Paper making from Agrowaste at Maharaja's College
The present study attempted to make handmade paper from easily available agro-waste raw materials using a simple and inexpensive methodology. Various plant materials including Eichhornia crassipes, Musa paradisiaca, Cocos nucifera, Ananas comosus, Citrus sinensis, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Citrullus lanatus, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Mikania micrantha were utilized for handmade paper production, with Whatman Grade 1 filter paper serving as the control. The prepared paper samples were evaluated for water absorption potential, oil absorption potential, methylene blue colour absorption, water solubility, pH, folding endurance (fragility test), and biodegradability.
The results revealed considerable variation among the paper samples depending on the fibre source. Mikania micrantha exhibited the highest water absorption potential, while Citrus sinensis showed maximum oil absorption capacity. Higher methylene blue colour absorption was observed in Allium cepa and Artocarpus heterophyllus, indicating better dye adsorption ability. Water solubility studies showed that Mikania micrantha had the highest solubility percentage, whereas Artocarpus heterophyllus and the control sample exhibited lower solubility and greater water stability.
The pH analysis indicated acidic, neutral, and alkaline characteristics among the samples, with Citrullus lanatus showing the highest alkaline pH and Citrus sinensis exhibiting strong acidity. Folding endurance tests demonstrated superior durability and flexibility in papers prepared from Allium cepa and Allium sativum, while Cocos nucifera showed extreme brittleness. Biodegradability studies revealed that Citrus sinensis and Mikania micrantha possessed the highest degradation percentages, indicating enhanced environmental degradability.
Overall, the study demonstrates that the properties of handmade paper are strongly influenced by the type of plant fibre used. The findings highlight the potential utilization of agricultural and plant wastes as sustainable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly raw materials for handmade paper production with diverse functional applications.
Programme Expenditure
| Sl | Particulars | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw materials | 580 |
| Total | 580 |
Report of the programme Download