USAGE OF BANANA PEELINGS AS ALTERNATIVE CHARCOAL

A Scientific Investigatory Project Presented to

Assumption College of Davao

Integrated Basic Education Unit
High School Department

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in Science and Technology IX

Submitted To:

Juvemin Tadura
Science Teacher

Submitted By:

Scientific Investigatory Project

IX- St. Peter Group 5

Members:

Ancheta, Allen Ercel

Adtoon , Princess Nicole
Bautista, Gyciah Mae
Conquilla, Benjamin David
Fuentes, Ileanna Vanessa Edna
Raagas, Yumica Shane
Yap, Robert Alfred

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 Abstract
God provides us a beautiful gift and it is nature. Human beings are part of the
natural world. We are one species amongst millions and have evolved to be part of
nature, not apart from it. We depend entirely on a healthy natural environment for our
wealth and wellbeing. Nature is rich and full of resources that we humans took
advantage of. Our nature is slowly dying because of the bad doings of humanity. These
human activities pose a great threat into the world that result to pollution, global
warming, soil erosion, climate change and especially deforestation which is rampant in
our society nowadays.

Deforestation is one of the global problems that we face. Deforestation is clearing

Earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land.
One of the impacts of deforestation is that it kills the plant species that are chopped
down and causes the loss of habitat for both plants and animals. It is also triggered by
charcoal production around the world. Charcoal production triggers deforestation
because charcoal is made out of wood and the only way to get wood to make charcoal
is to chop down trees. Charcoal is used for many different things including as cooking
fuel, metallurgical fuel, and industry fuel, and also medicine. Since the uses of charcoal
are many and great, it is one of the causes of deforestation since so many trees have to
be cut down to meet the demand for it and because of that it increases speed and
severity of global warming. If we are the cause of this problem then we have to be
responsible in restoring nature’s beauty for us to live longer and for the future ahead.

So in this mission in reducing deforestation activities, we speculate on achieving

an alternative charcoal that’s not been made by wood. The researchers consider
recycling organic waste as source for the alternative charcoal. By completing this
project this may help people to use the product as an alternative charcoal. It will also
help the environment to lessen the continuing cutting and burning of trees that results to
global warming and climate change. The researchers use cardava banana peelings as
an alternative charcoal.

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 Table of Contents

Abstract ............................................................................................................................ i
Table of Contents .............................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................... iii
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
Significance of the study ................................................................................................. 1
Methodology .................................................................................................................... 3
Collection ........................................................................................................................ 6
Procedure........................................................................................................................ 6
Disposal .......................................................................................................................... 8
Methodology flow chart ................................................................................................... 9
Experimentation .............................................................................................................. 9
Results and Discussion ................................................................................................. 10
Conclusions................................................................................................................... 11
Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 12
Curriculum Vitae ............................................................................................................ 13

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 Acknowledgement

Foremost, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the people who
gave us the possibility to accomplish our science investigatory project. To the people
who advised, guide and assisted us in this research project.

We also thank our teacher, Mrs. Juvemin Tadura for her motivation, enthusiasm,
and her immense knowledge. Her guidance helped us in all the time of our research
project.

To our parents and guardians who gave their full support. You are the main
motivation of this study.

To our friends who never fails to support and guide us and;

Lastly, to God for giving us the strength, knowledge and wisdom to finish our
science investigatory project.

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Introduction

Background of the Study

Charcoal is becoming more and more a scarce product in some places and is not
only contributing to severe environmental problem like deforestation and soil erosion,
but also pauses serious health hazards like diseases linked with respiratory systems.
The use of trees on making charcoals has been a major factor that contributes to the
climate change in developing countries especially Philippines and East Africa.
Thousands of tons of trees have been cut and the trend is still going on, despite the
efforts made by different governments in the region to stop people from this long rooted
behaviour of cutting trees for charcoal making. Banana is a plant that can save the
region from becoming dry, if people will be taught of the other benefits of banana
specifically the banana peelings, apart from the one they know, which is either trash or
fertilizer. If the government leaders, especially politicians will advocate for the banana
plantation, trees will be saved from being the only source of charcoal and prevent
climate change from getting worse. In order to make the banana charcoal, we will be
using the cassava flour and water, which is abundant here in the Philippines. Making
the charcoal does require effort, but in the end it is very rewarding, so if we think about it
making the banana charcoal is more beneficial to us and also to our Mother Earth.
That's why we came up to this idea because banana peels can also be used as another
source of making charcoal without causing hazards in the environment.

Significance of the study

The significance of our research study is that it can provide as an alternative

charcoal especially for those people living in far flung areas and to help people in every
community to use the excess of banana peelings. Using banana as charcoal also helps
prevent deforestation which is rampant across the world. Furthermore it aids people rich
in banana to recycle their waste making it more suitable for them to support their needs.

Objective of the study

The main objective of our study is to use the banana peelings as an alternative
charcoal, so that most people living in rural areas can have easy access to charcoals
use to cook, grill, and light their houses, and by doing that, we can also prevent the
deforestation occurring around the world. We have also observed how using charcoal

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affects our environment that is now experiencing global warming and climate change
and by that we want to encourage those people living in rural areas to use banana
peelings as an alternative charcoal.

Statement of the problem

We have observed in our houses that when we buy banana, banana peelings are
somewhat useless in our home. It sometimes tends to rot easily and the garbage bin
and stinks that produces an unpleasant smell.

Questions:

Are banana peelings react to fire easily?

Are banana peelings enough to make an alternative for charcoal?

How effective is the banana peelings as an alternative to charcoal?

Will the alternative charcoal be successful?

Hypothesis

 If a piece of charcoal banana peeling is heated, then the charcoal will rise in
temperature and can be used for grilling.

 If a piece of heated charcoal banana peeling is fanned with enough time, then it
would make fire.

 If a piece of burning charcoal banana peeling is used for cooking then we can
cook rice or raw foods.

 If a piece of burning charcoal banana peeling will be poured with water, then the
heat or temperature will decrease and the heat will eventually die out.

 If the charcoal banana peelings won’t ignite, then we may have made a minor
miscalculation.

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Scope and limitation of the study

This study will focus on developing the banana peels as an alternative charcoal.
The product will let people freely use the banana peels as a source of heat when it
comes to cooking, grilling and so on. Furthermore this study will also prevent charcoal
related incidents to happen. So the only use of the product of this study is providing an
alternative source for fuel and light for the people.

Methodology

Materials
The materials that were used in this study were:

Cardava Banana Peelings - Our main component use as an alternative charcoal.

Quarter basin of charcoal dust – Mix component with the banana peelings

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Quarter basin of fine sand - Mix component with the banana peelings

Knife- Used to cut the banana peelings into strips

Old newspapers- Used to save the residue of the crushed charcoal and to prevent the
place used for crushing the charcoal from getting dirty.

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Basin- It was used to place the mixture

Used two containers - It was used to place the charcoal and sand.

Chopping Board- It was used to be a board for chopping the peelings.

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Sieve- It was used to separate the finer parts of the crushed charcoal and sand.

Collection

1.2 kilograms of Cardava bananas were collected at a sari-sari store near Yumica’s
house. All of the peelings of the banana were consumed for the experiment.
2 packs of wooden charcoal were collected at a sari-sari store near Vanessa’s. Only
1 pack of wooden charcoal was used for the experiment.
A quarter basin of fine sand was collected at Yumica’s house. All of it was consume
for the experiment.
1 knife was collected at Robert’s house. It was used to slice the banana peelings for
the experiment.
1 chopping board was collected at Robert’s house. It was used to be a board for
chopping the peelings.
1 sieve was collected at Robert’s house. It was used to separate the finer parts of
the crushed charcoal and sand.
4 old newspapers were collected at Benjamin’s house. It was used to save the
residue of the crushed charcoal and to prevent the place used for crushing the charcoal
from getting dirty.
1 basin was collected at Robert’s house. It was used to place the mixture
2 containers were collected at Robert’s house. It was used to place the charcoal and
sand.

Procedure

Banana briquettes (banana mixture):

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A. First you have to chop the fresh banana peelings into small pieces.

B. Once the banana peelings are chopped, and then mix the three ingredients
together the banana peelings, the charcoal dust and the sand.

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C. The banana peelings should be more, approximately half of the mixture.
Charcoal dust and sand should each be a quarter of the quantity of the peelings.

D. The sap in the banana peelings will tie up the sand and charcoal and dust. Then
you make the briquettes of a suitable size. They are put under the sun and are dried.
Then they are ready for use just like that. The drying takes a short time.

Disposal

A. Disposal of excess materials

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 Excess materials that were gathered for the experiment should be kept in
place where the children can’t reach it and adults can immediately find it.

B. Disposal of waste materials

Waste materials should be disposed immediately to prevent any unwanted

events like accidents.

Methodology flow chart

Banana briquettes:
↓
Chop the banana peelings
↓
Mix the three main ingredients
↓
The peelings should be half of the mixture while the other two should be a quarter
↓
Then dry it out until they are ready to use

Experimentation

In our experimentation, we compare our banana peeling charcoal product to the

commercial charcoal that people used.

Cardava banana peelings charcoal Commercial Charcoal

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 We tried to compare both charcoals as their conductivity to heat.

Cardava banana peelings charcoal Commercial Charcoal

Results and Discussion

GROUP KILO CUP TIME TIME RESULTS

(RICE) (CHARCOAL (THE RICE WAS
STARTS TO AFIRE) COOKED)
The rice
was
cooked
fully; there
A. BANANA
was a
PEELINGS 1 1 1:25 minutes 27:03 minutes
small
CHARCOAL
amount of
burning
charcoal
remaining

The rice
was
B. cooked
COMMERCIA fully; there
1 1 1:13 minutes 21:32 minutes
L were large
CHARCOAL amount of
charcoal
remaining

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Analysis

In this research effort we compared the banana peelings charcoal to commercial

charcoal such as their conductivity to heat, its porosity, its odour (if present) the time
interval in which both charcoal starts to afire, and their differences when they are
heated, the lastingness of their flame and its effectiveness. We use rice as our bases in
terms of the comparison of both charcoals. We use rice since it is needed most in every
community and proved that banana peelings can be used as an alternative charcoal if
it’s successful. Rice because it is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part
of the world's human population especially here in the Philippines. So for our
comparison we used a kilo of banana peelings charcoal and a kilo of commercial
charcoal also to be equal and a cup of rice for both of them.

We first lit our Banana Peelings Charcoal and it takes 1:25 seconds to start a fire.
At that time when the banana peelings charcoal was lit, it was a little bit smoky. On the
other hand as for the Commercial Charcoal it takes only 1:13 seconds to start a fire.
Compared to banana peelings it is not smoky when it was lit. We used hand fan for both
of them to be cooked faster. Same results also as the time we fanned both charcoals
there were small amount of ashes that flew away. There’s also big interval of time as
when the rice was cooked. For the Banana Peelings Charcoal the results were the rice
was cooked fully and there are still small amount of charcoal remaining. On the contrary
the result of the Commercial Charcoal was same as the Banana Peelings Charcoal
except there were still large amount of charcoal remaining.

On disposing the charcoals we separate those charcoals that can be used and
those charcoals that can’t be used. We used water as our disposable tool. Both Banana
Peelings Charcoal and Commercial Charcoal has the same results also when we
poured water unto them the heat or temperature decreases and the heat eventually die
out. Additionally as for the odour the Banana Peelings Charcoal has an odour of a
banana scent and for the commercial charcoal the scent of coconut wood. Both of them
also don’t have an acrid smell.

Conclusions
Based from the data gathered, we conclude that the banana peeling charcoal
took longer to cook compared to the commercial charcoal, furthermore we also
conclude that using banana peeling charcoal can make your rice more appetizing
compared to the commercial charcoal. Using banana charcoal also has its own flaws
because using it, consumes a lot of banana charcoal. While using commercial is less

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consuming compared to the banana charcoal. But in terms of affordability we conclude
that using banana charcoal is more efficient compared to the commercial charcoal,
because you can spend less money using banana charcoal, since Cardava banana,
which is used in this experiment, costs around 25-30 pesos per kilo and it is more
environment friendly than the commercial charcoal which is getting costly nowadays.
Moreover we conclude that our banana peelings charcoal is successful as an alternative
charcoal considering that it can do what the commercial charcoal can do but only
longer, it can also help you spend less money, and help people and preserve the
ecosystem.

Recommendations

Based from the drawn conclusions we recommend to

1.) Add more ingredient/s or substances to the banana peelings charcoal so that it
will be more efficient and it will be more lasting than before.
2.) Try using a different kind of banana to test if it lasts longer than the cardava
banana which is used in this experiment.
3.) Try forming the banana peelings charcoal into briquettes so that it would last
longer.

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Curriculum Vitae

Name: Princess Nicole M. Adtoon

Address: Ph.2 Blk.1 Lt.4 Wellspring Highlands
Catalunan Pequeno, Davao City
Age: 13
Gender: Female
Birthday: March 12, 2003
Birthplace: Davao City
Mother’s Name: Evelyn M. Adtoon
Father’s Name: Bernardo B. Adtoon
E-mail: nicolaiadtoon@yahoo.com
Cell no.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Pre-School:
Address:
School Year:
Grade School: Tuban Elementary School
Address: Tuban Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur
School Year: 2009-2015

Junior High School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: Juan P. Cabaguio Avenue, Davao City
School Year: 2016-Present

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Curriculum Vitae

Name: Yumica Shane A. Raagas

Address: L33 B2 JLA Subd., Lanang, Davao City
Age: 15
Birthday: July 29 2002
Mother’s Name: Sandra A. Raagas
Father’s Name: Cyril B. Raagas
Gender: Female
E-mail: abcdshane@hotmail.com
Birthplace: Davao City
Cell no: 09268941600

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Pre-School: Maryknoll School of Manay Inc.
Address: Davao Oriental
School Year: 2007-2008

Grade School: Maryknoll School of Manay Inc.

Address: Davao Oriental
School Year: 2014-2015

Junior High School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue, Davao City
School Year: 2017-2018

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Curriculum Vitae

Name: Benjamin D. Conquilla

Address: Buhangin, El Rio, Davao City
Age: 16
Birthday: March 21, 2001
Mother’s Name: Cordelia C. Ea
Father’s Name:
Gender: Male
E-mail:
Birthplace: Davao City
Cell no.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Pre-School:
Address:
School Year:

Grade School:
Address:
School Year:

Junior High School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue, Davao City
School Year: 2017-2018

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Curriculum Vitae

Name: Robert Alfred L. Yap

Address: 66-1 Carnation St., Buhangin, Davao City
Age: 15
Birthday: April 19 2002
Mother’s Name: Rowena F. Lacida-Yap
Father’s Name: Roly B. Yap
Gender: Male
E-mail:
Birthplace: Butuan City
Cell no.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Pre-School: Assumption College of Davao
Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue Davao City
School Year: 2007-2008

Grade School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue Davao City
School Year: 2014-2015

Junior High School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue Davao City
School Year: 2017-2018

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Curriculum Vitae

Name: Ileana Vanessa Edna A. Fuentes

Address: #18 Voyager St. Doña Vicenta Vill.
Davao City
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Birthday: February 27 2003
Mother’s Name: Jonalyn A. Fuentes
Father’s Name: Reigner G. Fuentes
E-mail: ileanafuentes27@yahoo.com
Cell no. 09952265867

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Pre-School: Holy Child College of Davao
Address: Jacinto St. Davao City
School Year: 2008-2009

Grade School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue, Davao City
School Year: 2014-2015

Junior High School: Assumption College of Davao

Address: J.P. Cabaguio Avenue, Davao City
School Year: 2017-2018

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