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“ORANGE (Citrus sinensis) PEELINGS AS CITROBAG”

Ordona, Kyra Cassandra D.

Rapi, Raya Melisande D.C.
Tinaza, Sarah Alexandria R.
Valenzuela, Kenneth Christopher D.
University of Baguio Science High School

INTRODUCTION

Annually, the global market mass produces plastic products for daily usage, usually for groceries
and storage of other food products from restaurants. (Parker, 2016) Expeditiously, it has grown
to be a global threat as produce increases over time. Oranges, scientifically known as Citrus
Sinensis in the family Rutaceae, are a popular fruit in the market. It also has various uses such as
oil, tea, marmalade, and slug repellent. (Nelson,2011) Most of the time, the leathery peeling is
put into our biodegradable wastes, which may increase the risk due to the fact that it attracts
pests like rats.(Schubert, 2017) Another problem is when plastics are disposed into bodies of
water; microplastics are distributed into the waters that are used in our daily household needs,
permeating into the safety of our homes and resources according to Health and Safety Executive.

The CitroBag can reduce the plastic situation in Baguio City, which will provide better
environments and habitats not only for people but for other species as well. A bio-bag made from
the discarded fruit peelings of oranges, due to it having a tough characteristic, is the proposed
solution to a problem that has plagued our world for more than half a century.
Although, there is still the use of eco bags, the bio-bag has better materials in altering paper bags
and reusing fruit peelings into a product. This study explores the advantages and limitations, as
well as the distinguishing characteristics, of the proposed bio-bag that may help it become a new
option to the solutions of pollution through a clear set of objectives and problems. The
researchers aim to expound on the potential of the orange (Citrus sinensis) peelings as a
CitroBag and the characteristics it has to contribute to reusing and recycling wastes in the
environment. It is also taken into consideration what is the amount of time or duration the bio-
bag has before it decomposes or degrades as well as to what extent of strain or weight is the bio-
bag able to carry. The practicality of the research also rests on what is its status financially;
whether it is cheaper, just as much, or more expensive than the plastics currently being used.
Since the location is also a big factor in determining the research, the researchers want to find out
if the material is abundant enough in the city to be considered as an environmental contribution.

Literature Review
The trend of bio-bags made from crops started with a Madagascar company importing cassava
starch to make biodegradable bags and Kevin Kumala’s cassava bio-bag invention from 2016 to
early 2017 according to (AFP, Agencies, 2016). The idea sparked new possibilities for
environmental research when it comes to the continuous search for plastic alternatives, possibly
derived from the biodegradable plastics based from starch. Soon after, experiments with bananas,
mangoes, and other fruits as bio-bag materials emerged from the internet. (Tuates Jr, 2016)
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There have been recent developments on researches with mangoes as a fruit bag alternative to
biodegradable plastics with cassava starch is used in the biodegradable film. However, due to
higher density and thickness swelling, it absorbed more water thus projected that after 36 weeks,
the film will be totally degraded. The orange (Citrus sinensis) is said to have a chemical
desirable to making bioplastics, limonene-based carbonate, according to researcher Mario
Pagliaro.

There is a current study that will give us an idea of how our research will come out which
related to the topic of bio-bags stated by (Pagliaro, 2018) have shown evidence that it is possible
for fruits and crops to be made as plastic bag alternatives, even some proof for orange peelings as
a possible candidate. Also, in 2011, a design student from Milan, named Adriana Santonocito,
had the idea of making sustainable textiles from what was naturally abundant and widely wasted
in her native Sicilian City of Catania. Together, with her university colleague, Enrica Arena, she
sold the silk-like materials made out of orange fiber to clothes-makers. Orange fiber which now
has a team of 12 people, operates from a local juice processing plant where it gets its’ waste
materials for free. This study relates to our research in a way that she made cloth out of orange
fibers, just like ours that we researchers will use orange peelings to make a CitroBag.

Conceptual Framework/ Paradigm of the Study

The figure below shows the paradigm of the study of how the process of the orange (Citrus
sinensis) will be done. Through the three steps or processes which are input, throughput, and
output. Firstly, the input is wherein the researchers will gather the needed materials such as
oranges, glycerol, starch, water and oil in order to conduct the study and to fulfil the process of
making the CitroBag. The next step is the throughput wherein in this step, the general processes
of creating the CitroBag, these steps include pulverization, diffusion and coagulation which will
be placed in the throughput. Lastly, the output is the final product which was done using the
materials mentioned in the input, and processed in the throughput, resulting in the output of the
CitroBag.

Input Throughput Output

Orange peelings Boiling of orange An orange (Citrus

peelings sinensis) peelings
 Ripe oranges Pulverization into made into Citrobag
 Partially powder of orange
which is 24 inches
unripe peelings.
Diffusion of Citrus by 12 inches in size.
oranges
sinensis powder with
 Baby oranges water, oil, glycerol,
Glycerol and starch is done in
Starch preparation for
Water heating.
Oil Coagulation of
mixture in order to
Cellulose(fiber) from
harden the mixture.
orange peelings
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Significance of the Study

The main significance of the study is to reduce the use of plastics here in Baguio City with the
use of the CitroBag. As mentioned, plastics take more than a hundred years to break down and
eventually release harmful chemicals into the ecosystem. The benefits that can be derived from
the study is that plastic will be of no use and the production of plastic will be lessened. It is
because people will be using an environment friendly Citrobag. Paper bags were the alternate
solution in proposed from the Baguio city council and the Solid Waste Management Division
(SWMD) from the General Service Office, however, it ignores the fact that significant numbers
of trees are cut down in order to produce these bags. The orange (Citrus sinensis) peelings as
Citrobag is aimed to avoid all these polluting factors as it is made of orange peelings, safe and
consumable by many creatures. By means of recycling, the potential of orange peelings is
maximized to full use. Aside from being a probable alternative for the plastic and paper bags, the
bio-bag is recycled from discarded materials and controls biodegradable waste. The SWMD and
the overall sanitation of the city will benefit from this study by lessening the impact of trash in
the city

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study is to make a bioplastic bag from orange peelings. Specifically, the
researchers want to test the bioplastic bag under the following:
a. To compare the durability of the CitroBag to High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic
bags, both bags sizing 24 inches by 12 inches and will use the fish hook spring weighing
scale to measure the contents
b. To investigate how long will the orange in the CitroBag last until it will decompose using
the longitudinal method of collecting data.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Study Design
The study is an experimental design, also known as a true experimentation, which uses the
scientific method to establish a cause-effect relationship among a group of variables in a research
study. In this research, the independent variables are orange peelings of the ripe, unripe, and
baby oranges, water, oil, glycerol, starch and orange fibers while the dependent variable is the
CitroBag itself, the decomposability and durability of the bag. The CitroBag will be tested in
terms of durability comparing it with the High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bags
because these types of bags are the most common plastic bags and is used to carry anything just
like the CitroBag, and it will also be tested in terms of decomposability. Given the different types
of oranges (ripe, unripe, baby oranges) that will be used in the research, the researchers would
like to find out whether or not the status and type of an orange affects the final product which is a
Citrobag.

Sample of the Study

The oranges that the researchers will be using for the research will come from the Baguio city
public market, Sagada, or any local grocery stores. As the source of the oranges may affect the
final product, the market is the most efficient and accessible place to get ripe oranges, partially
unripe oranges and baby oranges (Citrus reticulata), as groceries may only sell fresh oranges and
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it may not be such a safe source to get oranges from the provinces, unknown of their
environment which may have an effect on the oranges. (Balita,2013) The research will be done
at the veranda of a researcher’s house with a proper set of equipment needed for the research to
be done.

Materials
The materials to be gathered for the study of “Orange (Citrus sinensis) peelings as CitroBag” are
oranges specified as regular oranges, ripe oranges, unripe oranges and baby oranges (Citrus
Reticulata). An amount of starch for the reason that mixing most starches in warm water
produces a paste, such as wheat paste, which can be used as a thickening, stiffening or gluing
agent. An inconsistent amount of water depending on the water needed by the specific orange,
glycerol is a needed ingredient due to its uses in a number of industrial applications, in the
pharmaceutical industry, in cosmetics and personal care products, in the production of resins,
detergents, plastics and tobacco and as a humectant in food. (Lacoma,2018) Stainless steel plates
that is 24 inches by 12 inches in size to provide as the base to mold the CitroBag into a
rectangular shape that will then be sewed with a needle and thread. The process requires a mortar
and pestle for the process of making the CitroBag in order to pound the peelings into a powdered
substance. The researchers gathered these materials from various locations having problems
regarding the waste they produce from orange peelings. Wherein the oranges will be taken from
the local market, Sagada province, or any local grocery, which will be made at the veranda of a
researcher.
The researchers will set a checklist of standards or conditions for regular oranges, green oranges,
and baby oranges to be used in the experiment which includes having a firm and thin skin; free
from bruises, molds, lumps, or holes; as well as enough weight to be determined by a scale.
Unripe oranges too have specific qualifications such as the orange should not be patched and
should be rather soft or capable of being easily compressed. Also, in the circumstance that the
unripe oranges are bought fresh, they must be left at room temperature for a minimum of 1 week.
Color is not a good indicator of quality; some oranges are dyed and some fully ripened oranges
such as the Valencia may regreen. Brown surface patches do not mean the orange is unripe or
spoiled, but rather that it was grown in a very warm and usually humid region.

Procedures
In order to make the CitroBag, the researchers need to gather all the needed materials such as the
oranges (ripe, unripe, baby oranges), water, oil, starch, glycerol, measuring cups, mortar and
pestle, and 3vstainless-steel plates measuring 24 inches by 12 inches, baking pan, needle, thread
and 3 pots. After gathering all the materials, the researchers will start the process of making the
CitroBag.

The method of the research begins as the orange peelings will be separated according to their
type, so there will be 3 pots for each type of orange peelings and will be boiled to extract the
fiber content from the peelings for about 30 minutes. After that, the researchers will separate the
peelings from the boiling water then the pots will be set aside to cool. With the orange peelings
extracted, the researchers will place it evenly in a baking pan and it will be baked in a 200⁰F oven
for 25-30 minutes in order for it to dry. Then the dried orange peelings will be set aside to cool
then it will be pounded using a mortar and pestle separately according to their type to become a
powdered substance in order to be soluble in water. The mixing process takes place after the
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peelings have been pounded, as they will then be added with starch as the main ingredient to
hold the compound together for durability along with the present fiber content in the orange.
After cooling the water with the fiber content, the researchers will combine the powdered orange
peelings, starch, oil, and glycerol all together in the pot. It will be mixed for 5-7 minutes to make
sure that all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. The 3 mixtures will be placed upon a 3 different
rectangular stainless plate in order to mold the shape and it will then be dried under the sun for
an hour or more if the bag hasn’t dried in that span of time.

With the molds dried up, the researchers will stitch up the molds to make the CitroBag. Now that
the 3 CitroBags are stitched up, the researchers will test the bags with the High-Density
Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bags properly and evenly.

Treatment of Data
The researchers record approximate weights of products intended to test the CitroBag’s
durability in terms of weight stress in kilograms. The researchers will fill the bags up with the
same objects and materials along with the plastic bags for comparison. It will be weighed to
make sure it is even. Every time the researchers will test out the CitroBag with the plastic bags, it
will be recorded in weeks and weight it can carry (in kg) through a table. Analysis employed
include determining the breaking point of the CitroBag in terms of averaging the weights where
the bio-bag showed signs of significant strain (i.e. overstretching, thinning of material,
holes/tears). The researchers are determined to gather the data of the research by averaging
them, the continuous decrease in the weight is an effect of decomposing with the everyday use of
the CitroBags and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bags. With the data recorded by
the researchers, they will also find out and record the decomposability of the CitroBags. The
table below will show how the researchers will record the data.

Averaging refers to the arithmetic mean; the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers
are being averaged, it is done in order to calculate or estimate the average weight that the
CitroBag may support, given the specific variables or items to be used in the bag. By averaging,
the accuracy of measurements is improved and the large amount of data is summarized.

Table 1
Durability of the CitroBag
Legend: ✓- can carry X- cannot carry
All 3 CitroBags will be weighed evenly with the same products and will used every day for a
month.
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Table 2
Decomposability of the CitroBag
The decomposability of the CitroBag will be recorded with the weight it can carry. So, if the
CitroBag is carrying 1 kilogram of products for the whole week and nothing happened to the
appearance of the bag then it will be marked with a “✓” and with the same weight it carries after
4 weeks then there is change to the appearance of the bag then it will be marked with a “X”.

1 kilogram products First CitroBag Second CitroBag Third CitroBag

in the CitroBag Ripe orange peeling Unripe orange peeling Baby orange peelings

1 week ✓ ✓ ✓
2 weeks ✓ ✓ ✓
3 weeks X X X
4 weeks X X X

Ethical Consideration
Due to the nature of the research, there is little to no participation of other people aside from the
researchers themselves who conduct the procedures and experimentation. Minimal harm is also
present in the process. Heating and clumping or coagulation of the CitroBag mixture is one step
of the process that needs proper management, such as staying a safe distance of one meter from
the heat source. Peeling of oranges also calls for care and proper procedures when holding sharp
objects. The oranges itself will be consumed by the researchers because the peelings from the
oranges are the only ones needed. The plastic containers of the starch and glycerol will be
thrown properly in the trashcan leaving nothing but the needed materials for the research. As
said, the research will be done at the veranda of a researcher’s house with a proper set of
equipment needed for the research to be done.

REFERENCES

AFP, AGENCIES. (2016) Madagascar company imports cassava starch to produce

biodegradable bags. Retrieved from
https://www.africanews.com/2016/03/24/madagascar-company-imports-cassava-starch-
to-produce-biodegradable-bags/

Balita. (2013) Big Sagada Oranges delight visitors in Baguio public market. Retrieved from
http://balita.ph/2013/12/20/big-sagada-oranges-delight-visitors-in-baguio-public-market/

Health and Safety Executive. Composting-Recycling biodegradable waste. Retrieved from

http://www.hse.gov.uk/waste/composting.htm
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Lacoma T. (2018) Materials used for making plastic bags. Retrieved from
https://sciencing.com/materials-used-making-plastic-bags-5267902.html

Leblanc R. (2018) How Long Does It Take Garbage to Decompose? Retrieved from
http://insightsociety.org/ojaseit/index.php/ijaseit/article/view/892

Nelson B. (2011) Orange peels could be made into biodegradable plastic. Retrieved from
http://www.qualitas1998.net/pagliaro/pagliaro_chemtoday_march_018.pdf

Pagliaro M. (2018) Poly (limonene carbonate): An advanced bioplastic soon on the marketplace.
Retrieved from
https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/orange-peels-could-be-
made-into-biodegradable-plastic

Parker, L. (2016). Plastic planet waste pollution trash crisis . Retrieved from
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-
trash-crisis/
Schubert, A. (2017). Orange peel uses. Retrieved from
https://www.rd.com/2017/08/advice/saving-money/orange-peel-uses/

The City Government of Baguio Official Website. (2017) Council okays plastic free Baguio
ordinance. Retrieved from
http://www.baguio.gov.ph/content/council-okays-plastic-free-baguio-ordinance

Tuatres Jr. (2016) Development of Biodegradable Plastic as Mango Fruit Bag Retrieved from
http://insightsociety.org/ojaseit/index.php/ijaseit/article/view/892/pdf_237