Jathroper Charcoal as Alternative Heat Source. Clyde2

EFFECTIVENESS OF JATHROPER CHARCOAL AS AN ALTERNATIVE HEAT SOURCE FOR COOKING

An Investigatory ResearchPresented to the Faculty of special Science Class

Eucharistic King academySara, Iloilo

In Partial Fulfillment of theReqquirement of the Course

Research 1B

Presented by:Clyde Jess B. Juanitas

IV-St – DominicResearcher

February 2011

Acknowledgment

The Researcher would like to express his gratitude to the following,

who are one way or another, become a part of his research.

First of all, Almighty God, for his gift of knowledge and wisdom. For the

Guidance, his grace and blessing, this enabled the researcher to conduct the

study in the light of truth and faith.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesus and Harlene Juanitas, his guardians,

Mary Lou Plantig and Analyn Belonio and the rest of the family for their

prayers, moral and financial support, Love and inspiration.

Mrs. Evelyn Tacan, Research teacher, for her hi-valuable assistance,

support, guidance and patiently reviewing the manuscript and for giving the

researcher the title of his study.

To Ms. Maricel Diane and Ms. Beverly Faeldan for grammar checking.

To Mr. Rogelio Ticar, research consultant, for giving their time and

patiently review his work.

His adviser, Mrs. Jenelyn Malbas for the guidance and support she gave

to the researcher before and while conducting the study.

His friends and the SSC – 4 class for their moral and emotional support

whenever is in his time of great need.

Clyde Jess B. Juanitas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLEACKNOWLEGDMENTTABLE OF CONTENTSABSTRACT

Page

CHAPTER I: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE I. Background of the study 1

II. Statement of the Problem3

III. Objectives of the study 4 IV. Significance of the study 4 V. Scope and Delimitation 5 VI. Definition of terms 5 VII. Conceptual Framework 6

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 7

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGYI. Materials and Equipment 9II. Experimental Procedure 9III. Methods of Gathering Data 10IV. Research Design 12

CHAPTER IV: Results and DiscussionsI. Data Analysis 13II. Experimental Design and treatment 16

CHAPTER V: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONI. Summary 18II. Conclusion 18III. Recommendation 19

BIBLIOGRAPHY 20I. Websites 21

APPENDIX 22

ABSTRACT

A study on the effectiveness of Jathroper Charcoal as alternative

source for cooking was conducted at Brgy. Poblacion Ilaya, Sara, Iloilo to

determine if Jathroper charcoal is effective than paper charcoal in terms of:

a.) Time of ignition

b.) Duration of charcoal.

c.) Time it takes to boil the water.

A total of fifteen 50g charcoal were utilized in three experimental set-

ups which composed of set-up A, utilized Jathroper charcoal, set-up B,

utilized the plain paper charcoal, and set-up C (control) which utilized the

commercial charcoal.

The pre-test post-test experimental design was used to determine the

effectiveness of Jathroper charcoal compared to plain paper charcoal and

commercial charcoal using indicators as, a.) time of ignition, b.) duration of

charcoal, c.) the time it takes the charcoal to boil the water.

Each set-up used clay stove where the three types of charcoal were

placed and ignited simultaneously. The time ignition was determined by

recording the time the charcoal started to produce red ember, the duration

of charcoal was determined by finding the difference between the start of

the charcoal ignition until it loses its ember and the boiling length of water

was measured by recording the time it takes the water to boil from ignition

of the charcoals.

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Charcoal is one of the most widely-used materials as an alternative

and cheap source of heat. Many households use charcoal for cooking.

As time passes by, the production of charcoal is prohibited because as

many sacks of charcoal are being produced, as many trees are cut. Thus,

this causes the destruction of forest and habitat of wild life, and

eventually cause imbalance of the ecosystem. Furthermore,

indiscriminate cutting of trees for producing charcoal also bring

destructive effects to the environment. Among these are soil erosion,

landslide and the alternation on the natural habitat of wildlife. These

facts call for everybody to work for a common solution to protect our

trees.

The use of paper for charcoal is being studied now by scientists. This

move has been initiated after the world-wide call for every individual to

be responsible in the management of their solid wastes, in which paper

wastes comprised as one of the biggest components. Because of

tremendous volume of paper garbage, the government now is initiating

several projects and technologies for recycling and waste management.

Charcoal from paper maybe one of the best answers to the perennial

problem of pollution due to solid waste. Not only this, it can lessen the

dumped papers in the bodies of water and in our backyards. With

charcoal from paper we will have another cheap alternative source of

heat for cooking and reduces the problem on environmental pollution.

Today, more of the households depend much for liquefied petroleum

gas (LPG) for cooking food and other home use that needs heat. This

increases the demand for LPG worldwide, for an 11-kg LPG tank costs

from 500-600 pesos per household for two weeks. The use of LPG is

resulting to a more than a thousand of pesos per household consumption

every month. This adversely affects the family budget, and the effect is

worse for a family of more than five members. With an increased price of

oil per barrel in the world market this increasing demand for LPG will

contribute to a great down fall in the family income, eventually a great

contribution to the world economic crisis. Because of industrialization,

most people now use electricity as source of heat to cook their food, thus

increasing the demand for fuels. This resulted to inflation and economic

instability to the world’s economy specifically affecting the poorest of the

poor.

The utilization of local plants as alternative source of cheap charcoal is

now advanced by technologists and environmentalists as well.

According to Addison Wesly (2003), Studies showed that not only big

trees are potential sources of quality charcoal but seeds of shrubs and

other plants in our surroundings like kasla (Jathropa Curcas) can be

utilized. These plants grow wild in our forests and backyards without too

much attention are given to their culture for they can thrive anywhere.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study deals on the effectiveness of Jathroper charcoal as

alternative heat source for cooking in terms of:

1. time of boiling water

2. duration of the charcoal

3. time of ignition of the charcoal

General Problem:

What is the difference of Jathroper Charcoal from paper charcoal in

terms of time of ignition, duration and length of time it takes to boil

water?

Specifically, this study will answer the following questions:

1. What is the difference of Jathroper Charcoal from paper charcoal in

terms of the length of time it takes to boil water.

2. What is the difference of Jathroper Charcoal from paper charcoal in

terms of the duration of the charcoal;

3. What is the difference of Jathroper Charcoal from paper charcoal in

terms of time of ignition of the charcoal.

Null Hypotheses

There is no significant difference in the time it takes to boil water,

duration of the charcoal and time of ignition of Jathroper Charcoal from

paper charcoal.

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of the study:

1. To determine if the Jathroper Charcoal is effective than paper

charcoal

2. To determine the effectiveness of Jathroper Charcoal as an

alternative heat source for cooking.

IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be useful to the people, the teachers and the

researchers.

The people will benefit from this study because not all of them can

have the technology-made appliances for cooking. Instead they use

woods to cook meals to save money.

The teachers especially those teaching science subjects will be

provided with results from this investigation that will be used as their

reference in teaching of science subjects to become meaningful and

realistic.

The researchers will be guided from this study by using the data

gathered to encourage them to conduct similar studies to verify the

results that will further strengthen the veracity of the study.

V. SCOPE & DELIMINATION

This study was conducted at Brgy. Poblacion Ilaya, Sara Iloilo on

December 2009. Three set-ups with 50 grams charcoal in each set-up

were used to gather data in the experiment. Two set-ups represented the

experimental group and one for the control. There were five trials in the

experiment. A total of 750 g of charcoal was used in the study.

The study was limited only at determining the effectiveness of

charcoal from J. curcas in terms of time it takes the water to boil, duration

of the charcoal and the time of ignition of the charcoal.

VI. DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the clear understanding of the study some key terms were defined

conceptually and operationally

Jathropa curcas – is locally known as “kasla”, “Tubing Bakod” or Purging

nut tree in English, are species of toxic plants in the tropical area, easily

grow and pollinated. In this study, the Jathropa curcas is the main

material which helps to start the ignition process of the Jathroper

Charcoal.

Charcoal - is a black or dark gray form of carbon, produced by heating

wood or another organic substance in an enclosed space without air and

is used as a fuel, as an absorbent, in smelting, in explosives, and by

artists for drawing.

In this study, Charcoal serves as the controlled variable in the control set-

up.

Flame - is a hot glowing body of burning gas, often carrying fine

incandescent particles. In this study, flame is used to test the three set-

ups.

Paper - is a thin material consisting of flat sheets, made from pulped

wood, cloth, or fiber, used for various purposes, for example, for writing

and printing on, for wrapping things in, or for covering walls. In this

study, Paper is the main material used to make a Jathroper charcoal.

Ignition –is the pre-phase of combustion, where ember is present in

small number. Phase of combustion that starts burning process. In this

study, Ignition serves as the basis in order to know the longevity or the

life-span of the charcoal in each set-ups.

Duration- the period of time that something lasts or exists. In this study,

Duration is basis if the Jathroper charcoal lasts longer than Paper

charcoal.

VII. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The time it takes to boil the water

The ignition time The duration or life

span of the charcoal.

Jathroper Charcoal

Paper Charcoal

The diagram above shows the relationship of the Jathroper Charcoal

and the paper charcoal to the time it takes to boil the water, the ignition

time and the duration or life span of the charcoal. This study aims to

compare the ignition time, time it takes to boil the water and the duration of

the Jathroper charcoal and paper charcoal.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Tubang-bakod (Jathropa curcas) or Purging Nut Tree or Big-Purge Nut

is a glaborous, erect, branched shrub which is stout cyclindric and green.

Its fresh leaves and seeds are utilized. Oil, known as curcas oil, is used as

illuminant and lubricant. Jathropa’s chemical constituent – Seed contains

a yellow fixed oil, 29-40%, known as Hell oil, Oleum infernale, and Oleum

ricini majoris In terms of biodiesel availability, this is considered as one of

its sources. The oil firm is set to invest for Jathropa nursery in Kabankalan

City for it has 37% oil content and can be used as fuel without being

refined.

Kasla or Jathropa Curcas is widely known among botanists as herbal

medicine. But this medicinal herb is not just for meds but also processed

to produce bio-diesel and as an alternative power source to lessen the

dependence of the country to crude oil. Jathropa curcas is very abundant

in tropical areas that allow it to grow healthy.

According to Henry Daniel O. Creighton (2000).The plant itself is a

good source of biofuel, from the roots to the seeds, traces of biofuel can

be collected. In the roots, 19.47% of overall biofuel is present, the

stem/trunk contains 20.48%, 39.54% in the seeds and the remaining

20.01% is found in the other parts of the plant.

Paper, a material in the form of thin sheets, manufactured by the webbing

of vegetable cellulose fibers. Paper is used for writing and printing, for

wrapping and packaging, and for a variety of special purposes ranging from

the filtration of precipitates from solutions to the manufacture of certain

types of building materials. In 20th-century civilization, paper is a basic

material, and the development of machinery for its high-speed production

has been largely responsible for the increase in literacy and the raising of

educational levels of people throughout the world.

Paper is composed mainly of the tree’s cellulose; it is a fibrous matter in a

found in the vascular tubes of plants that is essential in the formation of the

paper. In addition, it gives the paper the ability to be burned continually due

to the fact that it its very fibrous and each thread of the fiber are diversely

burned in the paper’s combustion.Charcoal easily burns with the presence of

oxygen in the surroundings, humidity, atmospheric pressure and altitude

affects the ignition rate of a charcoal. In a moist environment (High

Humidity) people would likely experience a hard time in setting charcoals on

flame, especially in an open area where the environmental factors cannot be

manipulated.

Flame’s temperature is difficult to measure when appropriate measuring

device are not readily available, mercurial thermometer are very risky to

used in directly measuring the flame’s temperature. Taking the temperature

of water is inconsistent since there are many factors that influence the

water’s temperature like the type of water, altitude

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

I. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The materials for this study include scratch papers, seed of Jathropa

curcas, pail of water, mortar and pestle, wide-mouthed basin and a long

plastic tube with a diameter of 1 inch, three identical clay stoves, three

identical aluminum pots, commercial black charcoal, and a flame source.

II. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

The flow of processes below gives the detailed discussion of procedure

under study in making charcoal from the samples

Jathroper Charcoal Paper charcoal

Selecting seeds Selecting paper

Selecting paper Paper Shredding

Seed drying Paper molding and weighing

Paper Shredding

Paper molding and weighing

Paper drying and seed incorporating

Slice the obtained J. curcas to get its seeds, separate the outer

covering of the seed from the inner content. Dry the inner content up under

the heat of the sun; it should be small enough so that it will be easy for the

fiber to separate. Soak these pieces of paper in a wide-mouthed basin; add

water until it reaches the top of the papers. Let it soak for about three to five

days. Then, cut the plastic tune into 2 inches high and 1 inch in diameter. Put

some soaked paper in it and press the papers until they are compressed.

Weigh the molded papers; using the flat form balance make sure that they

are of similar weight. After this, dry the molded papers and implant seeds to

samples.

III. METHODS OF GATHERING DATA

To test the hypothesis observes the following:

1. The time it takes to bring water into its Boiling temperature

2. Ignition time

3. Duration (life span)

The hypothesis was tested by igniting the three different set-ups

simultaneously. Set-up A contains 50 g Jathroper Charcoal, set-up B, with

50 g Paper Charcoal, and the Set-up C or the control set-up contains 50 g

common charcoal.

The randomly selected charcoal samples from different sources

were weighed using a plat form balance to obtain equal weights of 50 g

each from each sample. They were burned in a clay pot simultaneously

using a flame source. The time for the charcoal to ignite from each

sample was recorded at the start they were sparked until the appearance

of the flame. The time of ignition was obtained by subtracting the time

when the charcoal ignited from the time the flame has appeared.

To test the time it takes the water boil 50 ml water was placed in a

pot and brings it to boil. The time it takes the water to boil was recorded

from the start of ignition until bubbles appear. The time of boiling was

obtained by subtracting the time for the start of ignition from the time for

bubbles to appear.

The life span of the charcoals was obtained by subtracting the time

charcoals start to ignite from the time their embers were lost.

All set-ups were observed and were given 3 minutes each to let the

charcoals start to ignite and the time was recorded simultaneously. The

same procedure was followed in each set-up to provide equal humidity, at

on pressure and other factors that can affect combustion of the charcoal.

The remarks will serve as the raw data for the experiment. Five 50 g

of charcoal in each set-up will be tested which are chosen in random

manner.

The time the charcoal starts to burn until it loses its ember will be the

measure of the life span of the charcoal.

The length of time it takes the head source to bring the water to boil

was also recorded.

The time of ignition is the difference from the time the flame source

was placed on the charcoals to the time it started to ignite.

IV. RESEARCH DESIGN

The experiment used the Pre-test-Post-test Control Group

Experimental Design in order to determine the effectiveness of J. curcas

charcoal as alternative source of heat.

Two experiments were conducted using three set-ups of five trials

with equal amount of charcoal in each set-up. The first experiment was

conducted as pre-test. After a desired period of time, the same

experiment was repeated. This is known as the post-test. This design is

used to find out if changes will vary from one period to another using the

same subject.

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

I. DATA ANALYSIS

PRE – TEST

TABLE 1.1SET UP 1

 BOILING

TIMEIGNITION

TIMELIFE-SPAN

JATHROPER CHARCOAL

TIME TIME TIME

1 4:23:01 1:56:09 7:49:032 3:45:05 2:07:02 7:53:103 3:23:07 1:59:01 6:55:074 3:16:05 1:56:02 7:57:065 3:09:04 1:29:05 8:31:02

Table 1.1 shows the recorded time in terms of Boiling time, ignition time

and the Life-span of the Jathroper charcoal used in set up 1. The data shows

that the Jathroper charcoal takes almost 2 minutes to ignite but its longevity

lasts until 8 minutes.

TABLE 1.2SET UP 2

 BOILING TIME

IGNITION TIME

LIFE-SPAN

PAPER CHARCOAL

TIME TIME TIME

1 5:43:08 1:47:03 7:34:052 4:49:07 1:42:06 6:37:073 3:23:03 1:43:01 7:14:034 - - -5 3:19:03 1:40:09 5:54:06

In Table 1.2,are the results from set up 2, the utilized Paper charcoal,

compared to the first set up, its ignition time was faster than the

jathropher charcoal but its duration only lasts 6-7 minutes.

TABLE 1.3CONTROL SET-UP

 BOILING TIME

IGNITION TIME

LIFE-SPAN

BLACK CHARCOAL

TIME TIME TIME

1 - 1:03:09 3:24:072 - 1:14:04 3:54:093 - 1:11:02 2:59:074 - 1:20:01 3:10:055 - 1:23:06 2:55:01

Table 1.3 is the control set up which contains the utilized commercial

charcoal. Due to the fact that the commercial charcoal ignites faster than the

other two charcoals, it easily turned into ashes, thus, its life-span only lasts

in a short period of time.

POST-TEST

TABLE 2.1SET UP 1

 BOILING

TIMEIGNITION

TIMELIFE-SPAN

JATHROPER CHARCOAL

TIME TIME TIME

1 4:18:04 2:01:05 6:57:042 4:05:01 1:57:01 7:54:093 3:56:09 1:30:04 7:53:074 3:08:09 1:55:09 8:34:065 3:49:01 2:00:01 7:54:10

Table 2.1 shows the results of the Post test of set up 1, utilized

Jathroper charcoal. As observed above the boiling time, ignition time and life

span are moreover have nearer results to the recorded time in the pre test.

TABLE 2.2SET UP 2

 BOILING

TIMEIGNITION

TIMELIFE-SPAN

PAPER CHARCOAL

TIME TIME TIME

1 - - -2 5:41:06 1:55:05 7:33:063 3:20:10 1:45:01 5:51:094 5:44:10 1:48:01 7:41:105 4:48:08 1:45:04 7:40:01

Table 2.2 shows the post test results of set up 2(utilized paper

charcoal).

The results proved that the boiling time, ignition time, and its duration are

moreover near to the results in the pre test.

TABLE 2.3CONTROL SET-UP

 BOILING TIME

IGNITION TIME

LIFE-SPAN

BLACK CHARCOAL

TIME TIME TIME

1 - 1:19:10 3:11:042 - 1:13:05 3:27:083 - 1:24:06 2:54:054 - 1:04:01 2:54:025 - 1:04:02 3:31:06

Table 2.3 is the post test control set up(commercial charcoal). As

shown above, its life span and ignition time was still faster than the other

two set ups, making the pre test true that it only last in a shorter period of

time than the other two charcoals.

II. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND TREATMENT

The Jathroper Charcoal has a faster time in boiling water compared to

the other two charcoal samples and has the longest life-span in all the

three set-ups. But its ignition time is slower compared to the other three,

this is due to the fact that the Jathroper Charcoal is composed of

materials with different densities and chemical compositions that made

the variation in the combustibility of the said material, the different

materials that composed the charcoal provide its long life-span compared

to those plain paper charcoal and (carbon) black commercial charcoal

which shows great difference in terms of their life spans or the time it

takes the charcoal until it is completely turned into ashes.

The fast combustion in pure mixtures (homogeneous) of paper and the

pure substance carbon (elemental level) in the black charcoal makes it

insufficient or sometimes unable to sustain giving heat to the water in the

pot which disables it to make the water in the pot to boil just like what

happened to the black charcoal since the charcoal sample is already

consumed before it can further rise the temperature of the water. Pure

substance like carbon in the black charcoal made it easily consumed in

the process of combustion making it the fastest to turn into ashes.

The Jathroper charcoal made two out of three significant markers in

testing its effectiveness. After 3 minutes the charcoal ignites, the flame

size is observed. Flame size varies with different factors such as

composition and the nature of the system’s surrounding. The plain paper

charcoal easily ignites than that of the Jathroper Charcoal burns with

greater average flame size than the plain one.

The biofuel of Jathropa curcas present in the Jathroper charcoal give in

a high feasibility as flame source but also gives a slow ignition time but

stays longer compared to the paper charcoal due to the fact that high

traces of biofuel is entrench in the Jathroper charcoal .

The lesser materials present on the plain Paper Charcoal gives it a

definite specific heat that makes it easier to burn. Jathroper Charcoal

burns slower due to the fact of the different densities of its composition

gives variation in its specific heat. The different specific heat of the

masses means a variety in the ignition, longevity and time it takes the

water to reach boiling temperature.

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION

Summary

The study on the effectiveness of Jathroper charcoal as an alternative

heat source was conducted at Brgy. Poblacion Ilaya, Sara Iloilo on December

2009 to find out the following:

1) What is the length of time for the charcoals to bring the water to

boiling temperature;

2) What is the life span of the charcoal; and

3) What is the time of ignition of the charcoals?

Three set-up were used in the experiment using 50g of Jathroper

charcoal to set-ups A,B, and C. Each were lighted and time recorded.

Results showed that Jathroper charcoal ignited slowly has shorter time

to boil water and has a longer life span.

Conclusion

All set-ups were done with the same factors that affect s the

nature of the charcoal. On the other hand, charcoals that slowly ignites

showed longevity in burning

It is observed that the Jathroper Charcoal swiftly brings the water

into its boiling point.

It was also observed that plain Paper Charcoal ignites faster than

the Jathroper Charcoal making one of the Null Hypothesis true. The

homogeneous nature of the paper charcoal had brought it into early

ignition process than the heterogeneous nature of the Jathroper charcoal.

Recommendation

Jathroper charcoal yielded 2 out of 3 positive results. With this

basis, the researchers recommend the adaption of this innovation in the

field of charcoal making.

To further improve the study, the researcher recommends the

following:

(1)The position/placement of Jathropa curcas seed as it is being

incorporated in the Jathroper charcoal should be fixed in one area to avoid

variation of specific heat and heat capacity;

(2)Measuring the weight, size and shape of the Charcoal should be

more or less identical with one another( lower degrees of error);and

(3)The paper quality should be identical to avoid having different

results with respect to its effect in the charcoals combustion process.

Furthermore, application studies on other biofuel-bearing plants

apart from J.curcas should be explored.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

WEBSITES

http://www.dinagyang.com.ph/schools/forums

http://www.gov.ph/news

http://www.stuartexchange.org/TubangBakod.html

http://www.oil.com/jathropastudies

Microsoft Encarta Premium Suite 2005

www.biofuel.org.ca

www.camptips.net

www.chemistryonaction.org.eu.

www.papermaking.com.eu

www.eHow.com

www.knowcharcoal.com

APPENDIX

Seed Drying Paper Shredding

Pounding of Jathropa curcas seeds Soaking of paper in the basin

Molding of soaked paper in the plastic tube Pounded Jathropa Curcas seeds

was being

incorporated in the soaked paper

Apply pressure to push the formed Molded Jathroper

Charcoal

Jathroper Charcoal

Drying of Jathroper Charcoal Drying of Paper

Charcoal

Jathroper Charcoal(Finished Product) Paper Charcoal(Finished Product)