AN ALTERNATIVE FOR CHARCOAL:

BIOBRIQUETTE FROM DRIED BANANA LEAVES/PEELS

An Investigatory Research

Presented to the Faculty of Senior High School Department

Binangonan Catholic College

Binangonan Rizal

In Partial Fulfillment

For the subject Practical Research 1 and 2

Of the strand

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

Bumanglag, Angel Grace

Deinla, Triszha Rhuzhima

Lascuna, Princess Katelyn

Ramos, Ken Carl

12- Our Lady of Fatima

November 2019
 CHAPTER I:

This chapter contains the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Objectives, Hypothesis,

and Conceptual Framework, Significance of the Study, and Scope and Delimitation.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Billions of people cook daily on traditional stoves and open fires with solid fuels like wood, which

has far-reaching health, environmental, and socio-economic impacts. Much of the research on cooking

fuels has focused on energy efficiency and emissions in the home. Fuel alternatives are often pursued

to achieve benefits for the users and are often marketed as being “renewable,” “green,” or “clean.”

Thousands of tons of trees have been cut and the trend is still going on that result in deforestation due

to production of charcoal. Charcoal and firewood are among the primary cooking fuels used in many

developing countries, even though they both pose a number of environmental, social and economic

challenges. Including the ecological impacts of indoor air pollution produced by cooking with solid fuels

(Gladstone et al., 2014). In the Philippines, its main cooking fuel: charcoal (% of households) was

reported at 15.1 % in 2013, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled

from officially recognized sources and LPG/natural gas/biogas holds 36.1 %. Filipinos still rely on

charcoal which consumes more time to ignite and contributes more to air pollution. Gas and electric

stoves which are expensive. The researchers’ aim to introduce this product to this community to save

more money, persuade them to preserve our environmental resources and to reduce air pollution. In

the Philippines, charcoal production are sources of fuel and income for the poor (M.B.Q. Inzon, et al.,

2016). A big problem in the developing world is firewood. Huge areas of land are deforested every year,

which leads to the land being eroded. People need fuel to cook and stay warm but not all of them can

afford the more expensive types, like gas. Using wastes to create fuel is key to sustainable

development. The researchers were able to turn all sorts of banana wastes materials into fuel and to
predict how well different mixtures of materials will burn. Charcoal briquettes made from wastes will be

a help in protecting country’s forests.

Banana peel is carbohydrate rich and could, potentially, be converted into bioenergy. Banana

waste contains 14% lignin, 14.8% hemicellulose and 13.2% cellulose. (Nathoa et al., 2014) It has the

potential for industrial charcoal production for domestic use. Banana peels and leaves can be used as

alternative sources of making charcoal without causing hazards in the environment. (Anwar et al.,

2014).

Charcoal is an excellent domestic fuel. It requires no preparation; it burns with little smoke or

flame and provides a clean and steady source of heat. It has a much higher energy content than wood

and can be burned in a compact and easily portable stove; it also takes up less storage space. It can

be used in small quantities, and it is easy to quench and re-use any left-overs after cooking a meal.

Modern “charcoal briquettes”, widely used for outdoor grilling. They are usually compacted mixtures of

sawdust with additives like coal. Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any

remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation

substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances

in the absence of oxygen. "“Banana Peelings as Charcoal Briquette”." (StudyMoose, 2016.)

https://studymoose.com/banana-peelings-as-charcoal-briquette-essay

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main purpose of this study is to determine the capability and effectiveness of banana peelings as

an alternative for charcoal.

Specifically, the study sought to answer the following:

1. If banana peels are enough to make an alternative for charcoal

2. To know the similarities and differences of using banana peel briquette compared to traditional

charcoal briquettes

3. To know if banana-made briquettes are better as cooking fuel than the traditional charcoal

HYPOTHESIS

1. Banana peelings alone are not enough to make a useful briquette. It needs banana leaves and saw

dust for a longer lifespan and a lot of effort in preparation (igniting of briquette), starch for binding the

briquettes and a molder.

2. Banana wastes like peelings and leaves can’t be still useful when it comes to making briquettes.

Banana briquettes are less time consuming when it comes to ignite heat and fire compared to charcoal.

3. There is no significant difference in terms of combustibility, life span, and fire intensity when Charcoal

and has the same purpose, for example, to help people cook their food.

4. No, Alternative charcoal briquettes are better than traditional charcoal because it is cheaper and

easier to use for everyday living of most Filipinos especially who are in rural areas.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWWORK
 INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
Advantage of Testing the burning Fuel briquette that
banana peels and time, cooking can be more
banana leaves. power and efficient and
temperature of the essential than
Capability of starch banana briquette. charcoal and wood
on combining the briquette
organic waste Testing the
difference on using
organic, charcoal
and wood
briquette.

FEEDBACK

The paradigm uses an input- process- output approach to conduct the research, whereas the input

contains the preparation of all the materialsFEEDBACK

waste together and using starch to serve as a binding agent to the briquette. After that, it will proceed

to the process stage where it contains all the trials and errors of the making of the product, several

tests and experiments that are conducted, surveys or interviews will be presented and different

observation will be taken in order to proceed on to the output process which is to have a successful

organic banana briquette that can be a substitute to charcoal.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study will determine the capability and effectiveness of using banana peelings and dried

banana leaves to be used as alternative cooking fuel. In the experiment, the researchers will be using

the ripe yellow bananas and starch that are commonly sold in streets. Dried leaves will also be used
that can be found in backyards. Generally, the experiment will last for 7 days until the mixture briquettes

will dry and ready to be used as a briquette.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study has its benefits from both human individuals and environmental resources including:

FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN NOT USES FUEL FOR PRODUCTS:

This study may help poor families in the community to afford cheaper alternatives to coal or even

create their own briquette from organic waste.

FOR THE SAFETY OF THE HUMAN BODY:

Charcoal and wood produce not only that hydrocarbons but also tiny soot particles that pollute the air

and can aggravate heart and lung problems. On the other hand, these proposed briquettes are made

of natural waste therefore it does not contain any chemical that may harm a human body.

FOR THE LESSENING OF DEFORESTATION:

Cutting trees result in weakening of the soil of a certain area that can cause destruction of structures

and rock burst that results to landslide that can kill people. The study aims to lessen the usage and

cutting of trees. This will help obtain a lesser pollution kind of community because briquettes made from

fruit peelings does not have harmful chemicals that will bring catastrophic effects in the environment

such as depleting the ozone layer.

FOR THE LESSENING OF AIR POLUTION:

The study aims to have an environment-friendly fuel. This will help obtain a lesser pollution kind of

community because charcoals made from fruit peelings does not have compositions that will bring

catastrophic effects in the environment such as depleting the ozone layer.

Briquette- a block of compressed charcoal or coal dust used as fuel.

Bioenergy- is renewable energy created from natural, biological sources. Many natural sources, such

as plants, animals, and their byproducts, can be valuable resources.

Combustibility- is a measure of how easily a substance bursts into flame, through fire or combustion

Sawdust- (or wood shavings) is a by-product or waste product of woodworking operations such as

sawing, milling, routing, drilling and sanding. It is composed of fine particles of wood.

Starch- is one of the earliest known binding agents to be used in tablet manufacturing. It is a white

powder without any odor or taste

Hydrocarbons- The molecules of hydrocarbons are made of hydrogen and carbon atoms. When burning

fuels with hydrocarbons, it makes carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. The carbon dioxide goes into the air.

Sometimes the burning makes carbon monoxide (CO), too.

Lignin- is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues

of vascular plants and some algae.

Cellulose- is the main substance in the walls of plant cells, helping plants to remain stiff and upright.

Hemicellulose- any of a class of substances which occur as constituents of the cell walls of plants and

are polysaccharides of simpler structure than cellulose.

Fuel- used as operational