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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

A cigarette is a thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking. The

core of most cigarette filters, the part that looks like white cotton, is actually a form of

plastic called cellulose acetate. By itself, cellulose acetate is very slow to degrade in our

environment. Cigarette smoke contains many chemicals that are harmful for both smokers

and non-smokers. Used cigarette filters are full of toxins, which can leach into the ground

and waterways, damaging living organisms that come into contact with them. Most filters

are discarded with bits of tobacco still attached to them as well, further polluting our

environment with nicotine, which is poisonous.

A lot of people nowadays are engaging into different vices, and one of them is

smoking. Many individuals considered great smokers including teenagers or young adults.

They spend their time-wasting cigarettes and just toss aside the cigarette filters or butts

everywhere not knowing that it can be recycled and turn to much better thing. Meanwhile,

commercial glue is relatively expensive because of their brand names and the materials

used in making and manufacturing glues. Moreover, due to the expensiveness of making a

glue, glues from a cigarette filter can be an alternative for that. This can be done by the

help of some products, particularly acetone which is a good solvent for many plastics and

synthetic fibers, and lemon.

According to Lubaton (2019), a cigarette filter is use to strain the dangerous

ingredients of the cigarette. Most of the Filipinos are smokers or cigarette users, which is
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part of their fashion, but sad to say that they just throw their waste anywhere and because

of this habit we are challenged to find a way to help our beloved country on its campaign

against improper disposal of garbage. The aim of the research is to find a cheaper and

readily available alternative for glue, because glue is useful product especially to the

students. Fifteen pieces of cigarette filter were mixed with 5ml of acetone. The adhering

sticking ability of the cigarette glue was tested. Results show that the glue sticks easily on

papers and cardboards. The cigarette filter glue can be a substitute to commercial glue.

Because of the dangerous ingredients of the cigarette, a cigarette filter is use to

strain the chemicals. In the Philippines, the percentage of smokers is definitely high

because most of the Filipinos are cigarette users. This habit is one of the reasons that

relieves their stress because it contains nicotine which helps us to calm down, but

unfortunately after smoking, they just throw their waste anywhere. That is why we are

challenged to find a way to help our beloved country on its campaign against improper

disposal of garbage. This research aims to find a cheaper, environmentally friendly and

easily made alternative for glue, because glue is useful product especially to the students’

teachers, office workers, and etc.

As mention by Pike (2015), adhesive, any substance that is capable of holding

materials together in a functional manner by surface attachment that resists separation.

“Adhesive” as a general term includes cement, mucilage, glue, and paste—terms that are

often used interchangeably for any organic material that forms an adhesive bond. Inorganic

substances such as Portland cement also can be considered adhesives, in the sense that they

hold objects such as bricks and beams together through surface attachment, but this article

is limited to a discussion of organic adhesives, both natural and synthetic.

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Natural adhesives have been known since antiquity. Egyptian carvings dating back

3,300 years depict the gluing of a thin piece of veneer to what appears to be a plank of

sycamore. Papyrus, an early nonwoven fabric, contained fibers of reed like plants bonded

together with flour paste. Bitumen, tree pitches, and beeswax were used as sealants

(protective coatings) and adhesives in ancient and medieval times. The gold

leaf of illuminated manuscripts was bonded to paper by egg white, and wooden objects

were bonded with glues from fish, horn, and cheese. The technology of animal and fish

glues advanced during the 18th century, and in the 19th century rubber- and nitrocellulose-

based cements were introduced. Decisive advances in adhesives technology, however,

awaited the 20th century, during which time natural adhesives were improved and

many synthetics came out of the laboratory to replace natural adhesives in the marketplace.

The rapid growth of the aircraft and aerospace industries during the second half of the 20th

century had a profound impact on adhesives technology. The demand for adhesives that

had a high degree of structural strength and were resistant to both fatigue and severe

environmental conditions led to the development of high-performance materials, which

eventually found their way into many industrial and domestic applications.

Hypothesis

Used Cigarette filter and acetone as main components in making glue is not

feasible.

General Objective

The general objective of the study aims to determine the feasibility of cigarette filter

and acetone as main component in making glue.

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Specific Objectives

Based on the main objectives of this study, the following specific objectives are

formulated:

1. To describe the treatments of using cigarette filter, lemon juice, and acetone as

main component in making glue;

1.1 science connectivity;

1.2 innovation;

1.3 advantages to the people and environment;

1.4 project objectives;

1.5 materials and equipment;

1.6 application; and

1.7 appearance.

2. To determine the best treatment among the nine treatments made in terms of:

2.1 texture;

2.2 scent; and

2.3 sticking capacity.

Significance of the Study

The goal of this study is to have a beneficial usage of cigarette filters, acetone and

lemon to produce an alternative glue product. This study also aims to contribute a help to

our environment considering that cigarette filters were always thrown everywhere by

smokers and to promote more affordable way of making a glue. Researchers believe that
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this study will contribute to the schools particularly the students and teachers that they can

have knowledge about producing an alternative glue and be able to promote it to the

students, faculty and staffs. Moreover, it will also help the public to have a basis on how

this product could help in lessening the waste like cigarette filters. In addition, this study

will serve as a guide and reference to the next researchers for their future studies related to

this.

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the feasibility of used cigarette filter, lemon and acetone as

main component of making glue. This study is limited to produce a liquid glue for paper

made from cigarette filter and acetone. Respondents of the study will rate the effectively

of this glue based on its stickiness, odor and texture.

Definition of Terms

The following terms were defined in this study to serve as a common reference:

Acetone. It refers a colorless liquid also known as Propanone, is a solvent used in

Manufacture of plastics and other industrial products.

Cellulose. It is insoluble substance which is the main constituent of plant cell walls

and of vegetable fibers such as cotton.

Cigarette. It is a cylindrical roll of shredded or ground tobacco that is wrapped in

paper or another substance that does not contain tobacco.

Cigarette Filter. It is designed to absorb some of the toxins in cigarette smoke and

collect solid particles known as tar.

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Citric acid. It denotes that the most abundant organic acid in lemons, citric acid may

help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Lead. It is lead damages the nerves in the brain, as well as the kidneys and the human

reproductive system. Lead intake can also cause stomach problems and anemia. It is a

known carcinogen and is particularly toxin to children. Lead is used in paint and metal

alloys.

Lemon. It is a yellow, oval citrus fruit with thick skin and fragrant, acidic juice.

Nicotine. It is a toxic colorless or yellowish oily liquid that is the chief active

constituent of tobacco.

Tar. It is consisting of several cancer-causing chemicals. When a smoker inhales

cigarette smoke, 70% of the tar remains in the lungs. Try the handkerchief test. Fill the

mouth with smoke, don't inhale, and blow the smoke through the handkerchief. There will

be a sticky, brown stain on the cloth.

Tool of Evaluation. The instrument that is used to collect data for each outcome

and the purpose of assessing whether they have achieved a particular learning outcome.

Scale Range of Mean Verbal Description

5 4.51- 5.00 Excellent
4 3.51- 4.50 Very Good
3 2.51- 3.50 Good
2 1.51- 2.50 Fair
1 1.00-1.50 Poor
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Paradigm of the Study

Input Process Output

Materials:

Cigarette Filter Cutting

Lemon Mixing
Glue
Acetone Soaking
Container Drying
Water Dissolving

Figure 1. IPO Model

Figure 1 shows the Input Process Output Model (IPO). This study aims to the

production of cigarette filter, lemon, and acetone as alternative glue. The input needed and

must undergo to the process by cutting the cigarette filter into small pieces; mixing water

and lemon and soak the cigarette filter to remove unpleasant odor; put under the sun and

let it dry; emerge the cigarette filter and acetone to dissolve the dry cigarette filter to

achieve the sticky texture.

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Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY

This chapter represents the methodology that was used in this study. The discussion

in this chapter organized in research design, methods of collecting data; enumerate

materials, equipment and procedure.

Research Design

This investigatory project study the feasibility of used cigarette filter, lemon, and

acetone as a component in making glue. A feasibility study is an analysis used in measuring

the ability and livelihood to complete a project successfully including all relevant factors.

An experimental design was applied to this study due to the presence of the

treatments that was made to find out which result in a best product. Furthermore, the

treatments were compared through the type of stickiness and other criteria.

Methods of Collecting Data

The methods of collecting data that used to this investigatory project was a

questionnaire that evaluates the product. The researchers will give the questionnaire to fifty

respondents and used the evaluation tool in interpreting the results of data. Furthermore,

the researcher made nine treatments that is part of determining which among the treatments

made is the best treatments. The list of the treatments are as follows:
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Materials

This study needs the following ingredients:

 Cigarette Filter

 Lemon Juice

 Acetone

 Container

 Water

List of Treatments

Treatments Cigarette Filter (%) Acetone (%)

1 5 pcs 5 ml
2 5 pcs 10 ml
3 5 pcs 15 ml
4 10 pcs 5 ml
5 10 pcs 15 ml
6 20 pcs 15 ml
7 20 pcs 25 ml
8 20 pcs 30 ml

Equipment

This study needs the following equipment:

 Container

 Beaker

Procedures

The following are the procedures listed on organized order:

1. Cut the cigarette filter into small pieces.

2. Mix water and lemon the put the cigarette filter to remove the unpleasant odor.
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3. Put the immerge cigarette filter under the sun and wait until dry.

4. Immerge the cigarette filter to acetone and wait 6 hours to dissolve the cigarette

filter in acetone to achieve the sticky texture.

5. Lastly, put it in a container.