Concept Paper

Eggshells as Chalk Alternative: An Eco-friendly and Low-cost Innovation

BSED-SCIENCE 3A

Banate, Cherry Mae R.

Lascoña, Angele H.

Muca, Mary Grace T.

Pantoliaga, Michaela B.

Quilaquil, Karen V.

Secuya, Sheila Mae R.

Tahanlangit, Mary Clar V.

 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In this generation’s fast paced world that is characterized by the increasing emphasis on

sustainability and environmental awareness, there arises an undeniable demand for pioneering

alternatives to commonplace commodities. Most of the schools, specifically primary and

secondary schools are still utilizing the commercial chalk and blackboard method by means of

educating the pupils and students. Teachers utilize chalk as a writing tool to better illustrate or

write their lessons to support student’s visual learning.

Chalk is a predominant tool in educational institutions since it is the common writing tool

that is made mainly from calcium carbonate (CaCO2). It is a soft, chalky stick use to write on

blackboards by students and teachers since 1880’s. Commercial chalk, specifically blackboard

chalk originally contained calcium carbonate typically bound with kaolin clay, gypsum, and dye

pigments.

Amidst this advance generation where everywhere is not only reaping the benefits of

advance technology but as well as facing blindly on many economic issues. Our education

system is still facing issues and problems regardless of new advanced teaching methods utilize

by some of now. Furthermore, our present economic status in which inflation issues of goods and

services is still actively circulating on the markets, the education system is greatly affected.

Educational materials and tools such as blackboard chalks are also affected by the

inflation which made the teachers go through more expenses on school supplies and one of their

most common tools to use every day is blackboard chalk. Moreover, commercial chalk

production also involves the extraction and processing of natural resources, often contributing to
ecological strain and increase the product’s costs by reason that it is made by pure fine grains of

a limestone calcium carbonate (CaCO2) and mined gypsum with a mixture of sand or cement.

Eggs are one of the most consumed products of animal source. Poultry production placed

second among the most important subsectors in the agriculture industry in the Philippines

(Acosta, 2023). As eggshells are considered useless, most of this waste is commonly disposed of

in landfills without any transformation into useful materials (Mignardi, 2020). Eggshell waste

has been rank ed as the 15th major food industry pollution problem by the Environmental

Protection Agency. They are considered as a major source of environmental pollution when not

properly dumped off in specified locations, thus causing health hazards later due to fungal

growth on these eggshells (Ajala et al., 2018).

The shell of the eggs is composed of calcium carbonate (about 94%) with small amounts

of magnesium carbonate, calcium phosphate and other organic matter including protein.

(American Egg Board, 2022). Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is the chemical that lets us draw on

the blackboard with a piece of chalk which is why we can transform them into a chalk.

This study intends to utilize the eggshells as an alternative calcium carbonate ingredient

for a low-cost and eco-friendly writing tool. The thrown eggshells will be transformed into a

main ingredient as calcium carbonate for the alternative chalk production due to its great calcium

carbonate composition. This study will conduct an experiment using the eggshells and other

ingredient such as water for mixture and gypsum as the adhesive and hardening element. The

utilization of eggshells as an alternative ingredient offers not only a unique and innovative waste

solution but could also be a low-cost tool for educational purpose as this study’s purpose is to

create an innovation through recycling waste and develop a cheaper educational material or tool.
The intention of formulating and generating less expensive educational tools and the use of

eggshells as an alternative ingredient to commercial chalk has gained attention due to its

potential to address both sustainability and educational challenges.

A research article from Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts

also did the intended to produce chalk by crushing the eggshells as it can be a useful and eco-

friendly product and can contribute excellently to our community. Through their research, the

researcher studied the characteristics of eggshell and examined that it can be a great specimen in

their investigatory project. (Cueto, 2019).

In the International Advanced Research journal in Science and Technology (IARJSET),

An experimental research study entitled “Why should we make Low-cost Eco-friendly Chalks?”

Bangladesh Perspective had performed a chalk fabrication and conducted survey through

questionnaires had concluded that the schools had still been preferring the utilization of chalk as

a writing tool , furthermore, the fabricated chalks do not break easily during write up, made from

easily obtainable raw materials and equipment used for production are comparatively less

expensive, and most important of all, less dust produces in writing and erasing processes

(IARJSET, 2019).

Statement of the Problem

The study aims to explore the potential and effectiveness of using eggshells to make an

eco-friendly and low-cost chalk.

Specifically, this aims to answer the following questions:

1. Does it emit less dust compared to the commercial chalk?

 2. How does the writing quality of the eggshell chalk?

3. Does the texture quality of the eggshell chalk affect the erasability of the chalk?

Research Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis (HO): Eggshell-based chalk is not a good alternative to commercial

chalk.

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Materials:
 Combine and An eco-friendly
 Powdered
mix the raw and low-cost
eggshells
materials chalk innovation
( Calcium
carbonate )  Distribute the
mixture into
 Plaster of Paris
the molds
(gypsum)
 Put in the
 Water
oven at 150 °C
for 60 to 90
The following tests to
minutes then
be performed are:
removed from
 Durability test
mold.
 Erasability test
 For manual
 Brittleness test
drying, set
 Marking test
aside until
 Dust emission completely
test dried.
 The conceptual framework of this study is illustrated in a IPO diagram entered here as

figured 1. As shown, the diagram shows the input which are the raw materials that would be

utilize to produce and the tests to be performed, the process of the experiment, and the output

which is the proposed product.

Significance of the Study

This study will figure out the potential and effectiveness of using eggshells to make an

eco-friendly and low-cost chalk. The result of this study will benefited the following:

Teachers. This study is to help other people discover some interesting ways, like eggshells,

and for the teachers to be able to use this in the future.

Students. This study helps young people to have a creative mind to discover methods to

find cheaper and easier-to-do chalk using recyclable materials.

Sellers. This study provides information and awareness on how they are dominating

nowadays when it comes to selling and what their effect is on the online and traditional

ways of selling.

Consumers. This study will provide data to consumers that provides information about

buying eggshell chalk that is non-toxic and affordable compared to buying commercial

chalk.

Future Researchers. This study will benefit the future researchers; it will help them gain

additional information, and it will serve as a guide to the future researchers related to

discovering eggshell chalk as an alternative.

 Manufacturers. Manufacturers will benefit this study to gain knowledge about easier,

cheaper, and more efficient chalk production.

Scope and Delimitation

The scope of this research, titled "Eggshells as Chalk Alternative: An Eco-friendly and

Low-cost Innovation," focuses on investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of using

eggshells as an alternative to commercial chalk. The study aims to explore the potential benefits

of this eco-friendly and cost-effective innovation in various educational settings. The research

will involve conducting experiments to compare the writing quality, durability, erasability, and

dust emission of eggshell-based chalk with commercial chalk. We will use eggshells as an

alternative because they contain the same chemical, which is calcium carbonate, similar to

commercial chalk.

In this study, we will be considering factors such as waste reduction and resource

conservation as we will develop an eco-friendly and low-cost method of chalk production. Using

a few resources rather than a machine that will cost a lot of money, you can save money by using

recycled materials, such as eggshells, and an alternative oven (using stainless steel containers as

an alternative oven and wood to produce heat), which the researchers will use in this study.

However, it is important to note that this research does not have the intention to compete with

any market, for we are only primarily concentrating on evaluating its performance as a chalk

alternative and its potential implications for academic requirements. The researchers will also

conduct the experiment in one of their members' house.

 Overall, the scope of this research is to provide valuable insights into the viability of

eggshells as a chalk alternative, emphasizing their eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness while

acknowledging any limitations that may arise during the investigation.

Definition of Terms

To have better understanding of the study, the researchers defined several terms that will

be used in this study conceptually:

Chalk. Is a predominant tool in an educational institution since it is a common writing and

drawing tool that is made from calcium carbonate.

Calcium Carbonate. A white insoluble solid occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble,

and calcite, and forming mollusk shells and stony corals.

Eggshells. Is the hard, outer covering of an egg. It consists mostly of calcium carbonate, a

common form of calcium.

Plaster of Paris. Is also referred to as gypsum plaster. It contains calcium sulfate hemihydrates,

and can be moulded into different shapes when moistened or when mixed with water.