i

Synthesis and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Coconut (Cocos

nucifera) Husk Fibers: Portable Water Filtering Prototype
Kit for Copper (Cu)

Submitted by:

Khennan Hiel R. Lopez

Zoe Grace J. Celiz
Ayumi Caballero
Eleana A. Garcia
Henry Rainier Tigson
Arwen Marie D. Ariola
Ronjeru V. Taylaran
Gianne Nyer D. Beltran

Group 3
GRADE 12-STEM WISDOM

Submitted to:

Mr. Rogie P. Bacosa

Practical Research Subject Teacher

Negros Occidental High School

Senior High School Department

February 2023
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE………………………………………………………………………...…..… i

TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………….……..…… ii

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………… 1

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………… 1

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM………………………………………………...…... 5

HYPOTHESIS……………………………………………………………………………. 5

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………… 6

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS………………………………………………………... 8

DEFINITION OF TERMS……………………………………………………………..… 9

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK…………………………………………………….….. 11

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE…………………………………………….…... 13

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………...….. 13

CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE………………………………………………………..… 14

Coconut Husk Fibers (Cocos nucifera)……………………………………………. 14

Heavy Metals………………………………………………..…………….………….. 15

Microcrystalline Cellulose…………………………………………………...….…… 16

Water Filtration…………………………………………………………………….…. 17

Water Pollution………………………………………………………………….……. 18

RELATED LITERATURE…………………………………………………………..……. 19

Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Based Adsorbents for Dye & Heavy Metal

Removal…………………………………………………………...…………..……… 19

Isolation and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Coconut Fiber

Using Acid Hydrolysis Process………………………………………….….…....…. 20

Thermal Studies on the Interaction of Water and Microcrystalline Cellulose …. 21

Removal Of Heavy Metal Ion Cobalt (ii) From Wastewater Via Adsorption Method
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Using Microcrystalline Cellulose–Magnesium Hydroxide……………………..… 22

Batch Adsorption of Heavy Metals (Cu, Pb, Fe, Cr and Cd) from Aqueous Solutions

Using Coconut Husk………………………………………………………………... 23

Water Quality and Removal Efficiency of Suspended Solids, Copper, Lead, and Oil

Grease in Malihao River, Negros Occidental, Philippines Using Bivalve

Shells…………………………………………………………………………………. 24

Fabrication of Sugarcane Bagasse Based Mesh as an Adsorbent of Copper (Cu2+)

Metal Contaminant for Wastewater Treatment……………………...….……….. 26

SYNTHESIS…………………………………………………………………………....... 27

METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………………………….... 31

LOCATION AND DURATION…………………………………………………...…….. 31

RESEARCH DESIGN……………………………………………………………..….… 31

PARTICIPANTS OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………... 31

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE AND SAMPLE SIZE…………………………………...… 32

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT…………………………………………….………… 33

FLOWCHART OF THE PROCEDURE…………………………………………..…… 34

PROCEDURE………………………………………………………………………...…. 35

Gathering of Materials/Equipment…………………………………………………... 35

Identification of Coconut Husk Fibers………………….…………………….….….. 35

Extraction of Cellulose Fibers from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Husk Fibers.….... 35

Water Treatment……………………………………………………………..…...... 36

Alkali Treatment…………………………………………………………………….. 36

Bleaching……………………………………………………………………....…...…37

Fabrication of MCC from Coconut Husk Fiber…………………………..……..….…37

Characterization of MCC………………………………………………….......………. 38
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Simulation of Heavy-metal Contaminated Water Sample……………….………..... 38

Preparation of Different Set-ups…………………………………..………….……..... 39

Assembly of Water Filtration System…………………………………………...…….. 39

Research Instruments………………………………………………………………...... 42

Testing the Reliability of the Research Instrument………………………………….. 42

Testing the Validity of the Research Instrument……………………………..………. 46

Data Gathering……………………………………………………………………..……. 48

Testing Procedure in the Determination of DO and BO………………………... 49

Testing Procedure in the Determination of pH………………………………...… 50

Testing Procedure in the Determination of Nitrate-Brucine Method………...… 50

Testing Procedure in the Determination of Turbidity…………...…………..…… 50

Proper Disposal………………….………………………………………...…..…….…… 51

RISK AND SAFETY…………………………………………………………….…………. 52

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS……………………………...……………………..………….. 52

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS………………………………………...………………… 53

REFERENCES……………...…………………..…………………………….……………... 58
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CHAPTER 1

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Human life depends on having access to clean drinking water, but pollution threatens

many of our water sources. Water contamination can come in different forms. These toxins can

potentially cause severe sicknesses, such as digestive distress, neurological disorders, and

reproductive abnormalities (Keller, 2022). More people die each year from unsafe water than

war and all other types of violence combined. Meanwhile, the amount of freshwater that is

genuinely available to us—less than 1% of the total—is limited. By 2050, when the anticipated

world's demand for freshwater is one-third higher than it currently is, the problems will only

worsen if there is no available solution.

Moreover, at least 2 billion people worldwide rely on contaminated drinking water

sources. Microbial contamination of drinking water caused by feces poses the most significant

concern to drinking water safety. Annually, an estimated 829,000 people die from diarrhea due

to inadequate drinking water, sanitation, and hand hygiene. People may conclude that

handwashing is not a priority when water is scarce, increasing the risk of diarrhea and other

infections, according to the World Health Organization reports (2022).

In addition, according to Khalid (2019), the Philippines is a developing country that is

rapidly urbanizing and industrializing. Nine million Filipinos rely on contaminated water supplies

out of a population of over a hundred million. Water contamination and a lack of efficient

sewage kill 55 people in the Philippines daily. The leading government corporation in charge of

ensuring piped water supply in Bacolod City is the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA).

However, BACIWA is dealing with several significant issues managing and functioning its water

supply infrastructure. Alternative water sources, usually hand pumps, may only sometimes

generate drinkable or long-lasting water. Hand pumps are widely in use to gather water from
 2

shallow wells, which become polluted rapidly and are the first to dry up when water tables fall.

Because the water from these hand pumps is typically untreated, its quality is dubious

(Spreeuwers, 2006).

In a different sense, according to Lenntech Water Treatment & Purification (2016),

copper is a reddish metal with a cubic crystalline structure that is face-centered. It is malleable,

ductile, and an excellent heat and electricity conductor. Copper is a relatively common

substance that exists naturally in the environment and spreads through natural processes. As a

result, the amount of copper in the environment has increased.

Nonetheless, pipes, domestic plumbing fixtures, and faucets are common entry points

for copper into drinking water. Water absorbs little amounts as it travels through copper

plumbing materials. Copper levels can be within range or increased depending on the water's

temperature, the pipes' age, and how long the water rests in the pipes. Another issue that well

owners are concerned about is the acidity of the water. If the water remains stagnant overnight,

copper from the pipes and fixtures can build in just a few hours (Edwards, 2021). Long-term

copper exposure in drinking water can lead to more serious concerns, such as renal problems,

liver disorders, and anemia.

The ion exchange technique is one of the most successful water treatments for removing

pollutants from water. According to Leram (2022), ion exchange eliminates specific toxins from

water by exchanging the contaminant with a safer ionic molecule. For the procedure to work

correctly, the exchanged material and contaminant must have the same electrical charge and

dissolve in water. The equipment must have a micro-porous exchange resin in order for the ion

exchange process to take place. Sulfonated polystyrene beds are placed within the unit when

the technique is utilized for water softening. The beds will get saturated with impurities over time

and need to be refilled or regenerated. A salt brine solution is needed to complete the
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regeneration process. These ions will replace the impurities that cover the resin bed, and the

contaminants will wash out with the wastewater. Because of how the ion exchange process

works, it can be essential to soften hard water with high levels of magnesium and calcium while

simultaneously being used for water treatment (Leram, 2022).

Despite the numerous advantages of utilizing ion exchange resins in the appropriate

separation processes, problems can develop. According to Marshall (2018), when liquids move

through the resin unevenly, they carve paths that result in uneven exhaustion of the resin and

the release of untreated solution into the effluent stream. Channeling is because of

inappropriate flow rates, distributor mechanism failure, insufficient backwashing, and

obstructions caused by dissolved materials or damaged resin beads. Moreover, when the ion

exchange treatment system requires more rinsing, becomes more sensitive to temperature and

flow rate changes, or demonstrates a deterioration in effluent quality and operational capacity at

a faster-than-expected pace, fouled resins may be to blame. However, if fouling is suspected,

various explanations exist (Marshall, 2018). Furthermore, extremely high or low temperatures

might irreversibly impair the efficacy of ion exchange resins. Thermal degradation changes the

resin's molecular structure over time, causing it to lose its ability to connect with the functional

groups of ions required for the ion exchange reaction, resulting in impaired operational

performance and shortened product life (Marshall, 2018).

Nevertheless, according to Cowley (2021), coir coconut fiber is natural cellulose fiber

derived from coconut husk. It is the fibrous material found between the outer coat and the

complex internal shell of a coconut. Copra is the dried coconut kernels required to make

coconut oil. Coir coconut fiber is derived from a natural and renewable source and is one of the

most recent eco-friendly textile options. Coconut cultivation often focuses on coconut oil, milk,

water, and other coconut goods, such as dried coconut. Coconut husks and shells are often

inappropriately discarded or burned uncooked, resulting in poor sanitation, air pollution, blocked
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roadside drains that aid mosquito breeding, and environmental damage. Around 85% of the

husks from the nearly 50 billion coconuts grown worldwide are tossed as trash, fueling the

inferno that is global pollution (Barrett, 2022). A waste product, coconut husk, a byproduct of

coconut harvesting, can be turned into eco-friendly and sustainable products.

These scenarios motivated the researchers to develop a copper water filtration system.

This water filtration system will have six layers: the coarse filter screen, foam distributor,

activated carbon, ion exchange resin, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and non-woven

geotextile membrane. The microcrystalline cellulose from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fiber is

a sound absorbent for heavy metals because it has extraordinary crystalline development. In

contrast, the surface of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) contains many hydroxyl groups, which

leads to high activity and the ability to interact with different specific groups. Furthermore,

superior absorption performance can be attainable due to high specific surface areas and many

reactants (Garba et al., 2019).

Additionally, their outstanding characteristics may have played a significant role to the

sudden interest in MCC and MCC-based materials as adsorbents. Attributes such as

renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, economic value, non-toxicity, high mechanical

properties, and surface area are among the examples. The numerous thermodynamic

experiments demonstrated that heavy metal adsorption processes onto MCC-based materials

are entropy-driven, spontaneous, and endothermic. Finally, future research should focus on

optimizing the performance of MCC-based adsorbents, performing adsorption on natural rather

than synthetic wastewater, and broadening the range of adsorbates to include other

contaminants such as chlorophenols, herbicides, pesticides, and others in addition to dyes and

heavy metals (Garba et al., 2019).

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main objective of this study is to synthesize and characterize microcrystalline

cellulose from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers and utilize it as a component of the water

filtration system.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following research objectives:

1. To synthesize and characterize microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from coconut (Cocos

nucifera) husk fibers in terms of its physical property (presence of cellulose, surface

morphology, and particle size);

2. To determine the turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),

pH level, and heavy metal content (Cu) before and after the introduction of

microcrystalline cellulose from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers,

3. To determine if there is a significant difference among the varying amount of

microcrystalline cellulose from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers and the control set-

up on the post-test percent reduction/elevation turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO),

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH level, and heavy metal content (Cu); and

4. To determine if there is a significant difference among the varying amount of

microcrystalline cellulose from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers and the control set-

up on the post-test percent reduction/elevation turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO),

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH level, and heavy metal content (Cu).

HYPOTHESIS

In view of the research objectives, the following hypothesis is advanced:

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1. There is no significant difference among the varying amount of microcrystalline cellulose

from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers and the control set-up on the post-test percent

reduction/elevation turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand

(BOD), pH level, and heavy metal content (Cu)

2. There is a significant difference among the varying amount of microcrystalline cellulose

from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers and the control set-up on the post-test percent

reduction/elevation turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand

(BOD), pH level, and heavy metal content (Cu).

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In this study, microcrystalline from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers will be used to

make a water filtration system for Cu. The researchers will intend to make a water filtration

system from coconut husk fibers because coconut husk fibers are known as absorbers of

various heavy metals. It is extremely effective in removing stains, suspended solids, BOD,

organic matter, and heavy metals (Huynh et al., 2021). This indicates that our research will be

effective and will have benefits such as being environmentally friendly and less expensive. This

synthesis can reduce costs and generate high-quality water filtration systems in a less

sophisticated and time-consuming manner.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (D.E.N.R.). This study will help

the DENR by providing them with enough data to take action in response to the existing state of

water contamination. Furthermore, they will be able to develop huge projects and workforce to

improve the cleanliness of bodies of water and the preservation of marine life.

Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB). One of the functions of the Biodiversity

Management Bureau is to develop and implement pollution control policies, strategies, and
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programs. This will help BMB assess the relevance of waste management and provide them

with an idea of what program they should implement to address the pollution problem.

National and Local Government. This study will raise awareness and provide further

information to those in positions of responsibility. As a result, they will be driven to carry out

essential projects or programs to combat and avoid pollution from coastal areas and towns.

Non-Governmental Organizations. This study will also benefit non-governmental

organizations because it will serve as a foundation for their future projects and studies on heavy

metal pollution.

Environmental Organizations. The results of this research will help national and

international environmental organizations, and this study will be a driving force in igniting a

worldwide movement to safeguard and maintain cleanliness in bodies of water.

Marine Protected Areas (MPA). This study will serve as another baseline for strengthening

waste management programs and projects in Marine Protected Areas, particularly those

involving heavy metals. This study will give information on how coastal areas in MPAs with

abundant resources may be jeopardized by heavy metals or pollution in general.

Coastal Communities. Coastal communities will be educated about the effects of garbage,

particularly heavy metals, on marine resources. This will make people realize how vital

segregation and trash management are in terms of marine species preservation and the

preservation of local shorelines and oceans. They will also be informed about the importance of

their involvement in maintaining cleanliness and combating pollution in coastal areas and

oceans.

Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA). This study will

provide NOCWCA with data that they may utilize to promote conservation and responsible use

of wetlands, especially as wildlife habitat and a source of income for many. This study will

provide sufficient data on any NOCWCA sustainable development projects and programs.
 8

Environmentalists. One of the primary goals of environmentalists is to solve the problem

of marine pollution. The study's findings will provide environmentalists with additional ideas on

how they may help address these specific circumstances. Furthermore, the study will make

people more aware of environmental damage and motivate them to take action to address it.

Other researchers. The findings of this new research study will inspire other academics to

conduct similar investigations in order to generate strong and diverse data that can be used as

a foundation for future studies and to make the world aware of the correct observation about

how the ocean is polluted.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study will focus on the microcrystalline cellulose from coconut husk fibers on the

heavy metal content of water after filtration. This study will also investigate the properties and

potency of microcrystalline cellulose from coconut husk fibers as a component in a water

filtering system.

The chemicals that will be used in this study are sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, ethanol,

acetate buffer, urea, medium potato dextrose agar, media CMC order, media CMC liquid, congo

red 0.1%, tween 80, buffer citrate phosphate pH 5, Dinitrosalicylic acid, ammonium sulfate,

sulfuric acid, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium chloride monohydrate, magnesium

sulfate heptahydrate, aquabidestilata. Instruments for analyzing heavy metal content: For the

detection of heavy metals in drinking water, various instrumental methods have been designed,

such as Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS), Graphite Furnace Atomic

Absorption Spectrometry (GFAA), and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectro (FAAS).

This study will be conducted over two months under Mr. Rogie Bacosa, research

adviser. The potency of the microcrystalline cellulose from coconut husk fibers will be evaluated
 9

in terms of the turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH level,

and heavy metal content of the water as compared before and after the filtration.

Data will be analyzed using mean, T-test for Dependent/Correlated Mean, and T-test for

Independent Means. Mean will be used to determine the characteristics of Microcrystalline

Cellulose from coconut husk fibers in terms of physical properties and to indicate the average of

all pre-test and post-test data from all treatments. T-test for Dependent/Correlated Means will be

used to determine if there is a significant difference between the treatment and control groups'

pre-test and post-test results. One-way ANOVA will determine the significant difference in the

average of the four independent groups.

Limitations of this study could be expected from the limited amount of heavy metal that

will be utilized as pollutants. In addition, residents should be concerned about the 35 metals, 23

of which are heavy metals, due to exposure at home or work. These metals include antimony,

arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, gold, iron, lead,

manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum, silver, tellurium, thallium, tin, uranium, vanadium, and

zinc (Mosby et al., 1996). In addition, the water used in the experimentation will be made inside

the laboratory, excluding all the factors that may affect the water in real-life applications.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

This section discusses the various variables and key phrases that will be utilized in the

study. Both the operational and conceptual definitions are presented.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is one of the most widely

used criteria for water quality assessment. It provides information about the ready

biodegradable fraction of the organic load in the water. (S Jouanneau et al. Water Res., 2014)
 10

Operationally, it is one of the criteria used to calculate the readily biodegradable percentage of

the organic load in water filtration.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers. Fibers obtained from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) and

palm trees are widely used for various applications. Also known as ‗coire,‘ it is a seed-hair fiber

obtained from the outer part of the coconut husk that is coarse, stiff, and reddish-brown.

(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2021) Operationally, it is one of the variables in the study concerning

the amount of microcrystalline cellulose it holds.

Copper (Cuprum). Reddish, with a bright metallic luster. It is malleable, ductile, and a good

heat and electricity conductor. (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2022).

Operationally, copper is one of the leading test subjects used to complete the experiment.

Dissolved Oxygen. This refers to the amount of oxygen gas dissolved in water. Water absorbs

oxygen directly from the atmosphere, which is aided by turbulence. (Environmental Protection

Agency, 2022 October). Operationally, it is one of the parameters used in the study to determine

water purity by water filtration.

Heavy Metal Content. Heavy metals (HM) are elements and metalloids that occur in nature

having high density or atomic weight. Additionally, heavy metal content is the parameter used in

defining the number of heavy metals in a substance (Scaling Up of Microbial Electrochemical

Systems, 2022). Operationally, it refers to one of the changeable test subjects in the study and

is one of the variables needed to evaluate the water filtration system.

Microcrystalline Cellulose. A partially depolymerized purified cellulose obtained from treating

alpha cellulose mineral acids is used to make pulp from fibrous plant material. (USP, 2019).

Operationally, Microcrystalline Cellulose extracted from coconut husk fibers is one of the study‘s

main variables in relation to its effect on heavy metal content in water filtration.
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pH Level. It measures the hydrogen ion concentration and acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

(U.S. Geological Survey, June 2019). Operationally, it is one of the dependent variables in the

study that tests the level of water purity.

Turbidity. Like smoke in the air, turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by

individual particles (suspended solids) that are generally invisible to the naked eye. (Frayne, C.

2010). Operationally, it is a water parameter and water stabilization indicator used in the study.

It is also one of the dependent variables in the study.

Water Filtration System. It is the process of reducing the concentration of particulate matter,

including suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, as well as other undesirable chemical and

biological contaminants from contaminated water to produce safe and clean water (N. Mao, in

Advances in Technical Nonwovens, 2016) Operationally, it is used to examine the qualities and

effectiveness of microcrystalline cellulose derived from coconut husk fibers as a part of water

filtration.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Independent Dependent

Water Filtering Turbidity

Prototype Kit with
Varying Ratio of Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Coconut (Cocos
nucifera) Husk Biochemical Oxygen
Microcrystalline Demand (BOD)
Cellulose
pH Level
Water Filtering
Prototype Kit Heavy Metal Content
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Figure 1. A diagram showing the relationship between independent and dependent variables

The figure shown above deals with the variables of the study. It consists of two (2) parts,

the independent variable and dependent variable. The independent variable of the study is the

varying ratio of coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk microcrystalline cellulose. The independent

variable would affect the dependent variables which are the turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO),

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH level, and heavy metal content.

Input Process Output

Coconut (Cocos Characterization of

nucifera) Husk UV-Vis Coconut (Cocos
Fibers spectrophotometer nucifera) Husk
Microcrystalline Fibers
Cellulose Microcrystalline
Cellulose

Figure 2. Paradigm of the characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from coconut husk fibers

UV-Vis absorption spectra will be measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer from 400

to 460 nm to evaluate the formation and yield of MCC while the size and shape of MCC will be

characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and. Fourier-transform infrared

spectroscopy (FTIR)
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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the relevant literature and studies both from local and foreign sources

that the researchers considered in strengthening the claim and importance of the study.

Introduction

Heavy metals are metallic elements which are toxic and have a high density, specific

gravity, or atomic weight. They are found naturally in the earth crust, but due to indiscriminate

human activities their geochemical and biochemical balance have drastically changed and they

enter our drinking water supply. The human body can‘t discharge these metals and they

continue amassing inside the body. It doesn‘t have a prompt impact on the body, however, can

bring about major long lasting issues, a large portion of them influencing the brain. It can bring

about reduced mental and central nervous function. It also causes harm in lungs, liver, kidneys,

and other vital organs. Heavy metals are also known as carcinogens that can cause cancer

(KENT RO Systems, 2016). Water filters keep pollutants like metallic nanoparticles out of your

water, as well as hazardous toxins like bacteria, lead, and other heavy metals. Coconut husks

are an agricultural waste that is abundant in South East Asia. This study looks at using coconut

husks as a source of cellulose to make microcrystalline. Cellulose fibers from coconut husks

were alkaline and bleached before proceeding with the hydrolysis process, which was carried

out at 45°C for 60 minutes using 64 wt% sulphuric acids (H2SO4). Nurdiana, (2018). Gichuki, et

al. (2020) also stated that X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the degree of crystallinity of

microcrystalline cellulose was 39.5%, concluding that coir fibers are a good source of

microcrystalline cellulose because of their powder properties and compressibility. This makes
 14

coir fibers acceptable applicators in pharmaceutical, paper-making, and water filtration

industries.

CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE

Coconut Husk Fibers (Cocos nucifera)

Coconut fiber is taken from the coconut's outer shell. It's also known as coir fiber or coco

fiber. It is the natural fiber of the coconut husk, which is thick and gritty but long-lasting. Coir,

Cocos nucifera, and Arecaceae (Palm) are the common, scientific, and plant names for coconut

fiber, respectively.

Coconut fibers are classified into two types: brown fiber collected from mature coconuts

and white fiber extracted from young coconuts. Brown fibers are thick, robust, and resistant to

abrasion. White fibers are finer and smoother, but they are also weaker. Both brown and white

coir are made up of fibers that range in length from 4 to 12 in (10-30 cm). Bristle fibers are those

that are at least 8 in (20 cm) long. Mattress fiber refers to shorter fibers with a finer texture. A

10-oz (300-g) coconut husk provides roughly 3 oz (80 g) of fiber, with bristle fiber accounting for

one-third of the total. Many coconut-producing countries, including India, Tanzania, Kenya,

Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and Ghana, have established coir-based

industries.

Coconut fiber/husk filters can handle high-turbidity stormwater without becoming clogged

quickly. This low-impact filter can "polish" stormwater by removing contaminants and high

turbidity. Tota-Maharaj & Cheddie, (2015). The coconut fiber/husk filters outperformed

conventional sand-gravel media filters in terms of performance. Tota-Maharaj and Cheddie

(2015) also concluded that there were no substantial differences between the purification
 15

process techniques, indicating that the coconut fiber/husk filter can treat high turbidity

stormwaters.

Heavy Metals

Tchounwou et al. (2014) defined heavy metals as naturally occurring elements that have

a high atomic weight and a density at least 5 times greater than that of water. Their multiple

industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical, and technological applications have led to their wide

distribution in the environment; raising concerns over their potential effects on human health

and the environment.

Their toxicity depends on several factors including the dose, route of exposure, and

chemical species, as well as the age, gender, genetics, and nutritional status of exposed

individuals. Heavy metals like lead,copper and arsenic are toxic in low concentrations, they are

not essential for the body and tend to accumulate in human tissues throughout our lifetime. A

safe level of lead exposure is zero. Regarding lead in water, ingestion is usually the main

exposure source. Showering is considered generally safe given that lead does not usually seep

into the skin. For reliable protection from lead in drinking and cooking water, you should choose

a filter which specifically addresses this type of contamination. (Aquaphor, 2022) .Because of

their high degree of toxicity, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and arsenic rank among the

priority metals that are of public health significance. These metallic elements are considered

systemic toxicants that are known to induce multiple organ damage, even at lower levels of

exposure. They are also classified as human carcinogens (known or probable) according to the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

This review provides an analysis of their environmental occurrence, production and use,
 16

potential human exposure, and molecular mechanisms of toxicity, genotoxicity, and

carcinogenicity.

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a fine, odorless, and whitish crystalline powder that is

commonly used as a stabilizer, binder, and filler in food and medical tablets, an emulsifier in

certain dairy products, a viscosity regulator, and as reinforcement agents in the development of

polymer composites. MCC formed as -cellulose is partially hydrolyzed and depolymerized,

leaving primarily crystal areas in the final structure. MCC is a non-toxic, biodegradable, and

biocompatible material with great mechanical strength, surface area, and crystallinity. MCC is

highly preferred because it has inexpensive resources due to its abundance and availability in

nature. The architecture and properties of the MCC may differ according on the process,

procedures, circumstances, and sources of the cellulose (Sukami, et al., 2019).

MCC has been extracted successfully from a variety of sources, including cassava

bagasse, wood cotton waste, tea waste, bamboo, pomelo peel, and roselle fibers. Physical

treatment: microwave irradiation, high-pressure homogenization; chemical treatment: alkaline

and acid hydrolysis, carbonaceous catalyst; or biological treatment: enzymatic hydrolysis have

all been established to create MCC. Several investigations have found that hydrolysis variables

such as temperature, acid concentration, acid type, and time have a significant impact on the

structures and properties of MCC formed. However, employing a large volume of concentrated

acid at high temperatures will result in significant installation costs and, more importantly,

severe environmental consequences. Despite extensive research into the optimal conditions for

preparing MCC in order to prevent all of the difficulties listed above, acid hydrolysis remains the

best method of manufacturing MCC (Sukami, et al., 2019)..

 17

Ohwoavworhua and Adelakun (2010) stated that microcrystalline cellulose is an

important ingredient in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries. Microcrystalline

cellulose (MCC) for industrial purposes is usually obtained from wood pulp and purified cotton

linters. Purified, partially depolymerized cellulose made by processing alpha-cellulose pulp

obtained from fibrous plant material with mineral acids. Typically, the degree of polymerization is

less than 400. A maximum of 10% of the particles have a diameter of less than 5 m.

Water Filtration

Water filtration is a procedure that uses materials such as pebbles, sand, and charcoal

to remove undesired elements from water and convert it into water that may be used in daily

activities and eventually drunk. To eliminate chlorine, activated charcoal is used. Pebbles are

utilized in water to catch and strain particles. Sand is a granular material that occurs naturally

and is made up of finely divided rock and mineral particles. It is distinguished by its particle size,

being finer than gravel and coarser than silt (Ferrer, 2019).

Because 97% of the water on Earth is saline, it is unfit for human consumption. Water

scarcity affects every continent and around 2.8 billion people worldwide for at least one month

each year. More than 1.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. If current

trends continue, it is anticipated that more than half of the world's population will face water

scarcity. Out of the 575,000 Indian villages, around 162,000 have water contamination and a

lack of water (Batra, 2017).

Different issues and resources exist in different regions, therefore one solution cannot be

applied to all. Water is frequently drawn from a neighboring lake or groundwater, which may

contain diseases, carcinogens, dissolved pollutants, mineral ions, and particulates.

 18

As the need for clean water grows, traditional water purifying methods are increasingly

insufficient. Furthermore, present water filtration systems are energy intensive and so can only

be placed in specific places. To address these issues, researchers intend to develop a water

filter that does not require any energy input. Researchers intend to address the microbiological

concerns in addition to the physical purification aspects.

Water Pollution

The Philippines is a developing country that is rapidly urbanizing and industrializing.

Nine million Filipinos rely on contaminated water supplies out of a population of over a hundred

million. In fact, water contamination and a lack of efficient sewage kill 55 people in the

Philippines every day. Access to proper sanitation facilities is a concern for more than 30 million

Filipinos, according to Katrina Arianne Ebora of UNICEF's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

program in the Philippines. This segment of the population is obliged to use significant time,

effort, and energy in order to obtain water. Families without a hygienic toilet frequently

experience the shame of having to discharge themselves outside. Some resort to requesting

that their neighbors use their sanitary toilet facilities (Khalid, 2019).

Greenpeace has previously warned that Filipinos in crucial agricultural areas are

drinking nitrate-contaminated water. Greenpeace highlighted that nitrate levels in critical farming

areas were disturbingly beyond the World Health Organization's safety standards after

performing a research (WHO). According to the organisation, "drinking water from 30% of all

groundwater wells studied in [the Philippines and Thailand] indicated nitrate levels over the

WHO safety standard of 50 mg l-1 of nitrate."

Denchak (2022) said that water pollution is jeopardizing our health. Unsafe water kills

more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined. Meanwhile, our
 19

drinkable water sources are finite: Less than 1 percent of the earth‘s freshwater is accessible to

us. Without action, the challenges will only increase by 2050, when global demand for fresh

water is expected to be one-third greater than it is now. Water pollution occurs when harmful

substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean,

aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the

environment.

RELATED LITERATURE

Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Based Adsorbents for Dye & Heavy Metal Removal

Garba, et al. (2019) conducted a study entitled Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) based

materials as emerging adsorbents for the removal of dyes and heavy metals. In this study, to

combat the problems posed by water pollution, several procedures ranging from physical,

chemical, and biological were used to remove wastewater pollutants. Adsorption is the most

extensively utilized method among others because of its simplicity, high efficiency, and low cost.

Adsorbents of various properties were used in the adsorption process, but this paper focused on

reviewing various articles published by numerous researchers on the isolation of

microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a popular carbohydrate polymer from lignocellulosic biomass,

and the use of MCC-based materials as effective adsorbents for the successful removal of dyes

and heavy metals from synthetic wastewater. The sudden interest in MCC and MCC-based

materials as adsorbents can be attributed to their outstanding features, which include

renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, economic value, non-toxicity, high mechanical

properties, and surface area. When compared to established adsorbents reported in the

literature, MCC-based materials performed exceptionally well in the adsorption of dyes and

heavy metals, with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order reported as the best fit
 20

models for the generated equilibrium and kinetic data, respectively, indicating a homogeneous

distribution of adsorption sites as well as the formation of monolayer adsorbate on their

surfaces. The different thermodynamic investigations published demonstrated that the

adsorption processes of both dyes and heavy metals onto MCC-based materials are entropy

driven, spontaneous, and endothermic. Finally, future research should focus on optimizing the

performance of MCC-based adsorbents, performing adsorption on real wastewater rather than

synthetic wastewater, and broadening the range of adsorbates to include other contaminants

such as chlorophenols, herbicides, pesticides, and others in addition to dyes and heavy metals.

Isolation and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Coconut Fiber Using

Acid Hydrolysis Process

The aim of the study entitled, Isolation and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose

from Coconut Fiber Using Acid Hydrolysis Process was to investigate the use of coconut fiber

as a natural source for the synthesis of microcrystalline cellulose. Coconut fiber underwent an

initial alkali treatment, followed by bleaching, before being subjected to acid hydrolysis to

produce microcrystalline cellulose (HCl). X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and other physicochemical

characteristics, such as pH, water soluble substance, and loss on drying, were used to

characterize the generated materials. The method of acid hydrolysis increases the crystallinity

of the microcrystalline cellulose produced from -cellulose, according to XRD results. The

compound developed, however, came near to meeting British Pharmacopoeia standards, as

evidenced by its physicochemical characteristics. The findings demonstrated that coconut fiber

was a useful supply for the manufacturing of microcrystalline cellulose.

The production of -cellulose from the method was 45.44%, and the yield of

microcrystalline cellulose was 42.74%. 22.72 g of cellulose was extracted from 50 g of coconut
 21

fiber. Then, 9.71g of microcrystalline cellulose was produced from 22.72 g of cellulose. The

findings indicate that coconut fiber has a significant amount of amorphous phase in cellulose.

The pH of the microcrystalline cellulose was determined using a universal pH indicator to

be 7. The water-soluble material was 0.2%, while the drying loss was 5%. According to British

Pharmacopoea, the standard pH for microcrystalline cellulose was 5-7, the water-soluble

material was 0.25%, and the drying loss was 7%. (British Pharmacopoeia, 2009). The results

indicate that the microcrystalline cellulose meets the British Pharmacopeia standard.

Thermal Studies on the Interaction of Water and Microcrystalline Cellulose

The interaction between water and microcrystalline cellulose in the absence and

presence of lactose has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal

analysis, and immersional calorimetry. The results indicate that most of the water held

within a system used for the preparation of spherical granules by extrusion/spheronization

is present as free water which may be readily lost by evaporation. There is approximately

0.856 mol of water per 100 g of microcrystalline cellulose which appears to be absorbed as

structured water. Microcrystalline cellulose may therefore be described as a ‗molecular

sponge‘. The enthalpy of fusion of the ‗free‘ water offers a simple method of estimating the

effective surface area of the microcrystalline cellulose.

Thermal analysis offers basic information on the characteristics of microcrystalline

cellulose-water mixtures. This research has shown that the majority of the water stored within

the system is present as free water, which can be easily evaporated, with a minor amount,

04356 mol per 100g of microcrystalline cellulose, present as adsorbed structured water.

Microcrystalline cellulose can thus be regarded as a 'molecular sponge,' in the sense that it can

physically hold a high percentage of water within itself while allowing for easy removal by

evaporation. The freezing phenomenon discovered in the DTA demonstrates that liquid water is
 22

free to crystallize to ice on chilling. This characteristic could be useful in controlling the

movement or distribution of liquid in wet powder masses to be processed by extrusion-

spheronization.

Thermal analysis can also be utilized in quality control and related applications, such as

determining the best drying durations and temperatures to use during production. TGA offers a

simple and dependable way for determining the water content in preparations. DTA provides a

method for investigating the influence of the drug model's inclusion. This technique could be

beneficial in determining the suitability of a granular material for extrusion in the future. The

enthalpy of fusion of 'free' water may give a straightforward way for estimating the surface areas

of related compounds.

Removal of Heavy Metal Ion Cobalt (II) From Wastewater Via Adsorption Method Using

Microcrystalline Cellulose–Magnesium Hydroxide

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), magnesium sulfate hexahydrate, and trisodium

citrate will be reacted in ammonia bath in an aqueous solution to prepare an MCC–

magnesium hydroxide (MH) composite adsorbent, which was used to adsorb heavy metal

Co(II) ion. The method of using MCC–MH to adsorb and remove Co(II) was studied under

different pH values, adsorbent dosages, contact times, initial Co(II) ion concentrations, and

temperatures.

The optimal process parameters include an MCC–MH dosage of 2.5 mg/mL, a contact

reaction equilibrium time of 50 min, a Co(II) solution pH of 6.0–8.0, an initial Co(II)

concentration of 300 mg/L, and a temperature of 303 K. The removal rate of Co(II) solution by

MCC–MH was as high as 97.67%, and the maximum adsorption capacity of MCC–MH

reached 153.84 mg/g under these optimal conditions. The adsorption isotherm of Co (II)

conformed to the Langmuir model, the kinetic data of Co(II) conformed to the pseudo-second-
 23

order kinetic model, and the adsorption of Co(II) by MCC–MH was a spontaneous

endothermic reaction under the optimized conditions. Analytical studies showed that Co (II)

adsorption on MCC–MH composites is affected by chemical adsorption and involves the

influence of intraparticle diffusion to a certain extent.

Low-cost raw materials were utilized in this study to manufacture MCC-MH as an

adsorbent to remove Co(II) from wastewater. MCC-MH adsorbed Co(II) efficiently and

demonstrated good regeneration after five cycles. The results of FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM,

BET, and equilibrium adsorption experiment studies revealed that cobalt had replaced

magnesium on the surface of MCC-MH. The adsorption of Co(II) on the MCC-MH composite

was influenced by chemical adsorption and, to a lesser extent, by IPD. MCC-MH adsorption

of Co(II) is a spontaneous endothermic reaction. MCC-MH can thus be used to remove Co(II)

from wastewater.

Batch Adsorption of Heavy Metals (Cu, Pb, Fe, Cr and Cd) from Aqueous Solutions Using

Coconut Husk

A study from African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, has used

coconut husk as an adsorbent to assess how well metals (Cu, Fe, Pb, Cr, and Cd) could be

removed from a solution of mixed metal ions. Using synthetically generated wastewater, the

effects of altering contact time, initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage, and pH on the

adsorption process of these metals were examined. In 50 ml of adsorbent dosage, the

percentage of metal removal rose with weight (0.4–1.2 g), and the following trends were seen:

Cr>Cu>Pb>Fe>Cd. The observed pattern was: Cr>Cu>Cd>Fe>Pb, and the adsorption

efficiency improved with increasing initial metal ion concentration (0.3-0.9 mg/l). Similar to this,

as the pH of the mixed metal ions solution increased, so did the percentage of metal ions

removed (pH values of 2, 6 and 10). The removal of the tested metals was accomplished
 24

quickly during a brief period of 20 min, as evidenced by the influence of contact time on the

adsorption efficiency at various time intervals of 20, 40, and 60 minutes in mixed metal ions

solution. Overall, the study demonstrated that coconut husk, a waste product, is a viable

material for removing metals from wastewater, with percentages of adsorbed Cd, Cr, and Cu

ranging from 95.2-98.8, 91.1-99.3, and 75.0-98.5%, respectively, while removal rates of Fe and

Pb were 84.9-97.0 and 81.1-98.7%, respectively.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of metal removal from mixed

metal ions solutions utilizing coconut husk as an adsorbent. The effects of contact time, starting

metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage, and pH on metal adsorption were examined using

synthetically generated wastewater. The percentage removal of metals rose with increasing

weight of coconut husk, and the observed trend of percentage removal of metal ions was:

Cr>Cu>Pb>Fe>Cd. The adsorption efficiency rose with rising starting metal ion concentration,

and the observed trend of percentage removal of metal ions was: Cr>Cu>Cd>Fe>Pb, whereas

the percentage removal of metal ions increased with increasing pH, and the observed trend

was: Cr>Cu>Cd>Fe>Pb. Cd>Fe>Cr>Cu>Pb had the highest proportion of metal ion adsorption.

The influence of contact time on adsorption efficiency at varied time intervals showed that the

removal of tested metals was accomplished quickly in 20 minutes. In general, the study found

that coconut husk (a waste item) is a promising material for removing metals from waste water

and could thus be used in large-scale industrial effluents containing heavy metals. Isothermal

tests revealed that the Langmuir model best fits the experimental results.

Water Quality and Removal Efficiency of Suspended Solids, Copper, Lead, and

Oil/Grease in Malihao River, Negros Occidental, Philippines Using Bivalve Shells

The Malihao River's water quality has been observed to have declined over time due to

increased human activity around the river. Pollutants such as suspended and dissolved solids,

copper, lead, cadmium, and oil/grease were found in the river, and their concentration levels
 25

above the national requirements. The removal of these chemicals was investigated utilizing

waste bivalve shells, which are locally available and abundant in the region. Total suspended

particles were removed up to 81% by Perna viridis chitosan; copper and lead were removed in a

packed column by Polymesoda erosa; and oil/grease was efficiently removed by Crassostrea

spp. up to 80-100%. More monitoring efforts in the area are needed to appropriately manage

this body of water and prevent further deterioration.

Furthermore, the presence of oil/grease in the Malihao River was effectively eliminated

utilizing Crassostrea spp., another waste bivalve shell. Adsorption of this pollutant by

agricultural wastes such as banana pith and sugarcane bagasse was examined, and results

revealed that for banana pith, 5g of biomass for 1 hour contact time may remove 97% of

oil/grease (Abdul Hamid, et al., 2016). Other methods, such as electro-coagulation, were

employed to remove oily emulsions and heavy metals from bilge water discharges, and it was

discovered that carbon steel and aluminum electrodes can efficiently remove oil/grease at 1

L/min and 0.6 A/cm2 of current density (Rincon and La Motta, 2014). Oil and grease are difficult

to remove and frequently necessitate a combination of treatment approaches (Pintor et al.,

2016). This has the downside of suffocating animals and plants due to oxygen deprivation,

producing rancid odors, and clogging waterways (US EPA, 2018). Crassostrea spp. were

studied in this study. Shells were able to remove 80-100% of the oil/grease from river samples.

The highest concentration is seen in residential and commercial locations, implying that the

oil/grease is largely anthropogenic in origin.

The removal of suspended particles, copper, lead, and oil/grease using locally available

and abundant bivalve shells is one of the procedures taken to reduce water pollution and trash

disposal in order to attain better water quality for the Malihao river and neighboring water bodies

in the Philippines. This preliminary examination of pollutant removal using a waste material is a

step toward long-term management of bodies of water through effective treatment.

of garbage and sustainable usage of the rivers.

 26

The high quantities of suspended particles, copper, lead, and oil/grease demonstrated

that the Malihao River does not meet the DENR's criteria. The river's location and

anthropogenic activities have a substantial impact on the levels of the measured parameters.

The waste bivalve shells that are locally available were mostly employed to increase the

parameter values. It demonstrated the possibility for improved water quality in urban rivers as

well as the elimination of bivalve shell disposal issues.

Fabrication of Sugarcane Bagasse Based Mesh as an Adsorbent of Copper (Cu2+) Metal

Contaminant for Wastewater Treatment

Water pollution is one of the most serious issues we face today as a result of toxins

dumped into the environment from industrial regions, such as poisonous heavy metals.

Sugarcane bagasse can be used as a raw waste material to adsorb known metal pollutants

such as copper. The percent reduction of the constructed bagasse mesh was studied in this

study. The product was tested by exposing the mesh to known concentrations of synthetic

wastewater. The UV-Vis spectrophotometer was then used to examine the final concentrations.

The results show that the average percent reduction across five replicates is 37.2 31.5 percent.

Certain characteristics, such as contact duration and pore size, affect the mesh's adsorption

rate, resulting in a low value.Based on these findings, it is determined that a mesh made of

sugarcane bagasse is suitable for copper adsorption. Modifications are proposed to boost the

product's adsorption rate even further. Replicate 3 had the lowest percentage reduction rate of

21.5 percent, while Replicate 5 had the greatest of 58.9 percent. The mean of the five replicate

decrease values is 37.2 percent, with a standard deviation of 31.5 percent.

Contact time, initial concentration, chemical treatment, epoxy, and pore size all had an

effect on the adsorption rate of the bagasse mesh. The contact time was the most important

factor influencing the material's adsorption. Due to the product's short contact time with water,

the bagasse was unable to form complexes with the copper. Sulfuric acid treatment of bagasse
 27

increases the product's adsorption rate. According to Mesfin Yeneneh et al., sulfuric acid helps

to the necessary stretching of functional groups that bind heavy metals, such as hydroxyl,

carboxylic acid, carbonyl, aromatic, and phenolic groups. The mechanism is that sulfuric acid

removes lignin molecules from bagasse, increasing the concentration of hydroxyl and carboxylic

acid groups. A composite was generated when bagasse was combined with epoxy resin as an

adhesive. However, the epoxy resin may prevent the fibers from adsorbing copper ions,

contributing to the low adsorption rate of the bagasse fibers alone, although epoxy has also

been demonstrated to adsorb metal impurities. The amount to which the epoxy absorbed the

copper ions during testing is unknown.

A composite was generated when bagasse was combined with epoxy resin as an

adhesive. However, the epoxy resin may prevent the fibers from adsorbing copper ions,

contributing to the low adsorption rate of the bagasse fibers alone, although epoxy has also

been demonstrated to adsorb metal impurities. The amount to which the epoxy absorbed the

copper ions during testing is unknown.

SYNTHESIS

According to Kelly (2020), even though the benefits may seem to be many, a whole

house system may not be for everyone. There are several reasons why individual filters may

be preferred. Some reasons against this type of water filtration system include: Expense, one

main drawback is the initial investment, which may be from $500-$10,000. The different

choices for filtration systems provide differing results. The system that best fits your budget

may not meet your immediate needs. Also, as mentioned before, a water filtration system for

the entire house requires professional installation. If you do not have the necessary skills, you

will have to pay the additional cost for a trained plumber. This is not recommended as a DIY

project. Energy Consumption, water purifiers also consume energy, both in their production
 28

and operation. Systems that use processes such as reverse osmosis or ultraviolet filtering to

cleanse water rely on electricity that often comes from coal-powill bed plants. This means that

purifiers indirectly contribute to increased carbon emissions. (Hartman, 2017). Therefore, the

researchers decided to synthesize the Microcrystalline Cellulose from coconut (Cocos

nucifera) husks as component water filtering system. In this study, the researchers aim to

devise a water filtration system that is far less expensive and more environmentally friendly

than any existing approach.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers were introduced into many parts of the world,

including the Philippines, as an ornamental garden pond plant due to its beauty. But today, it

is considered a pest as 10 plants could produce well over 650,000 offspring within eight

months. In Laguna de Bay, for instance, coconut is considered a nuisance. ―These plants

now cover some 20% of the lake's surface area,‖ said Edgardo Manda, general manager of

Laguna Lake Development Authority. The physical problems brought about by coconuts are

now common knowledge. Coconuts clog waterways, making boating, fishing and almost all

other water activities impossible. Many large hydropower schemes are suffering from the

effects of coconuts. (Tacio, 2019).

The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively

high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. Examples of heavy metals

include cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb). Heavy

metals are natural components of the Earth's crust. They cannot be degraded or destroyed.

To a small extent they enter our bodies via food, drinking water and air. Heavy metals can

enter a water supply by industrial and consumer waste, or even from acidic rain breaking

down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

(Lenntech, 2022).
 29

Meanwhile, the sudden interest on MCC and MCC-based materials as adsorbents

cannot be separated from their excellent properties such as renewability, biodegradability,

biocompatibility, economic value, non-toxicity, high mechanical properties and surface area.

Upon comparison with established adsorbents reported from literature, MCC-based

materials performed excellently well in the adsorption of dyes and heavy metals with

Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order reported mostly as the best fit models for the

generated equilibrium and kinetic data, respectively pointing at the distribution of adsorption

sites to be homogeneous as well as the formation of monolayer adsorbate on their surfaces.

The various thermodynamic studies reported further revealed the adsorption processes of

both dyes and heavy metals onto MCC-based materials to be entropy driven processes,

spontaneous, and endothermic (Garba et al., 2019).

Coconut is especially pervasive throughout Southeast Asia, the southeastern United

States, central and western Africa, and Central America (Gomez-Balandra, 2007). It is

prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical water bodies where water nutrient concentrations are

often high due to agricultural runoff, deforestation, and insufficient wastewater treatment.

Coconut is extremely difficult to eradicate once established. Therefore, the goal of most

management efforts is to minimize economic costs and ecological damage. Research on

coconut husk fiber‘s effects on water quality has focused mainly on the consequences of the

dense mats formed by the interlocking of individual plants. The most commonly documented

effects are lower phytoplankton productivity and dissolved oxygen concentrations beneath

these mats (Rommens et al., 2003; Mangas-Ramirez & Elias-Gutierrez, 2004; Perna &

Burrows, 2005). Other water quality effects include higher sedimentation rates within the

plant‘s complex root structure and higher evapotranspiration rates from coconut (Cocos

nucifera) husk fibers when compared to evaporation rates from open water (Gopal, 1987).

Coconut also has been found to stabilize pH levels and temperature within lotic systems,

increasing mixing within the water column and potentially preventing stratification (Giraldo &
 30

Garzon, 2002). Coconut husk fibers decrease dissolved oxygen concentrations beneath it by

preventing the transfer of oxygen from the air to the water‘s surface (Hunt & Christiansen,

2000) and by blocking light used for photosynthesis by phytoplankton and submerged

vegetation (Villamagna and Murphy, 2007). Using coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fiber as a

source of MCC will help reduce the amount of MCC in waterways. Therefore, this will help

improve phytoplankton productivity and improve water quality by reducing sedimentation.

Using MCC gathered from coconut in other industries could lead to further

development in water filtration technology and other applications involving MCC. According to

Trache et al. (2016), although MCC suffers from some drawbacks, MCC has recently gained

more interest owing to its renewability, non-toxicity, economic value, biodegradability, high

mechanical properties, high surface area and biocompatibility. New sources, new isolation

processes, and new treatments are currently under development to satisfy the increasing

demand of producing new types of MCC-based materials on an industrial scale. Therefore,

this review assembles the current knowledge on the isolation of MCC from different sources

using various procedures, its characterization, and its application in bio-composites.

Challenges and future opportunities of MCC-based composites are discussed as well as

obstacles remaining for their extensive uses.

 31

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

LOCATION AND DURATION

This study will be conducted at Negros Prawn Diagnostic and Analytical Laboratory

under the supervision of Mr. Rogie P. Bacosa and Mr. Mawi Johann P. Ruguian who will be

assisting the researchers in the times of conducting the experiment. This study will be going

to take 2 months to be finished.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study will utilize an Experimental Research Design. The Pretest Posttest Control Group

Design will be used for having four (4) different set-ups; three experimental groups (Set-up A, B,

and C) and one control group (Set-up D) with three (3) replicates each set-up. The Pretest

Posttest Control Group Design will be used to compare the experimental and control groups and

to measure the changes caused by the experimental treatments before and after the

application. The independent variables in this study is the varying amount of microcrystalline

cellulose (MCC). The dependent variables in this study are turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO),

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH level, and heavy metal content. The control variables in

this study are borosilicate glass tube, non-woven membrane, width of foam distributor, weight of

activated carbon, amount of exchange resin, and coarse filter screen.

PARTICIPANTS OF THE STUDY

The participants will be selected through purposive sampling. They will take part in the

survey to assess the filtering kit's acceptance. Chemists and consumers, as well as

environmental scientists from Bacolod City, are the study's target audience. All of them are
 32

included in the target population because they are the key beneficiaries of the study. Their

perspective on the filtering kit is critical in the research's eventual applicability in the real

world. Furthermore, the environmental scientist‘s expertise will reveal the significant flaws in

the filtering kit that must be addressed.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE AND SAMPLE SIZE

Purposive sampling is the sample approach that will be used in this study. The

researchers will employ a sample design that will allow them to easily identify eligible

respondents. It is a non-probability sampling technique in which the researchers choose

variables for the sample population at their discretion. The entire sampling method will be

based on the researchers' judgment and understanding of the circumstances in this case.

The researchers will filter away irrelevant responses that do not fit into the study context,

minimizing the margin of error in the data and resulting to relevant results.

As a result, the "Large Sample Condition" will be employed in determining the sample

size to be used in the study, which says that the sample size should be at least thirty (30).

When the population distribution is roughly bell-shaped, some statisticians believe that a

sample size of 30 is sufficient. Others advocate for a sample size of at least 40. (Statology,

2020). However, if the original population is clearly abnormal (e.g., is skewed, has several

peaks, and/or contains outliers), researchers prefer a larger sample size (Florida State

College at Jacksonville, 2022). As a result, thirty-five (35) respondents will be chosen to

complete the survey: fifteen (15) consumers, ten (10) chemists, and ten (10) environmental

scientists

.
 33

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The study will utilize the following materials and equipment: twelve (12) coarse filter

screen, twelve (12) foam distributor, 780g activated carbon, 960g ion exchange resin, twelve

(12) non-woven membranes, twelve (12) borosilicate glass tube, five (5) kg coconut husk

fibers (Cocos nucifera), sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, ethanol, acetate buffer, urea, medium

potato dextrose agar, media CMC order, media CMC liquid, congo red 0,1%, tween 80, buffer

citrate phosphate pH 5, Dinitrosalycilic acid, ammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid, potassium

dihydrogen phosphate, calcium chloride monohydrate, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, and

aquabidestilata.
 34

FLOWCHART OF THE PROCEDURE

Gathering of Materials and Equipment

Identification of Coconut Husk Fibers

Extraction of Cellulose Fibers from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Husk Fibers

Fabrication of MCC from Coconut Husk Fibers

Characterization of MCC

Simulation of Heavy-metal Contaminated Water Sample

Preparation of Different Set-ups

Assembly of Water Filtration System

Testing the Reliability of the Research Instruments

Testing the Validity of the Research Instruments

Data Gathering

Proper Disposal

Figure 3. Flowchart of the Procedure

 35

PROCEDURE

A. Gathering of Materials/Equipment

The coarse filter screen, foam distributor, activated carbon, ion exchange resin, and non-

woven membranes will be bought at the local hardware in Bacolod City. The borosilicate

glass Tube will be bought at Lazada Philippines. The coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers

will be collected at Prk. Badyang, Brgy Sum-ag, Bacolod City. The chemicals that will be used

in this study are sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, ethanol, acetate buffer, urea, medium potato

dextrose agar, media CMC order, media CMC liquid, congo red 0,1%, tween 80, buffer citrate

phosphate pH 5, Dinitrosalycilic acid, ammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid, potassium dihydrogen

phosphate, calcium chloride monohydrate, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, aquabidestilata.

Instruments for analyzing heavy metal content: For detection of heavy metals in drinking

water various instrumental methods have been designed such as Inductively Coupled Plasma

Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS), Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAA),

and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectro (FAAS). The chemicals and instruments that will be

used in the study are going to be provided by the Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative.

B. Identification of Coconut Husk Fibers

A sample of coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers will be brought to the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bago City for proper identification and

authentication of its scientific name.

C. Extraction of Cellulose Fibers from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Husk Fibers

 36

C.1 Water Treatment

The coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers will be soaked (treated) with water to

separate fibrous material from biomass by modifying the previously reported method. For

this purpose, approximately 500 g of coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers will be soaked

in 5 L water for five days in the open air. Water will be refreshed frequently throughout

this soaking period until biomass will be removed entirely and clear fibrous material will

be obtained. The resulting fibrous material will be repeatedly washed with double

distilled-water and evaporated in the air at room temperature (25 ± 2 ◦C). Finally,

obtained fibers will be dried at 110–120 ◦C in a convection oven to constant weight. The

dried fibers will be wrapped in a filter paper sheet and placed in polymers. The percent

yield of the fibers will be calculated using the following equation: % yield = wt. of fibrous

mass/wt. of coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers ×100 (Asif et al., 2022).

C.2 Alkali Treatment

To remove hemicellulose and other alkali-soluble components, the coconut (Cocos

nucifera) husk fibers obtained after water treatment will be treated with an alkali. For this

purpose, 4 g of fibers will be added in a round bottom flask (0.5 L), and 80 mL NaOH (5%

w/v) solution will be added. The contents will be refluxed for 3 h at 180 ◦C on a hotplate.

Fibers obtained will be washed with distilled water and soaked in 0.5 L distilled water at

25 °C for 3 h. The pH of the water will be neutralized with acetic acid (3%). The fibers will

be dried in a fume hood at room temperature and cut into small pieces. The alkali

treatment will be repeated 4 times (Asif et al., 2022).

 37

C.3 Bleaching

After alkali treatment, coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers will be bleached to

remove lignin and decolorize. For this purpose, the acetic acid buffer will be used with

sodium chlorite. A solution of 2.7 g sodium hydroxide in a few mL of water will be mixed

with 7.5 mL glacial acetic acid in a 100 mL measuring flask, and the flask will be filled

with water up to the mark. The pH of the buffer will be adjusted to 4.6. The sodium

chlorite solution (1.7% w/v) will be prepared in distilled water and mixed with an equal

buffer volume. For bleaching, the reflux method will be used. Approximately 3 g of alkali-

treated fibers will be added in a 250 mL flatbottom flask with 120 mL buffer and sodium

chlorite mix. The reflux will be carried out for 2.5 h at 120–130 ◦C with vigorous stirring.

After every 30 min, the solution will be diluted with 10 mL of distilled water to reduce the

temperature. The opening will be opened for the evacuation of chlorine gas with colored

substances. After bleaching, the mix will be cooled to ambient temperature (around 25

°C) and filtered. The residue will be dried at 120 ◦C to evaporate water vapors and

impurities. The bleaching process will be repeated 5 times to obtain completely

decolorized fibers (Asif et al., 2022).

D. Fabrication of MCC from Coconut Husk Fibers

Cellulose microcrystals will be fabricated by the acid hydrolysis of the fibers obtained by

bleaching. For this purpose, approximately 4 g of bleached fibers will be added to a flat-

bottom (250 mL) flask containing distilled water (10 mL), refluxed with 160 mL of 40%

H2SO4, and left at about 85–95 ◦C for 40–50 min. When thick milky white clouds will be

formed in the flask, a small amount of cold deionized water will be added, and heating will be

stopped. The flask will be shifted to an ice bath, and after every 2 min, 100 mL of deionized
 38

water will be added until the reaction stopped completely. After that, the sample will be gravity

filtered through Whatman filter paper 41 and thoroughly washed with ice-cold deionized water

to ensure the complete removal of hydrolysis material. The samples will be centrifuged at 400

rad/s for 15 min, and sonicated at the amplitude power of 40% for 8–10 min. Finally, the

samples will be freeze-dried to obtain microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) (Asif et al., 2022)

E. Characterization of MCC

The following procedures will be used to characterize MCC gathered from coconut (Cocos

nucifera) husk fibers:

UV-Vis absorption spectra will be measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer from 400 to

460 nm to evaluate the formation and yield of MCC while the size and shape of MCC will be

characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and. Fourier-transform infrared

spectroscopy (FTIR) by the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), DOST

Compound, Taguig, Metro Manila. SEM analysis will be done to understand the surface

morphology and particle size of MCC using Helios nanolab 600i while FTIR spectral

measurement will be carried out to identify the presence of cellulose in the sample.

F. Simulation of Heavy-metal Contaminated Water Sample

The researchers will purchase powdered copper from Bacolod Chemical Supply or

Berovan. The purchased powdered heavy metals will be weighed using analytical balance.

The dilutions of 1 ppm will be prepared by pouring 1 mg of each metal into a 1000 ml

volumetric flask and adding deionized water to prepare a solution with a total of volume of

1000 ml. There will be four (4) set-ups with heavy-metal contaminated water samples. This

procedure will be conducted at Negros Prawn Diagnostic and Analytical Laboratory.

 39

G. Preparation of Different Set-ups

Table 1. The different set-ups that will be used in the experiment.

foam distributor activated carbon ion exchange microcrystalline

(width) resin cellulose (MCC)

Set-up A 5cm 50g 65g 45g

Set-up B 10cm 60g 75g 55g

Set-up C 15cm 70g 85g 65g

Set-up D 20cm 80g 95g

In Set-up A, 5cm of foam distributor (width), 50g of activated carbon, 65g of ion exchange

resin, and 45g of microcrystalline cellulose. In Set-up B, 10cm of foam distributor (width), 60g of

activated carbon, 75g of ion exchange resin, and 55g of microcrystalline cellulose. In Set-up C,

15cm of foam distributor (width), 70g of activated carbon, 85g of ion exchange resin, and 65g of

microcrystalline cellulose. In Set-up D (Control Group), 20cm of foam distributor, 75g of

activated carbon, and 95g of ion exchange resin.

H. Assembly of Water Filtration System

The water filtration system will be divided into six sections: (in order) the coarse filter screen,

foam distributor, activated carbon, ion exchange resin, the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from

coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers, and lastly, non-woven membranes. The coarse screens

will be used to remove large solids, rags, and debris from wastewater, and typically have

openings of 6 mm (0.25 in) or larger. Types of coarse screens include mechanically and
 40

manually cleaned bar screens, including trash racks. (United States Environmental Protection

Agency, 2003). The general purpose for all filtration foams is essentially the same. To filter the

particles passing through, such as water or air for example while trapping unwanted particles

within the cells of the foam. This can vary based on theapplication of the foam. (Zouch

Converters) A filter with granular activated carbon (GAC) is a proven option to remove certain

chemicals, particularly organic chemicals, from water. GAC filters also can be used to remove

chemicals that give objectionable odors or tastes to water such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs

odor) or chlorine. (Environmental Health: Minnesota Dept. of Health, 2020) We all know that

hard water is the enemy of good coffee – it can make coffee taste heavy, chalky, and dull, and

will wreak havoc with your equipment too. Ion exchange water filters are the most common

method for reducing hardness in water – they‘re relatively cheap, and the most basic versions

can even be ‗regenerated‘ and used again. (Barista Hustle, 2021). Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

husk fibers is one of the plant species that has been effectively utilized for the treatment of

wastewater. It is extremely effective in removing stains, suspended solids, BOD, organic matter,

and heavy metals. (Huynh et al., 2021) Lastly, the textile materials, particularly 'nonwoven' , are

suitable for filtration because of their complicated structure and thickness. Dust particles have to

follow a tortuous path around textile fibers. Thus, due to their structure, they have high filtration

efficienciesai.e.a25-99.9%.a(Patilcetcal.,c2017).
 41

Figure 4. Different Layers of the Filter

 42

I. Research Instruments

The survey questionnaire will be used as the researchers' study tool to assess the

device's acceptance.

Participant’s Profile

Name (optional):

Specify if Chemist/Electronic Engineer/Doctor/Patient:

Signature:

Survey Questionnaire

Instruction: Kindly rate the following criteria from 1 to 5. One (1) at the lowest and five (5) as

the highest. Just check the corresponding column of your rating. One (1) rating per criterion.

INDICATOR

A. Utility and 1 2 3 4 5

Capability

The water filtering kit is easy

and practical to operate

The components and

features of the water filtering

kit are functioning

The water filtering kit is user-

friendly

The water filtering kit

performs its expected

 43

outputs

The water filtering kit brings

comfort and convenience

INDICATOR
1 2 3 4 5
B. Style

The design of the water

filtering kit is modern and

neat

The design of the water

filtering kit is appropriate

The water filtering kit has the

appropriate size

INDICATOR
1 2 3 4 5
C. Permanence

The quality of the materials

used in the water filtering kit

is good

The water filtering kit is able

to withstand any damage

during the procedural

process
 44

The workmanship of the

water filtering kit is high-

grade

The quality of the design is

remarkable

INDICATOR
1 2 3 4 5
D. Safety

The materials used in the

water filtering kit is non-toxic

The materials used in the

water filtering kit will not

cause any harm/bleeding

inside the body of the patient

The water filtering kit is

suitable to be exposed at

patients with high-risk

INDICATOR
1 2 3 4 5
E. Comfortability

The water filtering kit is

comfortable enough for the

participant to fully perform

the filtering
 45

The movement of the water

in the filter is fast enough for

the participant.o

The over-all components of

the water filtering kit is

satisfactory
 46

J. Testing the Reliability of the Research Instrument

The researchers will select ten (10) people that are part of the target population, but

omitted from the actual survey respondents for testing the device's acceptance. The

researchers will create a draft copy of the survey questionnaire and distribute it to the ten (10)

participants. The responses will be tabulated in Microsoft Excel, and the researchers will utilize

Cronbach's alpha to calculate dependability or internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha tests are

used to determine the reliability of multiple-question Likert scale surveys. It indicates how

closely connected a group of test items is. Cronbach's Alpha values vary from 0 to 1, with higher

values suggesting greater reliability of the survey or questionnaire.

K. Testing the Validity of the Research Instrument

Construct Validity will be used by the researchers, who will generate a draft copy of the

survey questionnaire that will be examined and validated by five (5) Master's Degree teachers

at Negros Occidental High School using the criteria defined by Carter V. Good and Douglas B.

Scates.
 47

Figure 5. Validity of the Survey Instrument

 48

L. Data Gathering

The BOD5, DO, pH, turbidity and heavy metal content of the water sample will be tested

before and after the introduction of the coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers MCC at Negros

Prawn Analytical and Diagnostic Laboratory using the approved standard methods of analysis

prescribed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in accordance

with ―Revise Effluent Regulation of 1990‖ (DAO 35). Table 2 showed the testing methods

used for the analyses of water sample.

Parameter Method Units

Biochemical Oxygen Azide Modification (Dilution ppm

Demand5 Technique)

Dissolved Oxygen Azide Modification (Winkler ppm

Method)

pH Glass Electrode Method

Turbidity Nephelometric

NTU

Turbidity Method

Copper c content in Atomic Absorption

sample water Spectrophotometer (AAS) ppm

Table 2. Testing Procedures Used for the Analyses of the Water Sample
 49

L.1 Testing Procedure in the Determination of DO and BOD

The principle of azide modification is based on the addition of divalent manganese

solution followed by addition of strong alkali to the water sample in a glass stoppered bottle.

DO present in the sample rapidly oxidizes an equivalent amount of dispersed divalent

manganese hydroxide to higher states in the presence of iodine ions and upon acidification

the oxidized manganese reverts to the divalent state with liberation of iodine equivalent to the

dissolved oxygen content in the sample. The iodine is then titrated with standard solution of

thiosulfate using starch as indicator.

A dilution water will be prepared by adding 1 mL phosphate buffer, 1 mL

magnesium sulfate, 1 mL calcium chloride and 1 mL ferric chloride for every 1 liter of

distilled water. The dilution water will not be seeded anymore because the samples have

microbes already present in them. The dilution water will be aerated for 30 minutes.

Two bottles for BOD 5-day incubation at 20OC, one for initial and the other for final,

will be prepared. In addition, blank dilution water, glucose-glutamic as concentration 109,

and five preparations of dilutions per sample will also be made. In the samples, dilution

water will be added. For the initial measurement of DO, the samples will be added with 2

mL MnSO4.H20 solution and 2 mL Alkali-iodide azide reagent. The samples will be inverted

many times to mix. A white precipitate indicated that the DO is zero. A brownish-orange

showed that DO is present. Further add 2 mL H 2SO4. Discard 100 ml and titrate the

remaining volume with 0.025N Na 2S2O3 until light brown. Starch will be added to have dark

blue solution. Titrate again till the endpoint will be reached. A colorless solution indicated

the endpoint. A set of samples will be incubated for 5 days in the dark at 20 OC to be used

in the final reading of DO. Read the volume in conc as DO i and DOf (after 5 days of

incubation). Computation for BOD5 when dilution water, not seeded, is shown below
 50

Computation for BOD5 when dilution water, not seeded, is shown below.

BOD5, mg/L = DOi -DOf

P(% dilution used)

L.2 Testing Procedure in the Determination of pH

The pocket pH Activon A211 Model will be used in the determination of the water pH.

Before making pH measurements the equipment will be calibrated with a pH 7 buffer. To read

other pH values correctly, a second buffer, pH 5, will be used for acidic samples and pH 9, if

samples are expected to be basic. This will be done to determine if the pH meter will read a

second pH correctly after it has been calibrated at pH 7. After each calibration process, the

glass electrode will be wiped with clean cloth to remove any contaminants. The glass

electrode will be then dipped into the water sample. The investigators had to wait for the

values to stabilize for the determination of the final pH value.

L.3 Testing Procedure in the Determination of Nitrate-Brucine Method

The nitrate content of the sample produced yellow color on the reaction with brucine

solution under acidic condition. The absorbance of color will be measured at 410 nm. The

intensity of the color will be directly proportional to the amount of nitrate present in the

sample.

L.4 Testing Procedure in the Determination of Turbidity

Turbidity of the water sample will be assessed using the Nephelometric Method: This

method is based upon a comparison of the intensity of light scattered by the sample under

defined conditions with the intensity of light scattered by a standard reference suspension.

The higher the intensity of scattered light, the higher is the turbidity. Readings, in NTUs, are
 51

made in a nephelometer designed according to specifications laid out in the method. A

primary standard suspension is used to calibrate the instrument.

Table 3. Determination of Copper

Heavy Metals Method Units

Flame Atomic Absorption

Spectroscopy (FAAS)
Cu ppm
Inductively Coupled Plasma

(ICP-OES)

The heavy metals in the sample will be determined using Flame Atomic Absorption

Spectroscopy (FAAS). FAAS will be used to determine the Cu levels in the sample. ICP-OES

(Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) will be used also as an

analytical technique used to determine the concentration of certain elements in a sample.

The ICP-OES principle measures the amount of emitted light at each wavelength and uses

this information to calculate the concentration of heavy metals in the sample.

M. Proper Disposal

After the experiment, the water subjected for analysis will be disposed properly at the

disposal unit of Negros Prawn Diagnostic and Analytical Laboratory in accordance with their

laboratory protocol. All biodegradable wastes such as papers from the packaging will be buried

under the ground. Non-biodegradable wastes like plastics will be thrown into a separate trash

can. The researcher will call the local waste management to inquire about the disposal of
 52

materials that pose threat to human and environmental health. The researcher will place the

harmful materials in a container with the lid tightly sealed. After it, the researcher will wrap the

container in four or more layers of newspapers. The researcher will place the wrapped container

in a trash bag and put it beside a trash bin for the local waste management to pick up.

RISK AND SAFETY

The researchers will be assisted by the scientist during the whole experimentation. In

order to avoid untoward incidents during the experiment, safety precautions will be strictly

enforced. To avoid unwanted accidents during the experiment, the researchers and the

designated supervisor will wear lab gowns, surgical gloves, masks, and safety goggles while

performing the tests. The researcher will be careful in handling the different equipment to be

utilized in the study. The researchers will also take extra precautions when handling the various

chemicals and equipment that will be used in the study. The chemists, consumers,

environmental scientists, and the people who will test the validity of the research instrument will

be informed about the potential harm they may receive during the research processes.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Mean, T-test for Dependent/Correlated Mean, and T-test for Independent Means

will be used in this study. Mean will be used to determine the characteristics of

Microcrystalline Cellulose from coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers in terms of physical

properties and to indicate the average of all pre-test and post-test data from all treatments.

T-test for Dependent/Correlated Means will be used to determine if there is a significant

difference between the treatment and control groups' pre-test and post-test results and

One-way ANOVA will be utilized to know the significant difference of the average of the

four independent groups.

 53

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Before beginning the survey, the researchers will visit with each participant individually

and hand out Informed Consent forms and Survey Protocols. The researchers will explain the

study and the requirements for their involvement before they sign the paperwork. The

participants will be informed about the purpose of the research, its expected duration, and the

nature of any interventions/experiments; the probable risks of handling the different parts, the

benefits of participation, and reasonable alternatives to participation in the research protocol,

confidentiality provisions relating to research records, any compensation and/or treatment

available for research-related injuries, and the right to not participate and to refuse treatment. It

is in accordance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles for

Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2016). The names of the participants will not be shared

unless their explicit permission is obtained. In the event that an interviewee is unable to

participate in the survey due to the location of the survey, the researchers will offer alternatives

and negotiate to meet their needs.

Ethical considerations must be addressed in research studies for the application of

innovative water filtering methods. First and foremost, people participating in a research should

be thoroughly informed about the advantages, hazards, and alternatives available to them.

Given the high costs of these treatments, developing countries like the Philippines should

consider financial resource constraints in order to prioritize the most prevalent health concerns.

These procedures should be examined in the context of clinically controlled and randomized

tests carried out in specialist locations by experts with qualified training and high standards of

patient care.
 54

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
DIVISION OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL HIGH SCHOOL

Dear Participant,

Good morning! A study will be conducted by researchers from Negros Occidental High
School (NOHS) entitled ―Synthesis And Characterization Of Microcrystalline Cellulose
From Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Husk Fibers: Portable Water Filtering Prototype Kit For
Copper (Cu)”. The primary goal of this research is to synthesize and characterize
microcrystalline cellulose from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) husk fibers and utilize it as a
component of the water filtration system.

You have been chosen as one of the study's participants. If you agree to participate, the
researchers will schedule the survey for a time that works for you. The survey will be conducted
at Negros Occidental High School while wearing face masks and observing social distancing in
order to comply with the health standards established by both the DOH (Department of Health)
and the WHO (World Health Organization) to combat the pandemic.
Your participation in this research process is entirely optional. You are allowed to refuse
to participate in this entire data collection procedure if you are not comfortable or convenient for
you. The researchers can guarantee that your identity and privacy will be protected. Your
privacy will be respected to the greatest extent feasible. The researchers will not divulge or
quote your name; instead, a pen name or pseudonym will be utilized for you. This agreement
will also apply to the final publication, as the researchers will document the survey process to
assure the results' validity and reliability.
The insights and other data acquired during the survey will only be utilized for study
purposes by the researchers. Only the researchers will be able to see and access the
completed survey questionnaire. The researchers will erase all copies of the recorded survey
six months following the survey.
 55

Regarding any changes that may occur throughout the data collection process, the
researchers will contact you again after the interview for validation purposes.The possible
benefit of this research is that it will produce data that will aid in the improvement of various
remote systems in diagnosing patients during the CVOID-19 pandemic, which will allow different
departments analyze different techniques if a pandemic occurs in the future. Your participation
will make an important contribution to future research on this topic. Thank you, and have a
wonderful day!

Date/Signature of Participant

Figure 6. Informed Consent Letter for the Validity and Reliability Testing
 56

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
DIVISION OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL HIGH SCHOOL

Date:
Name of Participant (Optional)
Specify if Chemist/Consumer/Environmental Scientist:

Dear Participant,

Good morning! At the moment, the study entitled ―Synthesis And Characterization Of
Microcrystalline Cellulose From Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Husk Fibers: Portable Water
Filtering Prototype Kit For Copper (Cu)” is being carried out. This is a quantitative study that
intends to synthesize and characterize microcrystalline cellulose from Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
husk fibers and utilize it as a component of the water filtration system.

The researchers are interested in this topic because the researchers intend to make a
water filtration system from coconut husk fibers because coconut husk fibers are known as
absorbers of various heavy metals. It is extremely effective in removing stains, suspended
solids, BOD, organic matter, and heavy metals (Huynh et al., 2021). This indicates that our
research will be effective and will have benefits such as being environmentally friendly and less
expensive. This synthesis can reduce costs and generate high-quality water filtration systems in
a less sophisticated and time-consuming manner.
You have been chosen to participate in this research after many consultations. Your
participation is entirely voluntary. The survey questionnaire contains five indicators that you will
rate to test the acceptability of the water filtering kit, including capability and utility, style,
permanence, safety, and comfortability. You will be asked to perform as a subject to activate the
robot, or you can refer to the operation of the robot stated in the study. The survey could last
between 10 and 20 minutes.
 57

Your involvement will be useful in evaluating your reactions and creating data important to
identifying techniques to aid in the rapid spread of the virus, particularly in hospitals. You may
withdraw your permission to participate in the study at any time and for any reason. In any case,
your privacy and permission are highly valued.
By signing this letter, you give the researchers permission to utilize your comments as the
study's final contribution. Thank you very much!
Researchers:
Khennan Hiel R. Lopez
Zoe Grace J. Celiz
Ayumi Caballero
Eleana A. Garcia
Henry Rainier Tingson
Arwen Marie D. Ariola
Ronjeru V. Taylaran
Gianne Nyer D. Beltran

I have read and understood the survey protocols listed above. I am willing to participate in
the data collection process for this project. I agree to the collection of some personal information
about myself for the purposes of this study.

Date of Participation Signature

Figure 7. Informed Consent Letter for the Survey and Protocols

 58

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Edwards, J. (2021, February 10). The negative effects of copper in your drinking water. Water

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El-Naggar ME;Radwan EK;El-Wakeel ST;Kafafy H;Gad-Allah TA;El-Kalliny AS;Shaheen

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20(DO)%20refers%20to,by%20aquatic%20plant s%20during%20photosynthesis.

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