Corncob (Zea Saccharata) on Its Natural State an Effective Crude Oil Adsorbent than Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Coir

Fibers

Alija May P. Apego

IX – Curie

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of

Research 2

Agusan National High School

A.D. Curato St., Butuan City

Mrs. Marie Lou S. Paler

January 2016

ABSTRACT

Oil spills are currently destroying bodies of water

where marine lives are at stake. Oil spills are liquid

petroleum hydrocarbon released to different bodies of water

due to unintentional and negligent release of used gasoline

solvents and crankcase lubricants by industries and

individuals.

Corncobs, crude oil, and a saltwater simulation is

required for the experiment. Crude oil is poured on the

saltwater simulation to imitate an oil spill in a body of

water. Corncobs are weighed before and after they are

dropped on the oil spill simulation, which is also done to

the coir. This process is conducted for one hour and done

three times for the researcher to know that the experiment

wasn’t done by chance. The outcome of the controlled and

experimental group was then compared and contrasted. The

statistical tool used was T-test on the significance of the

difference between correlated means.

After an hour soaking in the oil spill simulation and

then retrieved, the corncobs’ average additional weight is

49.30% while the coir had an average of 71.15%. In both

ii

variables, oil wasn’t completely adsorbed but both variables

have the tendency to adsorb oil. However, the controlled

variable or the coir had adsorbed more oil the experimental

variable or the corncobs.

Hence, there is a significant difference between the

adsorption of oil by corncobs and coir. The potential of a

corncob to adsorb oil is lesser than the coir.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researcher would like to express deepest gratitude

to all the persons that have become a big part of this

study.

The Lord Almighty, from which all knowledge and wisdom

emanates.

To all my friends, classmates especially to Athena

Olano and Hazel Cayomo who helped the researcher to make

this research study presentable.

Finally, to my family, especially my mother,

father, brother, grandparents and cousins for their

unconditional love, moral and financial support in order to

finish this study and make it possible.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page No.

TITLE PAGE i

ABSTRACT ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF FIGURES vii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 2

Statement of the Hypothesis 2

Significance of the Study 2

Scope and limitation of the Study 3

Conceptual framework the Study 3

v

CHAPTER II REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE 5

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

Sampling 10

Treatment Proper 11

Data Gathering 11

Data Analysis 12

Disposal 14

CHAPTER IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 15

CHAPTER V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATION 18

BIBLIOGRAPHY viii

APPENDICES

Appendix A xiv

Appendix B xviii

vi

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1.0 The Weight of Each Group Before And After the 12

Experiment Began

2.0 The Average Percentage of the Increased Weight 15

of the Corncobs and Coir

3.0 Summation of the Data and Summation of the Data xiv

Squared By Group

3.1 The Weight of Each Group Before And After the xvii

Experiment Began In Grams

LIST OF FIGURES

1.0 Independent, Intervening and Dependent Variables 3

2.0 Increase of the Weight in Percentage of Both 16

Groups

vii

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Irresponsible waste disposal, unprotected areas of

water and the release of used oil is the main cause of oil

spills. An environmental problem we currently have. This

study consists of the purpose, importance, conclusion,

hypothesis, the methodology adopted and objectives of the

investigation.

Background of the Study

Oil spills are environmental disasters (Dave & Ghaly,

2011) currently destroying bodies of water where marine

lives are at stake. Oil spills are liquid petroleum

hydrocarbon released to different bodies of water due to

human activity.

The unintentional or negligent release of used gasoline

solvents, crankcase lubricants by industries and individuals

(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015) and pipe-line vandalization

1

(Ndimele, 2010) may also be classified as acute

anthropogenic sources of oil (Wang & Stout, 2010). The oil

spill is a problem for the livelihoods of the population who

depend on fishing and tourism (World Organization et al.,

2013).

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to identify if corncobs can help

decrease oil spills in polluted bodies of water in the

community. It answers the question: Is a corncob, on its

natural state an effective adsorbent for oil spills in

polluted bodies of water?

Statement of the Hypothesis

Yes, corncobs on its natural state can be an effective

oil adsorbent or has potential to decrease the amount of

used oil from contaminated bodies of water.

Significance of the Study

2

The outcome of the study may be an implication to help

communities whose bodies of water are contaminated by

spilled crude oil. The corncobs being experimented to be as

an adsorbent may decrease current or possible oil spills

from bodies of water where factories or industries are being

planted on have no proper waste disposal. It may also help

ensure the protection of public health and marine life.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The research and experiment is only limited to corncobs

on its natural state an oil adsorbent. It does not include

corncobs with floating devices, wrapped in its husks,

cooked, or without kernels. Also the study is limited to

contaminated bodies of water, specifically on oil spills.

To have accurate observations, the experiment was done three

times with precise measurements.

Conceptual Framework

3

Independent Variables

Corncobs

Liquid

Petroleum

Hydrocarbon

Salt Water

Intervening Variables

Water

current

Amount of

Oil

Weather

Dependent Variables

Corncobs

adsorbs oil

Petroleum is

less toxic

Figure 1.0 Independent, Intervening and Dependent Variables

4

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Various studies related to corncobs as an adsorbent for

oil spill have been conducted so for many of which are

partly similar to this study. The Gulf Study was conducted

on June 2010 as a feedback after the explosion of the Deep

Water Horizon drilling Rig, resulting to the most

devastating oil spill in the United States. The Gulf study

aims to determine both physical and mental effects (Sandler,

2010) and the long-term effects (Petri, 2015). Both studies

are gathering information as a benefit for the public to be

more aware of the dangers of health and the environment by

hazardous substances when not managed properly (LaGrega et

al., 2010).

Similar studies had created solutions with the use of

image processing and computer vision (Radhika & Padmavathi,

2011) such as the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) an image

5

segmentation which is already used for medical purposes and

detects floating oil on the surface (Hess et al., 2013) to

permit effective satellite surveillance in the marine

environment (Bhogle & Patil, 2012). Desulphurization of

liquid fuels by adsorption with the use of mineral clays

(Shakirullah et al., 2012).

According to the International Tanker Owners Pollution

Federation (ITOPF), the effects of an oil spill will depend

on a variety of factors including the quantity and type of

oil spilled, (Fingas, 2012) and how it affects the marine

environment. The other key factors include the biological

and ecological attributes of the area; the ecological

significance of key species and their interaction with oil

pollution as well as the time of year (ITOPF, 2010). The

similarities of the studies are that both have intervening

variables, including the type of oil that has been spilled

to the body of water and on how the chemical substance to be

used interacts with the marine environment.

Oceanic oil spills became a major environmental problem

in the 1960’s, mainly as a result of transporting more than

500,000 metric tons of oil (Britannica, 2015). “It

doesn’t look like it’s going to be catastrophic. But that

doesn’t mean there’s not going to be a damage,” said Pete

6

Raimond of the University of California Santa Cruz (The

Guardian, 2015).

Corncobs have been used as oil absorbent after the

wreckage of a ship, releasing 220,000 tons of heavy crude

oil in 1978. Adria Brown, founder of Brown’s Company,

Recovery I Inc., has developed a product cold “Golden

Retriever” that is experimented to absorb oil from water

(Siegel, 2010). The development of the study is stated to

be economical for its use of dried corncobs that have gone

through a process for agricultural uses and is very useful

for cleanups since it is buoyant and while adsorption

occurs, it remain afloat (Harrison, 2010). Adria Brown said

she has about 34,000 tons of properly dried material to help

the system of waste management (Czarnik, 2010) and the oil

soaked corncobs could either be burned for fuel or the oil

from the corn cob is separated from the corn cob for future

use (Walker, 2010).

In a study where the absorbents being experimented are

coconut husks and corncobs, aims to compare the absorption

capability of coconut husk, grounded and ungrounded corn cob

and also to discover which of the absorbents is more capable

and effective at removing oil from the water. The outcome

indicated that the surface area is a factor in absorption

7

(Omoniyi et al., 2012). The difference of both the studies

is that the independent variable of the study is grounded

and ungrounded corn cob while the researcher’s variable to

be used are corncobs on their natural state.

An experiment was performed with crude oil and its

fraction only and a mixture of crude oil and its fraction on

water. The result of the study reveals that the synthetic

absorbent mat absorbed oil more than the corn cob and it did

not absorb water while absorbing the oil while the corn cob

did (Kelli et al., 2013).

According to Fox News, in the latest oil spill, workers

shoveled tar balls that were carried away for disposal.

They had to be careful not to disturb populations of

Westering Snowy Plovers that were in the middle of their

breeding season (Associated Press, 2015). The abundant

production of aquatic organisms in aquaculture depends on

its environment but those organisms live in water and the

environmental problem is water quality (Boyd & Tucker, 2012)

and groundwater quality (Nwachukwu & Osuagwu, 2014).

An article entitled A Novel Sustainable Oil Spill

Control Technology revise oil spill control techniques, its

components and chemicals, and their advantages and

disadvantages (Al-majed et al., 2012). The study also

8

suggests natural sorbents which may also be an indicator of

the level of air pollution (Sandu et al., 2012) and on soil

(González et al., 2010). The spill of crude oil affect the

factors: nutrients, soil type, humidity, temperature, pH,

the type and the metabolism of the microorganisms,

(Pecingină & Cîrţînă, 2013) chemical properties and plant

composition (Tanee & Albert, 2015).

Similarly, a study in the Philippines about a massive

oil spill at the Guimaras Strait Philippines studies the

effect of the oil spill on the lifestyle of the fishermen in

the coasts (Aliren, 2013) and marine sanctuaries and

mangrove expanses (AGODRAOSC, 2013). The coastal villages

were told to put oil spill booms made from bamboo poles and

other sorbents (Burgos Jr., 2014). Similarly, this study

provides basic information about the effects of an oil

spill.

A report entitled Oil Spill in Entancia by the Joint

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the

humanitarian response network coordinated by the United

Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(OCHA), most of the spilled oil was washed at the shores of

the Estancia during the height of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan),

the containment booms deployed are not sufficient to

9

effectively contain all of the free phase oil in the water

(UN et al., 2013).

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Sampling

In this study, the researcher gathered adsorbent entire

corncobs, crude oil and simulated saltwater. The researcher

gathered adsorbent entire corncobs in their natural state

without the need of an expensive process or costly process

to turn the corncobs in granular form. The researcher

gathered ten (10) dry corncobs. The corncobs used is the

sweet kind (Zea Saccharata or Zea Rugosa). The researcher

visited a farmland where freshly-harvested sweet corn is

produced and as gathered, it is placed on a basin and

labeled. The oil gathered is used oil or crude oil where

the researcher visited a gasoline station to get 2 liters of

crude oil or used oil and then placed in a closed container.

10

The water used is salt water. The researcher made a salt

water simulation. Since water at standard conditions weighs

1000 grams/liter then we can say that sea water has 35g of

salt per liter. (OPENROV, 2014) 5 liters of water was used

in each 3 containers so, each container with 5 liters of

water are mixed with 175 grams of salt.

Treatment Proper

The corncobs were labeled as corncob A, B, C ... J. The

researcher weighed the corncobs on a weighing scale to

determine their current weight before the experiment will be

done. After weighing and recording the corncobs’ current

weight, the corncobs were dropped 2 feet above from the

container. The basins were also labeled as container A, B,

and C. Three corncobs were dropped on each basin 2 feet

above and observed for 1- 3 hours. While observing,

recording was currently done. After recording observations,

corncobs A, B, and C were retrieved by using plastic gloves.

Data Gathering

11

Corncobs A, B, and C were carefully weighed on the

weighing scale. The researcher recorded the number of grams

of each corn cob after they were retrieved from the

containers. The weight of the oil-adsorbed corncobs’ were

compared to their weight before the experiment was done.

The researcher did experiment three times for the researcher

to know that the experiment wasn’t done by chance.

Data Analysis

Trials

Weight of corncobs before

experiment

Weight of corncobs after the experiment

Weight of coir before

experiment

Weight of coir after experiment

1 W grams X grams Y grams Z grams

2 W grams X grams Y grams Z grams

3 W grams X grams Y grams Z grams

The researcher then compared and contrasted the outcome

of the controlled and experimental group by using the table

below:

Table 1.0 The Weight of Each Group Before and After the

Experiment Began

12

The researcher used T-test on the significance of the

difference between two correlated means. The null

hypothesis was: There is no significant difference on the

potential of corncobs as an oil adsorbent. The alternative

hypothesis was: There is a significant difference in the

potential of the corncobs as an oil adsorbent. The

significant level or the alpha level used is 5%, the degree

of freedom used will be N – 1 which is 2 and the test used

was one-tailed. In solving the test, first done was to

compute the mean of group 1 (X1) and group 2 (X2):

x1=∑X1N1

=147.913

=49.30

x2=∑X2N2

=214.363

=71.45

ΣX1 and ΣX2 are the summation of the data in each group

while N symbolizes the number of trials and ¯x is the mean.

The summation of the group 1 was divided by the number of

trials which was also done for group 2. Next was to compute

the standard error (S) of the difference between means:

S x1−x2=√[ [∑x12− (∑ X1 )2

N1 ]+[∑x22− (∑X 2 )2

N2 ]N 1+N2−2 ] [ 1N1+ 1N2 ]

Then compute for the t or the calculated value:

13

t = (x1−x2)−(μ1−μ2)S x1−x2

The tabulated value the researcher used to compare the

computed value is 2.776. If the computed value is greater

than the tabulated value then accept the alternative

hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis. If the tabulated

value is greater than the computed value, accept the null

hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis. Whatever

the answer computed may be, it will be written as the final

answer.

Disposal

The researcher used a separating funnel to separate the

oil from the water that has been used. The oil that has

been separated from the water was used as an extra oil or

oil for the car or any machinery at home. The water that

has been separated was poured over the plants in the

researcher’s home. The experimented corncobs and coir are

burned for fuel or separated for future use.

14

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this chapter, the researcher conducted an experiment

where corncobs and coir are being compared through their

potential of adsorbing oil. The researcher did the

experiment three times for the researcher to know that the

experiment wasn’t done by chance.

Trials Experimental (Corncobs)

Controlled(Coir)

1 50% 73.21%

2 47.91% 70%3 50% 71.15%

Average: 49.30 Average: 71.45

Table 2.0 The Average Percentage of the Increased Weight of

the Corncobs and Coir

15

In this table, it shows the percentage of each variable

and their average percentage. Before the experimental group

or the corncobs were experimented, they weighed 125 grams

and before the controlled group or the coir were

experimented, they weighed about 75 grams. After an hour,

in the first trial for the corncobs, they weighed 250 grams,

an additional of 125 grams. In the second trial, they

weighed 240, an additional of 115 grams and on the third

trial, they weighed 250 grams, an additional of 125 grams.

For the controlled group, they weighed 280 grams in the

first trial. 250 grams on the second trial and 260 grams on

the third trial. After gathering data, the additional

weight was turned into percentage and the average percentage

is given.

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 30

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Experimental (Corn Cobs) Controlled (Coir)

16

Figure 2.0 Increase of the Weight in Percentage of Both

Groups

The figure demonstrates the increased weight of both

groups in percentage, where the corncobs increased about 50%

of their weight while the coir had about 70% of increased

weight.

Trials Experimental (Corncobs)

Controlled(Coir)

1 50% 73.21%

2 47.91% 70%3 50% 71.15%

Average: 49.30 Average: 71.45

Table 2.0 The Average Percentage of the Increased Weight of

the Corncobs and Coir

Observations

The controlled group or the coir have a larger

percentage than the experimental group or the corncobs. In

both variables, crude oil wasn’t completely adsorbed. Both

variables have the tendency to adsorb crude oil. However,

the controlled variable or the coir had adsorbed more oil

than the experimental variable or the corncob.

17

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The results demonstrate that the controlled group or

the coir had a larger percentage the experimental group or

the corncobs. Both variables didn’t completely adsorbed the

crude oil in the simulation but both variables have the

tendency to adsorb crude oil. However, the larger

percentage that the controlled group or the coir has shown

that it has a bigger potential to adsorb crude oil than the

experimental group or corncob.

Corncobs on their natural state can adsorb crude oil

disposed by industries and individuals from different

contaminated bodies of water.

18

The researcher recommends to furtherly classify the

aspects that have or may affect the investigation such as

the measurements of the applied variables, weather, type of

oil, simulations, and the efficacy of coir to adsorb.

19

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xi

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xii

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xiii

APPENDICES

Appendix A

Statistical Tool

T - test

H0 : There is no significant difference between the

adsorption of oil by corncobs and coir

H1 : There is a significant difference between the

adsorption of oil by corncobs and coir

Level of significance: α = 0.05

X1 X12 X2 X2

2

50 2,500 73.21 5,359.70

47.91 2,295.37 70 4,900

50 2,500 71.15 5,062.32

∑X1 = 147.91∑X1

2 = 7,295.37 ∑X2 = 214.36

∑X22 =

15,322.2

Table 3.0 Summation of the Data and Summation of the Data

Squared By Group

xiv

a. Computing the mean of group 1 (X1) and group 2

(X2)

x1=∑X1N1

=147.913

=49.30

x2=∑X2N2

=214.363

=66.02

b. Computing the standard error of the difference

between means

S x1−x2=√[ [∑x12− (∑ X1 )2

N1 ]+[∑x22− (∑X 2 )2

N2 ]N 1+N2−2 ] [ 1N1+ 1N2 ]

¿√[ [7,295.37−21,877.363 ]+[13,082 .38−39,231.723 ]3+3−2 ] [13 +1

3 ]

¿√[ [7,295.37−7,292.45 ]+ [13,082.38−13,077.24 ]4 ][ 23 ]

¿√[ [2.92 ]+ [5.14 ]4 ][ 23 ]

¿√[ 8.064 ][ 23 ]xv

¿√2.015[23 ]

¿√[ 2.091 ] [ 23 ]¿√1.341

¿1.158

C. Computing for t

t = (x1−x2)−(μ1−μ2)S x1−x2

¿(49.30−66.02 )−0

1.158

¿ 16.721.158

¿14.43

Finding the critical value or the tabular value of t.

df = 4 α = 0.05

ttab = 2.776

xvi

Since the tcalc is greater than the ttab, reject the null

hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis.

H1 : There is a significant difference between the

adsorption of oil by corncobs and coir

Raw Result

Trials

Weight of corncobs before

experiment

Weight of corncobs after the experiment

Weight of coir before

experiment

Weight of coir after experiment

1 125 250 75 280

2 125 240 75 250

3 125 250 75 260

Table 3.1 The Weight of Each Group Before And After the

Experiment Began In Grams

xvii

Appendix B

Experimental

xviii

These are most of the

things used to conduct

the experiment.

Corncobs, salt, water,

basin.

Salt water simulation

Crude oil

xix

The researcher pours

crude oil.

50 mL Crude oil on the

salt water simulation.

Corncobs are dropped 2

feet away from the

basin.

After an hour, corncobs

stay afloat.

Controlled

xx

75 grams of coir

3 liters of water

75 grams of salt is

poured to the water.

xxi

75 grams of salt is

poured to the water.

After an hour, coir

stays afloat.