Biodegradable Straw using Sugarcane Bagasse

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  Bagasse Straw before wax coating

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  Final bagasse straw product

Inspiration

The researchers wanted to develop their passion for advocating in solving environmental issues.

What it does

The bagasse straw is a biodegradable straw that can be used as an alternative to paper and plastic straws that has equal capabilities to the paper straw when it is used in liquids of cold and warm temperature.

How we built it

The method of how we successfully built the bagasse straw was compiled from different related literature that contained relevant information on how to manipulate the bagasse material to be able to shape it into a straw without the use of large industrial machines.

1. The first procedure included separating the sugar from the bagasse pulp through manual washing and drying.
2. Cooking the the bagasse in high temperature with a chemical (Sodium Hydroxide) that helped soften the bagasse pulp and washing it after to remove excess chemicals.
3. Shaping the bagasse pulp by molding it with a stick to create the straw hole and covering it with parchment paper for stability and left to dry in a drying oven.
4. After removing the straw from the mold, it was dipped in carnauba wax that served as its waterproof coating.

Challenges we ran into

They were only given less than one year to complete the Research and had to face struggles and even almost got the Research to halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers tested different methods when they ran into failed procedures that disabled them from achieving the state of the bagasse pulp material they wanted, as well as failures with molding the pulp into a functional straw.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The researchers are most proud of having successfully produced a functional biodegradable straw.

What we learned

The researchers learned that in order to develop one's passion for environmentalism it doesn't have to start with a big platform and could start somewhere as small as a school research paper. As long as there is an idea, a successful outcome is possible with hard work.

What's next for Biodegradable Straw using Sugarcane Bagasse

Further global recognition for sustainable materials developed into everyday convenience materials.

Built With

• none