Question

a)Collect pieces of different kinds of paper. Find out which of these can be recycled.
b) With help of a lens look at the pieces of paper you collected for the above question.do you see any difference in the material of recycled paper and a new sheet of paper?

Answer 1

Hint: Paper made up of organic matter will get recycled easily but if it contains any synthetic material, the recycling process will be very challenging.

Complete answer:
Paper is involved in production of the following products- printing, decorating, packaging, writing, filter paper, cleaning, toilet tissue, wallpaper, conservation paper, book endpaper, laminate worktops, currency, etc.
a) The paper used from newspapers, normal books, notebooks, cardboard, etc. which contains only organic matter without synthetic coating or interference can be recycled while those with synthetic plastic material cannot be synthesized. The paper is shredded into very small pieces and is soaked in water. It is then mixed with more water, chemicals can also be used to intensify the process of breaking it down. After proper mixing, it is heated, by which it is broken down into strands of cellulose, and the mixture is called pulp, or slurry. It is then dried over metal mesh. Recycled paper is ready after drying.
b) On observing under a lens, the surface of the recycled paper will appear rough whereas the surface of the new sheet of paper will be quite smooth. This finishing can only be achieved by using machines.

Note: A thin sheet produced by mechanical or chemical processing of cellulose fibres which can be derived from wood, rags, grasses or other sources is called paper. It is produced when cellulose fibres are dissolved or mixed in water and then is drained through a fine mesh. It leaves the fibre evenly distributed on the surface of the mesh, which is then pressed and dried.