Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Leaves Extracts as an Alternative Source of
Floor wax and Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolios) Leaves Extracts Odor Remover
CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Floor wax is a solution that has been used
extensively for centuries for floor care. It is a preparation
containing wax and used to polish and preserve the finish of
floors (Vocabulary.com, 2019). Floor waxes offer glossiness,
additional hardness, slip and scuff resistance, while
protecting the floor from water or other liquid damage. With
the advancement of technology, a variety of materials have
been developed to offer better results and floor care, but also
with corresponding threat. The ingredients of commercial
floor wax include shellac, polyurethane, lacquer,
perchloroethylene, toluene and phenol (TCFC Solutions Inc.,
2016). These kind of wax are made to last, thus having so
much preservatives. Besides preservatives, commercial wax
contains ammonia that can cause severe damage to the
respiratory tract that results to heavy breathing when
exposed (Hunker.com, 2019). Again, from TCFC Solutions Inc.,
the incredible amount of synthetic materials and chemicals
used in most waxes is worrisome to several conscious people.
It is believed by some that such unnatural formulas can lead
to health problems or can damage living plants due to daily
exposure. This is supported by Cleaning Pro, wherein it states
that inhaling floor stripping fumes may cause dizziness,
nausea, headaches, chest pains and coughing.
As a substitute, there are Eco-friendly materials that
can be utilized instead, such as Linseed oil, beeswax,
carnauba wax, rosemary oil and several other natural waxes
(TCFC Solutions Inc., 2016). Way back in the 90s, in Natonin,
sunflower leaves were used by old teachers as alternative
floor wax. They sent pupils to gather the leaves and
instructed them to directly rub it on floors. Since then, it has
been a practice until commercial waxes took over.
From the practice mentioned above, when sunflower
leaves are directly applied or rubbed on floors, a juicy liquid
comes out. It corresponds to the study of Matyushenskii
(1960) wherein it says sunflower plants produce natural wax.
Sunflower, also called as Helianthus annuus, was originated
from the Greek words helios (sun) and andanthos (flower)
(TheHerbalResource, 2018). It is also called as wild sunflower,
solsikke (Danish) and sonnenblume (German), pakpaklet or
sampaka in Natonin. Sunflower is a robust herbaceous and
bushy perennial that grows up to 3 meters tall. Sunflower
mostly contain oil. Its leaves showed an abundance of a-
pinene (32.9%), b-caryophyllene (20.1%), germacrene D
(20.3%), b-inene (10.9%), and 1, 8-cineole (9.1%) according to
Philippine Medicinal Plants (2019). Its characteristics became
an indication and basis for the researchers that it is possible
to make an alternative floor wax from its leaves.
However, the odor of the sunflower leaves last
longer than the commercial floor wax that turn users off. To
remove the odor, the researchers thought of using pandan
leaves or Pandanus amaryllifolios as an alternative odor
remover since it is a natural fragrance and flavoring in making
products (TheBenefits.com). Due to the ill effect of
commercial floor wax, these led the researchers to study an
alternative product of floor wax using natural and organic
materials like sunflower and pandan to lessen the awful
smell.
Significance of the Study
The study focuses on determining the possibility of
producing an acceptable organic floor wax from sunflower
leaves that can be an alternative to the present commercial
floor wax. Specifically, this study will benefit the following:
Community. This study shall inform the community that it is
possible to create organic floor wax and can be a source of
income as well. It can also give them more ideas in utilizing
sunflower leaves.
Market. The creation of this project informs the market to
use more organic substances in manufacturing household
materials, such as floor wax.
School. This study will serve as an accomplishment.
Future researchers. This study will encourage future
researchers to conduct more study about the topic, which will
hopefully result to more effective way of creating sunflower
floor wax. This may also provide information when they
undergo the same topic.
Statement of the Problem
The study aims the feasibility of sunflower
(Helianthus annuus) leaves extracts as an alternative source
of floor wax and pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolios) leaves
extracts as odor remover.
Specifically, it seeks to answer the following:
1. Can sunflower (Helianthus annuus) leaves be an
alternative source of floor wax?
2. Can pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) leaves extracts
lessen the odor of the organic floor wax?
3. What is the best proportion of materials to achieve
the highest quality of the organic floor wax?
a) Trial A – with 2 beakers (500 ml) of sunflower leaves;
2 beakers (500 ml) of pandan leaves; 100 ml
kerosene
b) Trial B – with 3 beakers (500 ml) of sunflower leaves;
2 beakers (500 ml) of pandan leaves; 50ml kerosene
Hypotheses
The following hypotheses have been set for this study:
1. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) leaves can be an
alternative source of floor wax.
2. Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolios) leaves extracts can
be used to lessen the odor of the organic floor wax.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The main focus of this study was to determine the
possibility of producing floor wax out of sunflower
(Helianthus annuus) leaves. The inquiry is limited to purely
producing floor wax from sunflower leaves and its use on a
wooden and concrete cemented smooth pavements.
Geographically, this study was confined to the
sunflower and pandan plants situated in Poblacion, Natonin
Mountain Province and the sample leaves of sunflower were
purposively selected. The researchers conducted the
investigation during the 2nd semester of the school year 2019-
2020 of Natonin Stand Alone Senior High School.
CHAPTER II – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Related Studies
This part of the chapter presents a review of the
compositions of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and pandan
(Pandanus amaryllifolios) which are potential elements for an
alternative source of floor wax.
The researchers are not aware of any study
concerned or conducted on producing floor wax from
sunflower (Helianthus annuus) leaves. However, there have
been past studies about floor wax made from other organic
materials such as the ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala). The
study made by Carreon et al. (2011) proved that it is possible
to make floor wax from ipil-ipil leaves. The results of the
study further verified that ipil-ipil floor wax is at par with the
commercial floor wax and can be a potential alternative in
terms of comparability and effectiveness of its use in a
concrete smooth cemented pavement. Ipil-ipil oil is
 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Leaves Extracts as an Alternative Source of
Floor wax and Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolios) Leaves Extracts Odor Remover

composed of palmitic acid (15.7), palmitoleic acid (0.2%), Definition of Terms

stearic acid (3.6%), oleic acid (15.5%), linoleic acid (63.2%), To provide common frame of reference to those
linolenic acid (0.4%), arachidic acid (0.5%) and lignoceric acid who may read this research, the following terms are hereby
(0.9%) according to a Gas-Liquid Chromatography (GLC) defined.
analysis made by Hossain, M. A. et al. (1988). The contents  Alternative source. As used in this study, refers to
are also present in sunflower oil as presented by Aznar- options, choices or replacements of the existing
Moreno et al. (2013) and Ali and Ullah (2012), they reported source of commercial floor wax.
that the average fatty acid composition of oil from temperate  Floor wax. A preparation containing wax and used to
sunflower plants is 55-75% linoleic acid, 15-25% oleic acid, polish the finish of floors.
and 15-25% protein content. Moreover, sunflower wax can  Commercial. Referring to market/something sold for
be used as an alternative for rice bran wax, carnauba wax, profit.
and candelilla wax in making cosmetic products (Nature’s  Sunflower. This is the common or local name for
Garden, 2019). Aside from cosmetic products, the three Helianthus annuus in the Philippines.
mentioned waxes are utilized to create eco-friendly floor  Pandan. This is the common or local name for
waxes (Tcsfloors.com, 2016), hence, raising the possibility of Pandanus amaryllifolios in the Philippines.
producing sunflower floor wax.
The ability of pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolios)
leaves extract as odor remover of the sunflower floor wax is
supported by Tan (2019) where she stated that pandan leaves
help to get rid of chemical-like smell of furniture. In addition,
because of its sweet fragrance, pandan can be used as a
natural air freshener (Khintan, 2019). It absorb bad odors but
also give a great aroma to where it is placed. Besides being an
air freshener, pandan leaves extract are used as cockroach
repellant. According to Afable et al. (2016), the extract has
hexane content and aroma that repel cockroaches. Since
commercial floor waxes are meant to last, they contain
numerous preservatives. A study from Tekno Scienze
Publisher (2019) reported pandan leaves with its flavonoids
content 123.5 mg/kg also have a potentiality as a
preservative.

Conceptual Framework

INPUT
(Independent)
 Sunflower (Helianthus annus)
leaves and Pandan (Pandanus
amaryllifolios) extracts
 Ingredient mixture (Kerosene
and Candle)
PROCESS
Experimental
Procedure

OUTPUT
(Dependent)
Quality of Floor
Wax

Fig. 1. Sunflower floor wax diagram

Sunflower leaves show a potential source for floor
wax production. The illustration above shows that the quality
of floor wax made from sunflower leaves, which is the
dependent variable, and is affected by the independent
variables. The process used to determine the quality of the
product is through careful execution of the experimental
procedure.
 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Leaves Extracts as an Alternative Source of
Floor wax and Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolios) Leaves Extracts Odor Remover