## 4 Conclusions  
The research conducted delved into a novel area, assessing various physical, structural, and mechanical characteristics of handmade paper samples derived from cellulose isolated from grass clippings using two methods as follows: alkaline treatment alone and alkaline treatment followed by bleaching, with the addition of barium sulfate as a mineral filler. The isolated cellulose's quality was evaluated through EDS mapping, FT-IR analysis, and comparison with commercial cellulose. The results indicated a significant increase in the \(\alpha\)-cellulose content after alkaline and bleaching treatments, reaching 86.16% and 87.37%, respectively. Additionally, the high crystallinity index (82.41-89.72%) calculated through peak deconvolution confirmed the quality of the resulting pulp. SEM micrographs of the paper sheets revealed the formation of interconnected networks of cellulose fibers with embedded barium sulfate particles, with higher retention rates observed in the bleached paper, likely because of better fiber splitting during bleaching and surface relief of cellulose fibers. The mechanical characteristics of the paper samples were also investigated. It was found that the paper made from alkali-treated cellulose and barium sulfate exhibited higher tensile and bending strength compared with the paper made from bleached cellulose and barium sulfate. These findings, combined with other physicochemical and morphological features, suggest that mechanical and strength characteristics were influenced by paper density, thickness, the crystallinity index, and the microfibrillar structure of cellulose. Overall, this study not only demonstrated the feasibility of using grass clippings for isolating cellulose for paper production but also provided practical insights. To achieve paper sheets with regulated mechanical strength values, it is advisable to combine the resulting cellulose with wood pulp characterized by a high length-to-width ratio. Furthermore, the use of barium sulfate as a filler was deemed economically feasible because of the reduced consumption of cellulose raw materials. Additionally, compared with other fillers, barium sulfate offers advantages such as high whiteness, chemical inertness, and environmental friendliness, making it a promising option for the paper production industry. Given the widespread occurrence of barite deposits in Kazakhstan, the adoption of barite-based paper production emerges as a contemporary trend with significant prospects for enhancing paper properties. However, because of the small amount of raw material resulting from a park compared with the enormous amount of wood required for a pulp and paper factory, it is crucial to consider the compatibility of moved grass with the base wood material. Future research should focus on the potential changes in the manufacturingflow and additional implications, such as the integration of grass-derived cellulose with wood pulp to optimize the process and achieve desirable paper properties. The authors believe that the use of cellulose extracted from annual plants (in particular, from grass) can, to a certain extent, help reduce tree cutting by replacing wood cellulose. The authors suggest that the addition of cellulose extracted from annual plants to the paper industry production cycle will have positive economic and long-term environmental benefits by reducing tree cutting and promoting the sustainable use of plant resources. The following supporting information can be downloaded at: [[https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app14156680/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app14156680/s1)]([https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app14156680/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app14156680/s1)), Figure S1: The Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDS) spectrum of the original sample; Figure S2: The Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDS) spectrum of the sample under investigation (a) alkali-treated (b) bleached; Figure S3: SEM micrograph of the barium sulfate (BaSO4), commonly referred to as barite.