale to test the parameters

adopted from the study of Fermalan et.al. (2019) which are odor, color, texture,

and durability. The said parameters will undergo an acceptance test to the selected

nine (9) respondens from Samuel Christian College Inc. To test the quality of the

alternative frog grass paper, the parameters are:

F.1. Odor

● Respondents’ evaluation using the 4-point likert scale to examine the odor

of the paper,
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● The respondent will asses the odor of frog grass paper by sniffing the

paper’s scent.

● The respondent will assess the odor of each paper according to the

sequence of treatments.

● According to Miner (2021), the grass paper has an unpleasant organic

aroma, this will be the expected result of the frog grass paper.

● The respondents then will evaluate the paper using a 4-point likert scale to

show how acceptable the alternative paper’s odor. Unpleasant organic

aroma will be scored the highest 4 “Very Acceptable” to 1 “Very

Unacceptable”.

F.2. Color

● Respondents’ evaluation using the likert scale to evaluate the color of the

paper

● The respondent will assess the color of frog grass paper by using their

sense of sight.

● The respondent will assess the color of each paper according to the

sequence of treatments.

● According to Wigston (2021), the expected color of grass paper is a

green-beige tint, this will be the expected result of the frog grass paper.

● The respondents then will evaluate the paper using a 4-point likert scale to

show how acceptable the alternative paper’s color. Green-beige tint will be
12 Samuel Christian College of General Trias,
Inc.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

the standard of grass paper and scored the highest 4 “Very Acceptable” to

1 “Very Unacceptable .

F.3. Texture

● Respondents’ evaluation using the likert scale to assess the texture of the

paper

● The respondent will assess the texture of frog grass paper by using their

sense of touch.

● The respondent will assess the texture of each paper according to the

sequence of treatments.

● According to Wigston (2021), the expected texture of grass paper is

slightly rougher than regular paper, this will be the expected result of the

frog grass paper.

● The respondents then will evaluate the paper using a 4-point likert scale to

show how acceptable the alternative paper’s texture. Slightly roughet than

a paper will be scored the highest 4 “Very Acceptable” to 1 “Very

Unacceptable”.

F.4. Durability

● Respondents’ evaluation using the likert scale to test the durability of

paper.

● The respondent will assess the durability of frog grass paper by putting

their strength to tore it.

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● The respondent will assess the durability of each paper according to the

sequence of treatments.

● According to Nagal (2023), grass paper exhibits impressive strength and

durability, this will be the expected result of the frog grass paper.

● The respondents then will evaluate the paper using a 4-point likert scale to

show how acceptable the alternative paper’s odor. Impressive strength and

durability will be scored the highest 4 “Very Acceptable” to 1 “Very

Unacceptable”.

Statistical Treatment

There will be two statistical treatments that will be used and performed in

this study. The mean will be used to determine the acceptability of the four

treatments with different filler amounts of frog grass pulp in the formulation of

frog grass paper in testing with its potentiality as alternative paper. Furthermore,

to compare the significant differences with the results of testing parameters, the

One-Way ANOVA will be implied.