African Land Snail Shells (Achatina fulica) as an Additive Component of Hollow Blocks

Making

A Science Investigatory Project Proposal Presented to Special Science

Program of Labangal National High School General Santos City
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Research III

PROPONENTS:
Colis, Rizza Mae
Fulla,Tricia Anne
Cariño, Kristina Cassandra
Lava, Kristina Bernadette
Tatoy, Jasmine Kate
Petonio, Jellian Amor
Dultra, Rhyn Heart
Entecosa, Earl Jed
Hemelgo, Lovely Angel
Dionaldo, Rhyme
Penaflor, Quian Zane

MELINDA B. RULONA
Research Teacher/Adviser
June 30, 2021

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. THE PROBLEM AND ITTS SETTING

Background of the study ……………………………………………………….. 1-2

Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………………. 2-3

Hypothesis ……………………………………………………………………….. 3

Conceptual Framework …………………………………………………...…….. 3

Significance of the Study ………………………………………………………... 4

Scope and Delimitation ………………………………………………………….. 4

Definition of Terms ……………………………………………………………… 5

CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Related of Related Literature ..………………………………………………..... 6-9

CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY

Research Design …………………………………………………………………. 10

Procedural Flowchart …………………………………………………………… 10

Materials and Instrumentation ………………………………………………..... 11

Experimentation of General Procedure ………………………………………... 11

Statistical Tool ………………………………………………………………........ 12

References ……………………………………………………………………...…. 13

Appendices ……………………………………………………………………....... 14-15

 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

The world progresses alongside civilization, culture and technology. As part of human

nature, people continue to make things better for a more innovate life. As an attempt to make

structures tougher, the researchers have decided to make a study that is intended to make a

hollow block with African land snail shells as an additive component.

Mindanao often feels the ground shaking for the past few months. Leading to the

wreckage of the establishments. Architectures that are made from low cost materials were

severely damaged while other structures that are fabricated with high-end concrete were also

spotted with damages but not as rigorous as the low-budget-ones. African land snail shells

(Achatina Fulica) is known as one of the most constant occurring invasive type of snail. It

devours large amounts of plants that causes severe damage to agricultural crops and native

plants. It is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world. Using the shells of these

pests as a hollow block additive will somewhat help in diminishing the agricultural problems

involving the said kind.

The importance of the study is to generate more robust hollow blocks that are made of

gravel, clay, cement and sand with crushed African land snails shell as an additive.

In other countries seashell is a common alternative to crushed limestone in coastal areas.

They can be easily crushed or ground into gravel for walkaways. Aggregate in concrete mixes or

drainage bases under masonry or other construction.

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 The researchers have been doing brainstorming to come up with a certain solution to the

problem they are facing nowadays. They found out that using pounded shells as an additive

component in making hollow blocks would make the structures tougher than the buildings build

from commercial hollow blocks. This study aims to prove that using African land snail shells as

an additive to hollow blocks are tougher than the regular ones.

This study will be conducted next year at one of the researchers house.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine if using African Land Snail Shells, to make a hollow block

stronger could be developed as an effective alternative hollow blocks.

Specifically, the study is made to answer the following problems:

1. What is the best percentage of African Land Snail shells and other materials in making the

hollow blocks:

2.1 50% African land snail shells 25% sand 25% cement;

2.2 60% African land snail shells 20% sand 20% cement; and

2.3 40% African land snail shells 30% sand 30% cement?

2. Does the hollow blocks with African Land Snail shells produce quality of hollow blocks in

terms of:

1.1 Water Absorption;

1.2 Bulk Density;

1.3 Porosity; and

1.4 Tensile Strength?

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3. Is there a significant difference between the three set ups in terms of:

1.1 Water Absorption;

1.2 Bulk Density;

1.3 Porosity; and

1.4 Tensile Strength?

Hypothesis

There is no significant difference in the feasibility of the hollow block based on the amount of

African Land Snail Shells additives with the commercial hollow blocks.

African Land Snail Shells Hollow Blocks

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Figure 1 Conceptual Framework

The experimental method will be used to determine the relationship of the variables wherein

the dependent variable is the hollow blocks because it has its own mixture while the independent

variable is the African Land Snail Shells because the researchers manipulate the amount of shells

additives.

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Significance of the Study

The chosen study, African Land Snail Shells as an additive component of hollow blocks

making, can help the society in its crisis in solid waste management. With the help of this study,

the researchers can use the shells as an additive instead of simply disposing them. This study can

also help the construction industry in producing stronger hollow blocks. African Land Snail is

considered as one of the cause in pest issues. It is the most frequent invasive species of snail.

With the help of its calcium carbonate, the researchers’ can make a tougher and stronger hollow

blocks. Stronger hollow blocks would be more reliable foundation for structures such as houses,

buildings, bridges, towers and etc. This is also beneficial due to the reuse of African Land Snail

Shells because its shell can’t be easily decomposed. Burning them will harm the atmosphere, the

environment and the people.

Scope and Delimitation

The study is agricultural to determine if using African Land Snail Shells as an additive to

hollow blocks would either make the hollow block stronger or weaker. The researcher would

have four set ups; one commercial hollow block and three with African Land Snail Shells as an

additive but with different amount of African Land Snail Shells and sand; 40-60, 50-50, and 60-

40 respectively.

The limitation of the study is that the researchers will not conduct the experiment inside

the school but rather at one of the researcher’s house.

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Definition of Terms

Calcium Carbonate. Appears as white, odorless powder or colorless crystals. Practically

insoluble in water. ... Calcium carbonate is a calcium salt with formula CCaO3. It has a role as

an antacid, a food colouring, a food firming agent and a fertilizer. It is a calcium salt,

a carbonate salt and a one-carbon compound.

African Land Snail. Achatina fulica is a species of large land snail that belongs in the

family Achatinidae. It is also known as the African giant snail or giant African snail or giant

African land snail.[1][2] It shares the common name "giant African snail" with other species of

snails such as Achatina achatina and Archachatina marginata.

Hollow Blocks.  A Type of Concrete Block Used for building internal and external

walls. Hollow concrete block saves time in building walls due to its large dimensions. ... Cement

is used to bond components in order to produce stronger and longer life hollow blocks.

Feasibility. A feasibility study is an assessment of the practicality of a proposed project or

system. A feasibility study aims to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and

weaknesses of an existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats present in

the natural environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for

success In its simplest terms, the two criteria to judge feasibility are cost required and value to be

attained

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Related Literature

This chapter deals with the concepts, research studies and literature of the study. The

concepts are organized around major topics that are derived from the variables that have been

explained.

Concrete blocks are made from cement and aggregate blocks. They are cheaper and more

utilitarian than traditional clay bricks. They are often used for retaining walls and garden screens,

although some blocks that mimic the color and texture of store are widely used for dwellings.

The Giant African Land Snail is one of the largest terrestrial gastropods. They have a

light to dark brown shells with vertical stripes of a darker shade of brown on them. They have an

average lifespan of about 5-7 years. When they have enough food, and the weather is

satisfactory, they tend to live much longer. Some of them have been known to live up to 10

years. The “Achatina fulica” is one of the most invasive species in the world and the United

States Department of Agriculture consider it as one of the most damaging species for the

agriculture and crops in the country. It is known to eat at least 500 different species of plants.

This species is on the list of the 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world, but

Achatina fulica does not seem to surrender. This snail that stands out for its large size has easily

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adapted to life in regions outside its natural habitat and is considered one of the biggest land

snails.

The animal inside the shell is covered by a mantle. The principal function of the mantle is

the formation or the shell and its calcification. It is made up of soft and freshly tissue. The

structure of the mantle consists of a sheet of connective tissue containing muscles, blood vessels,

nerves and it is covered on both sides by epithelium. The mantle receives sensory stimuli, and

conveys them to the nervous system and aid in the shedding and dispersal of eggs. It also

participates in respiration, stores reserve materials, secretes large quantities of mucous and aids

in excretion.

An important use of calcium carbonate is in the building industry. Due to its wide

abundance and properties, it has been used as a building substance since ancient times. For

example, the Egyptians used limestone for building their pyramids. Another notable monument

made up of white marble is the Taj Mahal in India. Today, calcium carbonate is used in

construction of buildings, roads and other engineering works. calcium carbonate not only fills the

voids between cement grains, but also accelerates the hydration process and affects the

workability, mechanical properties and durability through the dilution, nucleation and even

chemical effects.

Besides construction, calcium carbonate is also used in other industries like paint, plastic,

rubber, ceramic, cement, glass, steel, oil refining, iron ore purification and biorock creation for

mariculture of sea organisms. It is used as a blackboard chalk and as pH correcting compound in

swimming pools. As per statistics, about 200 tons of chalk is used every year. Calcium carbonate

is the most preferred mineral in the paper industry, used for filling and coating paper. It helps in

production of the best quality printing papers.

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 Compressive strength is the capacity of a material or structure to withstand axially

directed pushing forces. It provides data (or a plot) of force vs deformation for the conditions of

the test method. When the limit of compressive strength is reached, brittle materials are crushed.

Concrete can be made to have high compressive strength, e.g. many concrete structures have

compressive strengths in excess of 50 MPa, whereas a material such as soft sandstone may have

a compressive strength as low as 5 or 10 MPa. By contrast, a small plastic container might have a

compressive strength of less than 250 N.

According to Freeman el at (2019) shells grow by the accretion of material secreted at

their edges. The rings on the outer surfaces or a bivalve shell represent the contours of the shell

at different ages. Rings are common to all bivalves’ shells. Depending on the shape of the shell,

the rings are either circular or oval with a common point or origin at the extreme dorsal side near

the umbo. The rate of growth along the edge of the shell is not uniform and may actually change

direction in response to environmental factors

According to Nurmesniemi (2018) Calcium carbonate is a primary component of garden

lime, also known as agricultural lime, which is used for neutralizing soil. Acidic soils can be

treated with garden lime to enhance 8 the soil quality. Garden lime when added in soil acts as a

calcium source for plants as well as increases the pH and water retaining capacity of acidic soils.

Calcium carbonate sources such as limestone and chalk, along with other chemical compounds

are used in preparation of garden lime.

Calcium carbonate has various environmental applications. It is used in the treatment of

drinking water, desulphurisation of flue gas and waste water treatments. Water bodies affected

by acid rain can be neutralized by using calcium carbonate. However, care has to be taken as it

can increase the concentration of aluminum ions.

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 Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the formula CaCO3. It is a common

substance found in rocks in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine

organisms, snails, coal balls, pearls, and eggshells. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in

agricultural lime, and is usually the principal cause of hard water. It is commonly used

medicinally as a calcium supplement or as an antacid, but excessive consumption can be

hazardous

The solidified mixture was then rolled and compressed to let the air escape from the

spaces inside the solidified mixture. After this, the mixture was molded, air dried for four days

and fired in a furnace. Three trials were made at different temperatures – 900 degrees Celsius,

950 degrees Celsius and 1000 degrees Celsius. The finished products were compared in terms of

texture and color to those made using silica. Ten evaluators from the staff of the University of

Northern Philippines – Ceramics Research, Training and Development Center rated set-ups in a

scale of 1-10 with 1 being the lowest rating and 10 the highest. It was found that the texture of

the experimental set-up is better than the control set-up. It was also found that the color of the

experimental set-up is comparable to the control set-up. Tests on durability of the ceramics,

which were done at SLU College of Engineering Laboratory, revealed that the experimental

setup is more durable than the control set-up. This proves that oyster shell can be utilized in the

production of ceramics. It also affirms that ceramics made using oyster shells are better than

those produced using silica in terms of texture and durability

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 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter is made to show the statistical tools to be used in every research question. It

also contains the Research design, Research locale, Research procedure and as well as the

research instrument that is to be used when the researchers conduct their research.

Research Design

This study followed a simple research design. It is based from the addition of calcium

carbonate of African Land Snails Shells and its potential in making tougher hollow blocks.

Collection of Materials

Preparation of Materials

Crush the shells

Conduct the Experiment

Testing its compressive strength

Observe
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 Figure 2 Flowchart

Instrumentation and Materials

The researchers aim to make hollow blocks with African Land Snail shells as an additive.

To do so, several tools and materials are required such as: African land snail crushed shells, mud

clay, cement, basin for container, molder, mortar & pestle, thread, hammer and water.

General procedure of the experiment

This part of the study is a detailed procedure of the whole experiment:

1. Gathered African Land Snail shells from Purok Saway.

2. Place the gathered African Land Snail shells in foil and let it dry under the heat of the sun

for 3 days.

3. In the suitable working area, crushed the shells with a hammer.

4. Make 3 set ups for the hollow blocks with African land snail shells.

4.1 Set-up A additive composition had 60% African Land Snail shells and 40%

sand while;

4.2 Set-up B had 50% African Land Snail shells and 50% sand and;

4.3 Set-up C will have 40% African land snail shells 30% sand 30% cement and

clean the African land snail shells.

5. Sun Dry the hollow blocks for 28 days.

6. Test the properties of each set up after 28 days.

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 7. List down the result.

Statistical Tool

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be use in this study to interpret the difference

between the three set ups with different percentage of African Land Snail Shells in making a

hollow block.

 ANOVA is used for three or more groups of data, to gain information about the

relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Statistical significance does not

necessarily correspond to clinical significance. ANOVA has only two purposes: to play a role in

the inferential decision as to whether group means differ from each other, and to assign

probability of committing error if the Null Hypothesis is rejected. Statistically significant

ANOVA say nothing about the magnitude of group mean differences other than that a difference

exists.

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References:

Uses of Calcium Carbonate

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/uses-of-calcium-carbonate.html
Calcium Carbonate
https://en-int.seekweb.com/ws?q=calcium%20carbonate%20powder
%20bulk&asid=sw_ws_ba_18&de=c&ac=13825&cid=407564906&aid=1356797975534920&ki
d=kwd-84800214161494:loc-
149&locale=en_US&msclkid=60d00414701e19aedc5e64c8b25e55df
Giant African Land Snail
https://www.snail-world.com/african-giant-snail/
Calcium Carbonate
http://www.famousminechem.com/calcite.htm
Hollow Block
http://websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/hollow+block
Testing the Compressive Strength of Concrete.
http://www.nrmca.org/aboutconcrete/cips/35p.pdf
Compressive Strength
http://www.matsc.ktu.lt/index.php/erem/article/viewArticle/42
Chemical Composition of a Mussel Shell
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090501145314AAMbNUF
Concrete Blocks
https://www.izito.ws/ws?q=how%20to%20concrete%20retaining
%20wall&asid=iz_ws_ba_6_gc1_03&de=c&ac=12973&cid=407302381&aid=13480018253489

13
28&kid=kwd-84250427027172:loc-
149&locale=en_US&msclkid=97535672997a1760241836ae58b43f4d

APPENDICES:

Set-ups Ultimate Load

TABLE 1

50% African land snail shells 25% sand 25%

A cement
60% African land snail shells 20% sand 20%

B cement
40% African land snail shells 30% sand 30%

C cement

QUALITY

TABLE 2

Water Bulk Density Tensile Strength Porosity

Absorption

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 Set-Up A

Set-Up B

Set-Up C

TABLE 3

DIFFERENCE

Water Absorption Bulk Density Tensile Strength Porosity

Set-Up A

Set-Up B

Set-Up C

African Land Snail:

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