Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum and Recycled Papers as Materials for Handcrafted Papermaking

The study explored the usage of Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum and recycled papers as materials for handcrafted paper. The Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum was mixed with 25%, 50%, and 75% wastepaper with three treatments of different material ratios formed following the same procedure. Each treatment was tested in terms of grammage, opacity, microscopic analysis, and tensile strength, with each test having ten trials except the oil absorbency and thickness test. Algae were mixed with 1.5% NaOH and cooked for 30 minutes at 95 degrees Celsius then 10 grams of calcium carbonate for every 100 grams of the pulp mixture. After various tests of the algae paper, the results show that the product composed of 75% algae and 25% waste copy paper has a higher value in terms of the tests recommended by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). After analyzing the data of the tests to determine the viability and quality of the treatments, as well as taking their data and results, and having a statistical analysis among the three treatments, it shows the effectiveness of using Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum as an alternative material for paper.