Corncob (Zea Saccharata) as an Effective Crude Oil Adsorbent
than Coir
Alija May P. Apego
IX Curie
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of
Research 2
Agusan National High School
A.D. Curato St., Butuan City
Mrs. Marie Lou S. Paler
July 23, 2015Chapter 1
Introduction
In this study, the purpose is explained. It consists of
importance, hypothesis, the problem, limitations, and the
variables.
Background of the Study
Oil spills are environmental disasters (Dave & Ghaly,
2011)
currently
lives
are
at
destroying
stake.
bodies
Oil
spills
of
water
are
where
liquid
marine
petroleum
hydrocarbon released to different bodies of water due to
human activity.
The unintentional or negligent release of used gasoline
solvents, crankcase lubricants by industries and individuals
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015) and pipe-line vandalization
(Ndimele,
2010)
may
also
be
classified
as
acute
anthropogenic sources of oil. (Wang & Stout, 2010) The oil
spill is a problem for the livelihoods of the population who
depend on fishing and tourism. (World Organization et al.,
2013)
Statement of the Problem
This
study
aims
to
identify
if
corncobs
can
help
decrease oil spills in polluted bodies of water in the
community. It answers the question: Is a corncob, on its
natural
state
an
effective
adsorbent
for
oil
spills
in
polluted bodies of water?
Statement of the Hypothesis
Yes, corncobs on its natural state can be an effective
oil adsorbent or has potential to decrease the amount of
used oil from contaminated bodies of water.
Significance of the Study
The outcome of the study may be an implication to help
communities whose bodies of water are contaminated by used
oil. The corncobs being experimented to be as an adsorbent
may decrease current or possible oil spills from bodies of
water where factories or industries are being planted on
have no proper waste disposal. It may also help ensure the
protection of public health and marine life.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
The research and experiment is only limited to corncobs
on its natural state an oil adsorbent. It does not include
corncobs
with
floating
devices,
wrapped
in
its
husks,
cooked, or without kernels. Also the study is limited to
contaminated bodies of water, specifically on oil spills. To
have an accurate observations, the experiment was done three
times with precise measurements.
Conceptual Framework
Independent
Variables
Intervening
Variables
Corn Cobs
Liquid
Water
Petroleum
current
Amount of
Oil
Weather
Hydrocarbon
Salt Water
Dependent
Variables
Corn Cobs
adsorbs oil
Petroleum is
less toxic
Review of Related Literature
Various studies related to corncobs as an absorbent for
oil spill have been conducted so for many of which are
partly similar to this study. The Gulf Study was conducted
on June 2010 as a feedback after the explosion of the Deep
Water
Horizon
drilling
Rig,
resulting
to
the
most
devastating oil spill in the United States. The Gulf study
aims to determine both physical and mental effects (Sandler,
2010) and the long-term effects. (Petri, 2015) Both studies
are gathering information as a benefit for the public to be
more aware of the dangers of health and the environment by
hazardous substances when not managed properly. (LaGrega et
al., 2010)
Similar studies had created solutions with the use of
image processing and computer vision (Radhika & Padmavathi,
2011) such as the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) an image
segmentation which is already used for medical purposes and
detects floating oil on the surface (Hess et al., 2013) to
permit
effective
environment.
satellite
(Bhogle
&
surveillance
Patil,
2012)
in
the
marine
Desulphurization
of
liquid fuels by adsorption with the use of mineral clays
(Shakirullah et al., 2012)
According to the International Tanker Owners Pollution
Federation (ITOPF), the effects of an oil spill will depend
on a variety of factors including the quantity and type of
oil spilled, (Fingas, 2012) and how it affects the marine
environment. The other key factors include the biological
and
ecological
attributes
of
the
area;
the
ecological
significance of key species and their interaction with oil
pollution as well as the time of year. (ITOPF, 2010) The
similarities of the studies are that both have intervening
variables, including the type of oil that has been spilled
to the body of water and on how the chemical substance to be
used interacts with the marine environment.
Oceanic oil spills became a major environmental problem
in the 1960s, mainly as a result of transporting more than
500,000 metric tons of oil. (Britannica, 2015)
It
doesnt look like its going to be catastrophic. But that
doesnt mean theres not going to be a damage, said Pete
Raimond of the University of California Santa Cruz (The
Guardian, 2015)
Corncobs have been used as oil absorbent after the
wreckage of a ship, releasing 220,000 tons of heavy crude
oil
in
Recovery
1978.
I
Adria
Inc.,
Brown,
has
founder
developed
of
Browns
product
cold
Company,
Golden
Retriever that is experimented to absorb oil from water.
(Siegel, 2010) The development of the study is stated to be
economical for its use of dried corncobs that have gone
through a process for agricultural uses and is very useful
for
cleanups
since
it
is
buoyant
and
while
adsorption
occurs, it remain afloat. (Harrison, 2010) Adria Brown said
she has about 34,000 tons of properly dried material to help
the system of waste management (Czarnik, 2010) and the oil
soaked corn cobs could either be burned for fuel or the oil
from the corn cob is separated from the corn cob for future
use. (Walker, 2010)
In a study where the absorbents being experimented are
coconut husks and corncobs, aims to compare the absorption
capability of coconut husk, grounded and ungrounded corn cob
and also to discover which of the absorbents is more capable
and effective at removing oil from the water. The outcome
indicated that the surface area is a factor in absorption.
(Omoniyi et al., 2012) The difference of both the studies is
that the independent variable of the study is grounded and
ungrounded corn cob while the researchers variable to be
used are corncobs on their natural state.
An experiment was performed with crude oil and its
fraction only and a mixture of crude oil and its fraction on
water. The result of the study reveals that the synthetic
absorbent mat absorbed oil more than the corn cob and it did
not absorb water while absorbing the oil while the corn cob
did. (Kelli et al., 2013)
According to Fox News, in the latest oil spill, workers
shoveled tar balls that were carried away for disposal. They
had to be careful not to disturb populations of Westering
Snowy Plovers that were in the middle of their breeding
season. (Associated Press, 2015) The abundant production of
aquatic organisms in aquaculture depends on its environment
but those organisms live in water and the environmental
problem
is
water
quality
(Boyd
&
Tucker,
2012)
and
groundwater quality (Nwachukwu & Osuagwu, 2014)
An
article
entitled
Novel
Sustainable
Oil
Spill
Control Technology revise oil spill control techniques, its
components
and
disadvantages.
chemicals,
(Al-majed
et
and
their
advantages
al.,
2012)
The
study
and
also
suggests natural sorbents which may also be an indicator of
the level of air pollution (Sandu et al., 2012) and on soil.
(Gonzlez et al., 2010) The spill of crude oil affect the
factors: nutrients, soil type, humidity, temperature, pH,
the
type
and
the
metabolism
of
the
microorganisms,
(Pecingin & Crn, 2013) chemical properties and plant
composition. (Tanee & Albert, 2015)
Similarly, a study in the Philippines about a massive
oil spill at the Guimaras Strait Philippines studies the
effect of the oil spill on the lifestyle of the fishermen in
the
coasts
(Aliren,
2013)
and
marine
sanctuaries
and
mangrove expanses. (AGODRAOSC, 2013) The coastal villages
were told to put oil spill booms made from bamboo poles and
other sorbents. (Burgos Jr., 2014) Similarly, this study
provides
basic
information
about
the
effects
of
an
oil
spill.
A report entitled Oil Spill in Entancia by the Joint
United
Nations
humanitarian
Environment
response
network
Programme
(UNEP)
coordinated
by
and
the
the
United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA), most of the spilled oil was washed at the shores of
the Estancia during the height of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan),
the
containment
booms
deployed
are
not
sufficient
to
effectively contain all of the free phase oil in the water.
(UN et al., 2013)
Chapter 2
Methodology
Sampling
In this study, the researcher gathered adsorbent entire
corncobs, crude oil and simulated saltwater. The researcher
gathered adsorbent entire corn cobs in their natural state
without the need of an expensive process or costly process
to turn the corn cobs in granular form. The researcher
gathered ten (10) dry corn cobs. The corn cobs used is the
sweet kind (Zea Saccharata or Zea Rugosa). The researcher
visited a farmland where freshly-harvested sweet corn is
produced
and
as
gathered,
it
is
placed
on
basin
and
labeled. The oil gathered is used oil or crude oil where the
researcher visited a gasoline station to get 2 liters of
crude oil or used oil and then placed in a closed container.
The water used is salt water. The researcher will made a
salt water simulation. Since water at standard conditions
weighs 1000 grams/liter then we can say that sea water has
35g of salt per liter. (OPENROV, 2014) 5 liters of water was
used in each 3 containers so, each container with 5 liters
of water are mixed with 75 grams of salt.
Treatment Proper
The corncobs were labeled as corncob A, B, C ... J. The
researcher
weighed
the
corncobs
on
weighing
scale
to
determine their current weight before the experiment will be
done. After weighing and recording the corncobs current
weight, the corncobs were dropped 2 feet above from the
container. The basins were also labeled as container A, B,
and C. Three corncobs were dropped on each basin 2 feet
above
and
observed
for
1-
hours.
While
observing,
recording was currently done. After recording observations,
corncobs A, B, and C were retrieved by using plastic gloves.
Data Gathering
Corncobs A, B, and C were carefully weighed on the
weighing scale. The researcher recorded the number of grams
of
each
corn
cob
after
they
were
retrieved
from
the
containers. The weight of the oil-absorbed corncobs were
compared to their weight before the experiment was done. The
researcher did experiment three times for the researcher to
know that the experiment wasnt done by chance.
Data Analysis
The researcher then compared and contrasted the outcome
of the controlled and experimental group by using the table
below:
Trials
Weight of
corn cobs
before
experiment
Weight of
corn cobs
after the
experiment
Weight of
coconut
husk
fibers
before
experiment
Weight of
coconut
husk
fibers
after
experiment
W grams
X grams
Y grams
Z grams
W grams
X grams
Y grams
Z grams
W grams
X grams
Y grams
Z grams
Table 1.0 The weight of each group before and after the
experiment began
The researcher used T-test on the significance of the
difference between two correlated means. The null hypothesis
was: There is no significant difference on the potential of
corncobs as an oil adsorbent. The alternative hypothesis
was: There is a significant difference in the potential of
the corncobs as an oil adsorbent. The significant level or
the alpha level used is 5%, the degree of freedom used will
be N 1 which is 2 and the test used was one-tailed. In
solving the test, first done was to compute the mean of
group 1 (X1) and group 2 (X2):
x 1=
X 1 147.91
=
=49.30
N1
3
x 2=
X 2 214.36
=
=71.45
N2
3
X1 and X2 are the summation of the data in each group
while N symbolizes the number of trials and
is the
mean. The summation of the group 1 was divided by the number
of trials which was also done for group 2. Next was to
compute the standard error (S) of the difference between
means:
x 1x 2=
x1
2
][
( X 1 )2
( X 2 )2
+ x2
N1
N2
N 1 + N 22
2
][
1 1
+
N1 N2
Then compute for the t or the calculated value:
t =
( x1 x2 ) ( 12 )
S x 1x 2
The tabulated value the researcher used to compare the
computed value is 2.776. If the computed value is greater
than
the
tabulated
value
then
accept
the
alternative
hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis. If the tabulated
value is greater than the computed value, accept the null
hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis. Whatever
the answer computed may be, it will be written as the final
answer.
Disposal
The researcher used a separating funnel to separate the
oil from the water that has been used.
The oil that has
been separated from the water was used as an extra oil or
oil for the car or any machinery at home. The water that has
been
separated
was
poured
over
the
plants
in
the
researchers home. The experimented corncobs and coir are
burned for fuel or separated for future use.
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APPENDICES
Appendix A
Statistical Tool
T - test
H0
There
is
no
significant
difference
between
the
adsorption of oil by corn cobs and coconut husk fibers
H1
There
is
significant
difference
between
adsorption of oil by corn cobs and coconut husk fibers
Level of significance: = 0.05
X1
X12
X2
X22
50
2,500
73.21
5,359.70
47.91
2,295.37
70
4,900
50
2,500
71.15
5,062.32
the
X12 =
7,295.37
X1 = 147.91
X22 =
15,322.2
X2 = 214.36
Table 2.3:
a. Computing the mean of group 1 (X1)and group 2 (X2)
x 1=
X 1 147.91
=
=49.30
N1
3
x 2=
X 2 214.36
=
=71.45
N2
3
b. Computing the standard error of the difference between
means
S
x 1x 2=
x1
2
][
( X 1 )2
( X 2 )2
+ x2
N1
N2
N 1 + N 22
2
[ [
7,295.377,292.45 ] + [ 15,322.215,316.73 ] 2
4
3
[ [
2.92 ] + [ 5.47 ] 2
4
3
7,295.37
][
21,877.36
45,950.20
+ 15,322.2
3
3
3+32
][
][ ]
][ ]
1 1
+
3 3
][
1
1
+
N1 N2
[ ][ ]
8.39
4
2.09
2
3
[]
2
3
[ ][ ]
2.09
1
2
3
1.39
1.180
C. Computing for t
t =
( x1 x2 ) ( 12 )
S x 1x 2
( 49.3071.45 ) 0
1.180
22.15
1.180
18.77
Finding the critical value or the tabular value of t.
df = 4
= 0.05
ttab = 2.776
Since the tcalc is greater than the ttab, reject the null
hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis.
H1
There
is
significant
difference
between
the
adsorption of oil by corn cobs and coconut husk fibers
Raw Result
Trials
Weight of
corn cobs
before
experiment
Weight of
corn cobs
after the
experiment
Weight of
coconut
husk
fibers
before
experiment
Weight of
coconut
husk
fibers
after
experiment
125
250
75
280
125
240
75
250
125
250
75
260
Table 2.3 : The weight of each group before and after the
experiment began in grams.
Appendix B
