Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the

Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

Estrada, Alessandra P.

Salamat, Erica Mae A.

Sampaga, Clarissa Mae P.

Researchers

September 2018

Mr. Reynald Alfred A. Recede

Research Adviser

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

ABSTRACT

The study entitled “Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as

Bioremediant in Reducing the Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River” aimed

to determine which citrus fruit peels are effective in terms of reducing Total Dissolved Solids

(TDS) found in hard water collected from the Marikina River. The amount of TDS in the

water samples were measured using the TDS meter. The citrus fruit peels were packed in

three separate glass funnel and 50 ml of hard water is supplied to each funnel to switch on the

process with the flow rate of 5 ml per minute. The reductions of dissolved solids were

screened. It is evident that orange peel has shown a maximum reduction in TDS (61.71%)

followed by lemon peel (47.43 %). However, one of the citrus fruit, dalandan peel, was not

able to reduce the TDS in the hard water sample. This showed that orange and lemon

peelings can be utilized in reducing selected contaminants in polluted waters.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

INTRODUCTION

Water is an essential component in sustaining life on Earth. It can be used in different

ways - sanitation, cooking and drinking that can sustain public health. About 71% of Earth’s

surface is composed of water. More specifically, 96.5% is oceanic while the remaining 3% is

fresh1. But safe and clean water is becoming a problem. According to the World Health

Organization, 1.5 million people die every day because of drinking unclean water. Most

people who died are children who perished from diseases such as diarrhea and cholera.

Continents like Africa has the highest rate of mortality due to lack of clean water resources

that is the root cause of water related diseases. Tribes and slum areas in Africa and the people

from it needs to travel kilometers to obtain gallons of water yet it is still not clean and

potable. In the absence of clean water, millions of lives are in danger. Organizations like

United Nations and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) create programs which

aim to improve water sanitation and hygiene and give less fortunate communities tutorials on

how to properly filtrate or purify water2.

In the Philippines, water and sanitation is a matter addressed by the society in addition

to the health consideration3. It is also important to note that the search for clean water is a

problem acknowledged by the government and community for a very long time (Solidum &

Solidum, 2012)4.

1
Perlman, Howard. How much water is there on, in, and above the Earth? December 02, 2016.
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html (accessed September 08, 2018).
2
Prüss-Üstün, Annette, Robert Bos, Fiona Gore, and Jamie Bartram. Safer water, better health: costs, benefits
and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2008.
3
Rodriguez, Fritzie. A Thirsty World and the PH Water Problem. June 25, 2014.
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/61480-access-water-sanitation-philippines (accessed July
30, 2018).
4
Castro, Sharrah Maye, et al. "Comparative Analysis of Selected Plants as Bioremediant for Lead-Contaminated
Water." 2016: 11-21.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

Inorganic and organic matters such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other cat

ions together with carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrate, chloride, sulfate and other anions are found

in water which is called Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)5. Most of the time, these substances

are what makes the water contaminated.

Dalandan (Citrus aurantium) is a bright green fruit that is native in Southeast Asia. It

is easy to peel and very popular among the tropical countries like the Philippines. It is also

known as sour orange, green mandarin and sometimes consider belong to the variety of

lemon6. A study in the Philippines was conducted to determine the capabilities of different

fruit parts including the peels, seeds, and leaves as a bioremediant in water that is

contaminated with lead. One of the fruit used in this study was Dalandan. Based on the

results of the study, Dalandan fruit peels were able to decontaminate the water at pH 3 with a

maximum concentration of 10%7.

Compared to Dalandan, Orange (Citrus sinensis) also has a lot of potential in

becoming a water purifier. In fact, researchers in Algeria discovered that orange peels are

more capable of removing acidic dyes from aqueous solution than any fruit peels. However,

its effectiveness depends on certain factors such as number of concentration, temperature, and

time. They also conducted another research to determine whether it is effective in removing

other harmful materials that is present in wastewater or not8.

5
Islam, Mohammad Rafiqul, et al. "A Study on Total Dissolved Solids and Hardness Level of Drinking Mineral
Water in Bangladesh." American Journal of Applied Chemistry IV, no. 5 (2016): 164-169.
6
Morton, Julia F. Fruits of warm climates. Miami, Florida: J.F. Morton, 1987.
7
Castro, Sharrah Maye, et al. "Comparative Analysis of Selected Plants as Bioremediant for Lead-Contaminated
Water." 2016: 11-21.
8
Benaissa, H. "Removal of acid dyes from aqueous solutions using orange peel as a sorbent material."
International Journal of Environment and Pollution 34, no. 1-4 (2008): 71-82.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

Lemon (Citrus limon) is considered as the strongest citric fruit that have a pH level of

2.0. Lemon peels works as a low cost natural coagulant agent for coagulation process in

water treatment plant and also acts as an eco-friendly product9. Citrus fruits, especially

lemon, have properties that promotes bio sorption of heavy metals. A research conducted

showed that lemon strongly remove heavy metals like lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) better than

any fruit peel10.

TDS in water affects its taste but is not hazardous to the health of human beings

depending on its concentration in water. Also, high concentration of these substances can

affect the landscapes. One good example of its effects is the Mammoth Hot Springs, in

Yellowstone National Park located at Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho11. The concentration of

TDS in water can be reduced using different equipment through diverse methods and

processes that are expensive and difficult to use.

This study sought to compare which natural waste substance used – Orange, Lemon,

or Dalandan fruit peelings – is more effective in reducing the amount of TDS present in the

water from Marikina River. In order to test the parameter mentioned, Total Dissolved Water

(TDS) Meter will be used in four different water samples, three of which are treated with

different citrus fruit peelings respectively.

9
Hamzah, Nurakmal, Zuraisah Dollah, Daliah Hasan, Albar Aniza, and Nur Syazana Mohd Abd Wahab. "Lemon
Peels as Fruit Waste Natural Coagulant for Future Alternatives in Water Treatment." Penang Invention
Innovation and Design 2015. Pulau Penang: Research Management Unit, 2015. 416-418.
10
Kelly-Vargas, Kevin, Silvia Reyna-Tellez, Jose Luis Sanchez-Salas, Monica Cerro-Lopez, and Erick R. Bandala.
"Biosorption of Heavy Metals in Polluted Water, Using Different Waste Fruit Cortex." 2012.
11
Oram, Brian. Water Testing Total Dissolved Solids Drinking Water Quality. 2014. https://www.water-
research.net/index.php/water-treatment/tools/total-dissolved-solids (accessed September 25, 2018).

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sample Collection

The following citrus fruits used in the study were bought from the market. The hard

water sample was collected from the Marikina River in a 5L capacity container and stored at

room temperature. Based on the electrical conductivity of water, TDS of the water can be

determined. It is directly related to the concentration of dissolved ionized solids in the water.

Ions from the collected water sample create an ability to conduct an electrical current, which

can be measured using a TDS meter. The initial TDS reading of the sample was recorded as

175 ppm.

Selection of Plant Materials

The plant parts such as Dalandan (Citrus aurantium), Mandarin Orange (Citrus

sinensis), and Lemon (Citrus limon) are used to reduce the TDS of the hard water. It has been

reported that lemon peel has capacity to adsorb Cobalt from aqueous solution12.

Orange peel principally consists of low molecular weight hydro-carbons such as

cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose, lignin, chlorophyll pigments13. Various functional groups are

found in these components such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups which make the orange

12
Bhatnagar, Amit, A.k. Minocha, and Mika Sillanpää. "Adsorptive Removal of Cobalt from Aqueous Solution
by Utilizing Lemon Peel as Biosorbent." Biochemical Engineering Journal 48, no. 2 (2009): 181-86.
doi:10.1016/j.bej.2009.10.005
13
Nguyen, T.a.h., H.h. Ngo, W.s. Guo, J. Zhang, S. Liang, Q.y. Yue, Q. Li, and T.v. Nguyen. "Applicability of
Agricultural Waste and By-products for Adsorptive Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater." Bioresource
Technology 148 (2013): 574-85. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.08.124.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

peels potential adsorbent material for removing metal ions from aqueous solutions. Most of

the plant materials are available throughout the year at low or no cost.

Treatment Process

The citrus fruit peels were washed, dried, crushed into small pieces, and were loaded

into separate glass funnels with filter paper. Each 250 ml beaker was used to collect the

treated water. The three separate glass funnels were packed with crushed citrus fruit peels

separately i.e., funnel 1 was packed with lemon peel, funnel 2 with dalandan peel, funnel 3

with orange peel.

Table A. Funnel Filter Preparation

S. no. Funnel no. Plant material used in Amount of plant

packaging column material used

1. Funnel 1 Lemon Peel 6g

2. Funnel 2 Dalandan Peel 6g

3. Funnel 3 Orange Peel 6g

After filling the glass funnels with its respective citrus fruit peels, the content was

washed with 50 ml distilled water to remove unwanted substances.

Next, the glass funnels were allowed to dry and after drying, the funnels were loaded

with 50 ml hard water sample taken from Marikina River and retained for about 10 min. Then

the water sample was allowed to flow slowly through the funnel at a rate of 5ml/min. The

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

TDS of the eluted water sample was measured using TDS meter and the readings were noted

as in ppm (mg/L).

Figure 1. Weighing of citrus fruit peels.

Figure 2. Loading of citrus fruit peels in the glass funnel.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

Figure 3. Loading of hard water samples in each glass funnel packed with citrus fruit peels.

Table B. Hard Water Sample Loading

S. no. Funnel no. Vol. of hard Retention time Flow rate

water sample
(recycle)

1. Funnel 1 Lemon Peel 10min 5 ml/min

2. Funnel 2 Dalandan Peel 10min 5 ml/min

3. Funnel 3 Orange Peel 10min 5 ml/min

Then the glass funnels were washed with 50 ml distilled water thrice to remove the

salts adsorbed over the plant materials. The glass funnels were air-dried for 10min to remove

moisture. Then the hard water sample was recycled back into the column to reduce further

TDS at a flow rate of 5 ml/min. The TDS of the recycled elute was measured and tabulated.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

Table C. Hard Water Sample Reloading

S. no. Funnel no. Vol. of hard Retention time Flow rate

water sample
(recycle)

1. Funnel 1 Lemon Peel 10min 5 ml/min

2. Funnel 2 Dalandan Peel 10min 5 ml/min

3. Funnel 3 Orange Peel 10min 5 ml/min

Figure 4. Reloading of hard water samples.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

RESULTS

This study determined which fruit peeling will be most effective in in reducing Total

Dissolved Solids as prepared with the following tables, graphs, and figures.

The percentage decrease (%) in TDS of the hard water can be calculated using this formula:

% Decrease in TDS = 100* (initial reading-final reading)/ initial reading

Table D. TDS Reduction

Plant material TDS Final

S no. Initial Reading TDS % Decrease
used Reading

1. Lemon Peel 175 ppm 92 ppm 47.43

2. Dalandan Peel 175 ppm 177 ppm -1.14

3. Orange Peel 175 ppm 67 ppm 61.71

Using the results presented in table D, the percent of decrease in TDS of hard water

can be ordered according to reduction ability, as orange peel (61.71%) showing the highest

percentage of reduction, lemon peel (47.43%), and orange peel (-1.14%) being the lowest

among the three to reduce the amount of TDS in the hard water.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

FIGURE .5 TDS (ppm) REDUCTION

200
180
160
140
TDS in ppm

120
100
Initial Reading
80
60 Final Reading
40
20
0
Lemon Peel Dalandan Peels Orange Peel
Citrus Fruit Peels Used

Figure 5. TDS reduction in ppm shown graphically in columns indicates the variation of
TDS reduction between various citrus fruit peels.

FIGURE .6 % DECREASE IN TDS

% Decrease in TDS
70
60
50
40
30 Overall TDS reduction
20
10
0
Lemon Peel Dalandan Peel Orange Peel
-10

Figure 6. The 47.43% in lemon, -1.14% in dalandan, and the 61.71% in orange peel indicate
the variation of percent of decrease in TDS between the citrus fruit peels in the overall
loading of hard water samples.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

DISCUSSIONS

Orange Peelings

The results tabulated in Table D showed the reduction of TDS from the initial reading

of hard water which is 175 ppm using different citrus fruit peels. The orange peel exhibited

the highest percentage of reduction in the TDS of the hard water 61.71%. This result supports

the claim of Annadurai, Juang, and Lee in 200314 that orange peel can reduce heavy metals

such as Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Pb in a synthetic solution.

Lemon Peelings

Lemon peels also reduced the amount of TDS in the water in a significant amount. It

was able to reduce the TDS in the hard water sample by 47.43%. This agrees with the

findings of Dollah and her colleagues in 201515 that lemon peels can be used as a water

coagulant that can be used by future researchers to improve their study in finding alternatives

for water treatment.

Dalandan Peelings

Among the three citrus fruits used in the study, the set up with the dalandan peelings

was the only one that showed no reduction in the amount of TDS in the hard water sample.

From the initial TDS of hard water sample 175 ppm, it increased to 177 ppm having a -1.14%

reduction percentage in the treated hard water. This only proves that further studies are

needed to be

14
Annadurai, G., R. S. Juang, and D. J. Lee. "Adsorption of heavy metals from water using banana and." Water
Science & Technology XLVII, no. 1 (January 2003): 185-190.
15
Hamzah, Nurakmal, Zuraisah Dollah, Daliah Hasan, Albar Aniza, and Nur Syazana Mohd Abd Wahab. "Lemon
Peels as Fruit Waste Natural Coagulant for Future Alternatives in Water Treatment." Penang Invention
Innovation and Design 2015. Pulau Penang: Research Management Unit, 2015. 416-418.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

conducted to verify that dalandan fruit peels are feasible as a bioremediant in reducing the

TDS of hard water.

The TDS of hard water was measured before and after the loading into the glass

funnel of the packed fruit peelings. Results showed in Table D imply that the most effective

fruit peel among the three is orange peel having a decrease in the TDS final reading (from

175 ppm to 67 ppm). On the other hand, lemon peel also showed a decrease from the initial

TDS of the hard water which is 175 ppm it became 92 ppm. Lastly, dalandan peel is the only

fruit rind among the three fruit peelings used which showed an increase in the number of

TDS from the hard water by 1.14% when processed.

Thus, orange peel proves to be more effective bioremediant for the reduction of TDS

in the hard water collected from the Marikina River among the citrus fruit peels used.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

CONCLUSION

The reduction of Total Dissolved Solids by using citrus fruit peelings proved to be

effective and can be utilized in the field of water purification systems. The use of orange peel

reduced the dissolved solids by 61.71% making it available for domestic use. The other plant

material, which is the lemon peelings, was also found to reduce the dissolved solids

effectively by 47.43%. Consequently, fruit peelings coming from orange and lemon have the

potential in the treatment of hard water into a substance with lesser solid impurities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To improve this study, future researchers may also determine specifically which

heavy metal will be reduced from the contaminated water sample. This may lead to

processing polluted water back into something that can be made potable again.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

REFERENCES

Benaissa, H. "Removal of acid dyes from aqueous solutions using orange peel as a
sorbent material." International Journal of Environment and Pollution 34, no. 1-4
(2008): 71-82.

Bhatnagar, Amit, A.k. Minocha, and Mika Sillanpää. "Adsorptive Removal of Cobalt
from Aqueous Solution by Utilizing Lemon Peel as Biosorbent." Biochemical
Engineering Journal 48, no. 2 (2009): 181-86. doi:10.1016/j.bej.2009.10.005

Castro, Sharrah Maye, et al. "Comparative Analysis of Selected Plants as

Bioremediant for Lead-Contaminated Water." 2016: 11-21

Hamzah, Nurakmal, Zuraisah Dollah, Daliah Hasan, Albar Aniza, and Nur Syazana
Mohd Abd Wahab. "Lemon Peels as Fruit Waste Natural Coagulant for Future
Alternatives in Water Treatment." Penang Invention Innovation and Design 2015.
Pulau Penang: Research Management Unit, 2015. 416-418.

Islam, Mohammad Rafiqul, et al. "A Study on Total Dissolved Solids and Hardness
Level of Drinking Mineral Water in Bangladesh." American Journal of Applied
Chemistry IV, no. 5 (2016): 164-169.

Kelly-Vargas, Kevin, Silvia Reyna-Tellez, Jose Luis Sanchez-Salas, Monica Cerro-

Lopez, and Erick R. Bandala. "Biosorption of Heavy Metals in Polluted Water, Using
Different Waste Fruit Cortex." 2012.

Morton, Julia F. Fruits of warm climates. Miami, Florida: J.F. Morton, 1987.

Nguyen, T.a.h., H.h. Ngo, W.s. Guo, J. Zhang, S. Liang, Q.y. Yue, Q. Li, and T.v.
Nguyen. "Applicability of Agricultural Waste and By-products for Adsorptive
Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater." Bioresource Technology 148 (2013):
574-85. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.08.124.

Oram, Brian. Water Testing Total Dissolved Solids Drinking Water Quality. 2014.
https://www.water-research.net/index.php/water-treatment/tools/total-dissolved-solids
(accessed September 25, 2018).

Perlman, Howard. How much water is there on, in, and above the Earth? December
02, 2016. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html (accessed September 08,
2018).

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA

 Comparative Analysis of Selected Citrus Fruit Peelings as Bioremediant in Reducing the
Total Dissolved Solids in Water from Marikina River

Prüss-Üstün, Annette, Robert Bos, Fiona Gore, and Jamie Bartram. Safer water,
better health: costs, benefits and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote
health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2008.

Rodriguez, Fritzie. A Thirsty World and the PH Water Problem. June 25, 2014.
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/61480-access-water-sanitation-
philippines (accessed July 30, 2018).

PHYSICAL SCIENCE ESTRADA, SALAMAT, SAMPAGA