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Veitchia Merillii (Christmas Palm) as Alcohol

A Research Paper

Submitted to Ms. Louie Lyn C.Cordura as

Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Research 10

Garces, Joshua D.

Generoso, Alexandre Khaile T.

Beltran, Cristian Dave L.

Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial

Dumaguete Science High School

S.Y. 2018 - 2019

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Background of the Study…………………………………………………………….3

Significance of the Study…………………………………………………………….4

Scope and Limitations………………………………………………………………..4

Review of Related Literature………………………………………………………...4

Methodology

Research Design……………………………………………………………………...14

Materials and Equipment…………………………………………………………….14

General Procedures…………………………………………………………………..15
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Introduction

The researchers are finding a way to get alcohol more efficiently. The researchers found

out that the Christmas palm (Veitchia merillii) has bioethanol. Alcohol is a good way to disinfect

wounds. So instead of getting alcohol the traditional way, the researchers found a new way to

extract alcohol.

The researchers pound the leaves to get the extract easier. Then the researchers strained

the fluid. The researchers made a distiller set up. The researchers waited for the temperature to

reach 70 degrees. The researchers maintained the temperature so that the water wouldn't

evaporate. Then the researchers will light it up. If the alcohol burns then the research is a

success.

The results of this study will contribute to the economic problem, whereas all of us are involved,

in this case, air pollution. Air pollution is a serious problem in our country, thus, making this study

important.

This study only uses Veitchia Merilii leaves as its independent variables. No other plant parts

were used in this experiment. The study also focuses only on the Extraction of alcohol.

Review of Related Literature

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Ethanol is made by the fermentation of sugar. It is most commonly found in households

in the form of beverages. Ethanol is also used in manufacturing various products. In humans and

nonhuman primates, ethanol is sometimes used to treat methanol poisoning. (Richardson, 2013)

The term “alcohol” now refers to a wider class of substances in chemistry nomenclature,

but in common parlance it remains the name of ethanol. The Oxford English Dictionary claims

that it is a medieval loan from Arabic al-kuḥl, a powdered ore of antimony used since aniquity as

a cosmetic, and retained that meaning in Middle Latin.

(http://www.assignmentpoint.com/science/chemistry/uses-of-ethanol.html)

Belongs to the Arecaceae or Palm family, which includes the Coconut Palm (Cocos

nucifera), the Royal Palm(Roystonea oleracea), and the Talipot or Century Palm (Corypha

umbraculifera), the last producing the largest and most prolific inflorescence in the plant

kingdom, a panicle of about 24 million flowers. (Dominica, 2007)

Due to its elegant, small size, palm used as a small landscape or courtyard plant, or as a

potted indoor or atrium plant; sometimes planted closely in twos or threes when the palms

develop an attractively curved stem (concave inward); popular ornamental in Manila, capital city

of the Philippines, hence one of its common names, Manila Palm; tree prized by beekeepers for

its high quality nectar; very susceptible to lethal yellowing disease. (Dominica, 2007)
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This stocky, single-trunked palm with stiffly arched, six-foot-long, bright green fronds is

noted for the fall and winter appearance of the very showy clusters of glossy, bright red fruits

which hang below the leaves at the base of the crown shaft (Fig. 1). Reaching 25 feet in height,

though often much smaller, Christmas Palm has a very neat appearance and is well-suited to use

as a patio, terrace, specimen, or framing tree. Unfortunately, the palm is very susceptible to lethal

yellowing disease and probably should not be planted. Fortunately, there are other Veitchia

resistant to the disease, including Veitchia macdanialsi and Veitchia montgumeryana, but these

are much taller palms with thicker trunks. (Gilman, Watson, N.D.)

has a smooth slender grayish stem ringed by semi-circular frond scars. A 2-3' green

crown shaft supports a crown of almost a dozen pinnate fronds. The fronds are arched to about 5'

long with leaflets that are about 2' long and 2' wide. Where the crown shaft attaches to the trunk

2' long inflorescences sprout. Small butter-cream colored flowers form light green 1" long ovoid

fruit. By December, most years, the fruit ripens and turns a crimson color. (Betrocks Guide to

Landscape Palms; AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY A-Z ENCYCLOPEDIA OF

GARDEN PLANTS)

Ethanol extraction is one of the efficient solvent extraction methods that are used to

extract fragrant compounds straight from dry raw materials and impure oils or concrete due to

organic solvent extraction, enfluerage, or expression. The ethanol extractions from dry

substances are known as tinctures, whereas ethanol washes are done for purifying oils and

concretes which are called absolutes. (http://www.lalaessentialoils.com/ethanol-extraction.html)

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Distillation is the oldest method used for separating mixtures of liquids. Distillation

exploits the fact that different liquids have different boiling points. When a mixture of liquids is

heated, the liquid with the lower (or lowest) boiling point vaporizes first. That vapor is routed

through a condenser, which cools the vapor and causes it to condense as a liquid; the liquid is

then collected in a receiving vessel. As the original liquid mixture continues being heated,

eventually, some or all of the lower-boiling liquid is driven off, leaving only the higher-boiling

liquid or liquids in the distillation vessel. (https://makezine.com/laboratory-62-distillation-purify-

e/)

Catalytic conversion is a process for converting a heavy hydrocarbons, chemicals or fuels

to light hydrocarbons, chemicals or fuels through the use of catalysts. The products obtained

from catalytic conversion are less toxic, less corrosive, more usable and more environmentally

friendly. Modern conversion uses zeolites as the catalyst. Catalytic conversion is used in oil

refineries and hydrocarbon processing units.

(https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/1685/catalytic-conversion)

Distillation means taking the fermented ethanol and water mixture and adding heat to

separate them -- typically in a still. Since ethanol evaporates faster than water, the ethanol rises

through a tube, collects and condenses into another container. The water is left behind. (Pocock,

ND)
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Lignocellulosic materials, such as agricultural residues, are abundant renewable resources

for bioconversion to sugars. The sugar cane bagasse was studied here to obtain simple sugars for

the production of alcohols and other chemicals. The crystalline structure of cellulose and the

lignin that physically seals the surrounding cellulose fibers makes enzymatic hydrolysis difficult

by preventing the contact between the cellulose and the enzyme. (Coelho, Kawase & Santos,

2011)

Fermentation, chemical process by which molecules such as glucose are broken down

anaerobically. More broadly, fermentation is the foaming that occurs during the manufacture of

wine and beer, a process at least 10,000 years old. The frothing results from the evolution of

carbon dioxide gas, though this was not recognized until the 17th century. French chemist and

microbiologist Louis Pasteur in the 19th century used the term fermentation in a narrow sense to

describe the changes brought about by yeasts and other microorganisms growing in the absence

of air (anaerobically); he also recognized that ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide are not the only

products of fermentation. (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Bioenergy is renewable energy created from natural, biological sources. Many natural

sources, such as plants, animals, and their byproducts, can be valuable resources. Modern

technology even makes landfills or waste zones potential bioenergy resources. It can be used to

be a sustainable power source, (Orloff, 2018)

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Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gases have become the prime source of energy in

the current era. These sources are expected to deplete in the next 40-50 years. The environmental

damages have pushed us to reduce carbon emmissions. Ethanol is one of the best alternative

biofuel. Although ethanol’s energy is 68% lower than gasoline, it is cleaner, because it contains

oxygen. (Manmode, Manwar, Padgilwar etc. 2013)

The main substitute for petroleum is Bioethanol. The main source of sugar comes from

fuel or energy crops. Bioethanol has many advantages such as price, the environment, and it’s

many sources. (http://www.makebiofuel.co.uk/bioethanol-production/)

Methodology
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Research Design

The researchers used the Experimental and Control group design.

Materials and Equipment

Mortar and pestle

Beaker

Strainer

Erlenmeyer flask

Graduated cylinder

Aquarium hose

General Procedures

A. Preparation of Extract

Collect two 50 mL extract from freshly washed Christmas palm leaves (Veitchia

Merillii). Label the first 50 mL as A, next 50 mL as B. The researchers strained the extract to

remove excess residue.

B. Preparation of Equipment
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The researchers clamp the Erlenmeyer flask to the iron clamp. Then the

researchers connected the hose from the Erlenmeyer flask to the graduated cylinder. Then

the researchers covered the Erlenmeyer flask and the graduated cylinder with corks. Then

the researchers lit up the alcohol lamp.

C. Extraction

The researchers waited for the Erlenmeyer flask to heat up to 70 degrees Celsius.

The researchers maintained the heat so that the water wouldn't evaporate.

D. Testing

The researchers used a lighter to light up the extracted ethanol.

Results and Discussion

After the researchers tested the distilled liquid from the extract, the researchers

determined that the plant did not contain ethanol or any type of alcohol as it didn’t light up. The

researchers suggest to use plants closer to the family of coconuts. The researchers also
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determined that the distilled liquid couldn’t have failed from the distiller setup as we tested the

setup with an ethanol and distilled water mix.

Appendices

References
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-

science/ethanol

http://www.assignmentpoint.com/science/chemistry/uses-of-ethanol.html

https://www.dominicagardens.com/veitchia-merrillii.html

http://www.floridagardener.com/palms/Veitchia_merrillii.htm

http://www.lalaessentialoils.com/ethanol-extraction.html

https://makezie.com/laboratory-62-distillation-purify-e/

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/1685/catalytic-conversion

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/make-your-own-

ethanol2.htm

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896844610004079

https://www.britannica.com/science/fermentation

https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-bioenergy-2941107

http://www.makebiofuel.co.uk/bioethanol-production/)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343713002054
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