Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia), Mangoes (Mangifera Indica),

and Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) as Polymer

Decomposer

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This paper presents the related literature and studies of the

effect of lime (Citrus × aurantifolia), glucose, and baking soda as a
polymer decomposer hand-in-depth search that is done by the
researchers and presented in the following paragraph:

"Lime" refers to both the delicious edible fruit of these plants

and a variety of distinct species and hybrids of shrubby trees of the
Citrus genus. The distinctive features of lime plants are leathery, green
leaves, clusters of tiny, fragrant white flowers, and a prickly or thorny
stem. (New World Encyclopedia)

According to the Michigan State University, lime is often

defined as calcium or calcium compound which usually contains
compound that are capable of reducing harmful effects of an acid soul
by neutralizing soil avidity and raising the soil pH level in agriculture (
Michigan State University, 2015)

From the research article No plastic without lime- calcium

hydroxide as PVC stabilizer there are ways to stop decomposition, one
of these examples is hydrated lime. Chemically, hydrated lime is a
calcium hydroxide meaning a fairly strong base. If mix this calcium
hydroxide under the plastic, it absorbs the harmful acid and neutralizes
it. (Frontiers in Agronomy 2023)

From the research article Effect of Lime rates and methods of

application on soil properties of acidic Luvisols and wheat (Triticum
aestivum, L.) yields in northwest Ethiopia, the results revealed that
liming significantly increased soil pH, available phosphorus, and
exchangeable bases but markedly reduced exchangeable Al 3+
contents. (Heliyon, 2023)

There are ways to stop this decomposition. And one of them is

hydrated lime. Chemically, hydrated lime is calcium hydroxide, a fairly
 strong base. If you now mix this calcium hydroxide under the plastic,
it absorbs the harmful acid and neutralizes it. (KFN, 2019)

A mango is a popular tropical fruit that is eaten in sweet and

savory dishes around the world. It can be green, yellow, orange, red,
or a combination of these colors, and has yellow or orange flesh
surrounding a flat, hard pit. The fruit is typically peeled and cut away
from the pit before use. A mango can be eaten raw unripe or ripe, or
cooked into desserts, curries, and chutneys. It's a moderately
expensive piece of produce per fruit, but many varieties are large and
heavy. It is also a popular dried fruit. (What is Mango? 2023)

Mangoes are rather acidic despite being delicious.

Despite being a healthy fruit, eating too much of it is bad for the body.
Mangoes include substances that include malic and citric acids. The
estimated pH range of green mangoes is 3.40–4.80, but the pH range
of ripe mangoes is 5.80–6.00. Are mangoes considered citrus fruits,
then? Mangos are not citrus fruits, to quickly respond to your
question. Citrus fruits and mangos are members of distinct families.
Mangos are members of the Anacardiaceae family, but many citrus
fruits, including grapefruits, oranges, and lemons, are members of the
Rutaceae family. Mangos belong to the same family as other tropical
and subtropical fruit species, including cashews and pistachios.
Therefore, mangos are not citrus fruits from a botanical standpoint
and have little in common with.

Ripe mangoes have an approximate pH level between 5.80-

6.00 and green mangoes have an approximate pH level between 3.40-
4.80. Therefore, fully ripe mangoes are less acidic than unripe mangoes.
(Foodzilla)

Baking soda, sometimes referred to as sodium bicarbonate or

bicarbonate of soda, is a widely used ingredient in baking. It adds a light,
fluffy texture to baked goods such as bread, cakes, muffins, and cookies.
This is due to its leavening qualities, which allow it to react with acids like
vinegar or lemon juice and produce carbon dioxide, which makes dough
rise. However, baking soda is not just for cooking; it has many other uses.
(Healthline, 2023)

From the Encyclopedia 2018, Baking soda is defined as a hite crystalline

powder (NaHCO3) or better known to chemists as sodium bicarbonate,
bicarbonate of soda, sodium hydrogen carbonate, or sodium acid carbonate.
It is also classified as an acid salt, formed by the combination of an acid
(carbonic) and base (sodium hydroxide),Baking soda also reacts with other
chemicals such as mild alkali. (Encyclopedia, 2018).

Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is a base. This indicates that an

alkaline solution is created when baking soda is dissolved in water. For
instance, the pH of a 0.1 molar solution of baking soda is around 8.3. (Health
benefits of baking soda and lemon juice, 2019)

When dry, baking soda does not decompose very quickly, although it
does have a shelf life, so you should test it before using it as a cooking
ingredient or in an experiment. One way to speed up the decomposition of
the dry ingredient is by heating it in a warm oven. (Equation for the
decomposition of baking soda, 2019)

Overall, this review concludes that using the pH levels of Lime (Citrus ×
aurantiifolia) who has the pH level range of 3-2, Mangoes (Mangifera
indica) with the pH level ranging between 5.80-6.00 and Baking Soda
(Sodium hydrogen carbonate) we will use it as a natural polymer
decomposer. Research studies have shown that pH level can affect the
degradation of a polymer. When a pH level stooped down to pH 1.2, it
showed fastest molecular weight decrease while slowest weight loss, and
homogeneous degradation was observed in the polymer. (Wiley Periodicals,
Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008)

This will help our environment reduce the pollution caused by polymers,
cleaning our environment by decomposing polymers. It is especially
essential now that various chemical is limited (Tata Chemicals Limited
1974), and sometimes inaccessible which resulted to lack of attention
towards the study of creating a natural decomposer for polymers. This
presents our related literature.

REFERENCES :
New world encyclopedia
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lime_(fruit)

Bast, Laura, “Facts about soil acidity and Lime” Michigan State University,
2015
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/facts_about_soil_acidity_and_lim
e_e1566
 Enessi, Rebecca, Dyck, Miles, Chang, Scott, Thilakarathna, Malinda, Fan,
Xioali, Strekkov, Stephen, and Gorim, Linda. Frontiers, 10, 5, 2023,
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fagro.2023.1194896/full

Workineh Ejigu, Yihenew G. Selassie b , Eyasu Elias c , Eyayu Molla “ Effect

of lime rates and method of application on soil properties of acidic
Luvisols and wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) yields in northwest Ethiopia”
Heliyon 9 (2023) https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-
8440(23)01195-7.pdf

KFN “Swiss lime Perfection” 2019

https://www.kfn.ch/en/news/article/no-plastic-without-lime-calcium-
hydroxide-as-pvc-stabilizer/

Garces, Alvin. ” Are mangoes citrus fruits?” Ontoria, California, Chef

Gourmet. https://chefgourmetllc.com/are-mangos-citrus-fruits/

Foodzilla, “Internet asks: "Are Mangoes Acidic?"

https://foodzilla.io/questions/are-mangoes-acidic

Ryan and Raman, Rachael Ajmera “22 Benefits and Uses of Baking
Soda” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/baking-soda-benefits-
uses#household-uses

Encyclopedia, “Baking Soda” https://www.encyclopedia.com/science-

and-technology/chemistry/compounds-and-elements/baking-soda

Eske, Jamie “Health benefits of baking soda and lemon juice” MedicalNewsToday, 2019
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324653

Helmenstine, Anne Marie “ Equation for the Decomposition of Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)”
ThoughtCo. 2019 https://www.thoughtco.com/decomposition-equation-for-baking-soda-604045

Li, Jin, Jiang, Guoqiang and Ding, Fuxin " The effect of pH on the polymer degradation and drug
release from PLGA-MPEG microparticles" July 2008Journal of Applied Polymer Science 109(1):475
- 482
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229442820_The_effect_of_pH_on_the_polymer_de
gradation_and_drug_release_from_PLGA-
MPEG_microparticles#:~:text=The%20effect%20of%20pH%20on%20degradation%20has%20bee
n%20investigated%20carefully,%2C%202008)%20.%20...

Tata, J.R.D. "Tata Chemicals Limited" Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 9, No. 48 (Nov. 30, 1974),
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