Cassava starch as an effective component for Ideal Biodegradable Plastic

Inventions have evolved and continue to evolve such that after several years of study, research and experimentation reach great developments. With continuing efforts to investigate the constituents of Philippine plants, we have pursued investigation of starch of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta). Cassava tubers were gathered, ground and squeezed to extract starch. Starch obtained was weighed and divided into three equal parts; 80 grams in T1, T2 and T3. Treatments also consisted of 60 ml plastic resin glue and resin with 50 grams of flour catalyst for T1, 100 grams for T2 and 150 grams in T3. The components in every treatment were mixed, stirred and then poured in silk screen with oil and then sun-dried. Test for capacity to carry weight indicated T3 as the best. For its ability to hold water, all products passed but for biodegradability, T1 gave the best results. The tensile and bending properties had been tested using the Universal Testing Machine and Analysis showed that T3 had the greatest tensile strength while T2 had the greatest bending property. Using ANOVA single Factor, results showed that there was significant difference among the three treatments in bending and tensile strength. However, for biodegradability test there was no significant difference. The final phase of the study determined the effectiveness of cassava starch as component of biodegradable plastic. Results confirmed that cassava starch is ideal as tests proved its worth.

Insecticidal Property of Acacia Seeds and Bark Against Termites

Insecticidal Property of Acacia (Samanea saman) Seeds and Bark Against Termites (Coptotermes vastator). A study on the insecticidal property of Acacia seeds and bark against termites was conducted to find out if these could be used against termites. The experiment was conducted at the laboratory of the Bureau of Soils in Lipa City and in Lumbang National High School from September to October 2005. The effort was initiated to enrich the laboratory activities in Chemistry and Biology for high school students. It especially attempted to answer the following questions: 1. How can insecticides be prepared from Acacia seeds and bark? 2. How effective is the Acacia insecticide in combating or killing termites (Coptotermes vastator); 3. Are there significant differences in the effectiveness of the ethanolic Acacia extract and commercial insecticide (Solignum) in combating termites? 4. What are the implications of the use of Acacia seeds as insecticide on the environment and human health? Ethanolic extracts were prepared from the seeds and bark of Acacia collected from areas surrounding Laurel farm in Lumbang, Lipa City. These extracts were used as samples in the qualitative analysis and preliminary screening for insecticidal property against termites. The screening of the ethanolic extracts from Acacia seeds and bark revealed the

presence of saponin, tannins, alkaloids, reducing agents glycosides, carbohydrates, which have the capacity to kill termites. The one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used in comparing the means of the effect of the ethanolic extracts against termites. Results were positive, showing the experimental sample to be comparable to Solignum.

Potential Use of Oyster Shells in Ceramic Production

This study focused on the possibility of replacing silica in ceramic production with oyster shells. Powdered oyster shells were used instead of silica in the production of ceramics. The texture, color and durability of the ceramics were compared to those made with silica. Six kilograms of Vigan clay and 2.5 kg of ball clay were mixed and soaked in water overnight. The following day, the mixture was kneaded again and filtered. The mixture was placed over Plaster of Paris for the water to be absorbed. The solidified mixture was then rolled and compressed to let the air escape from the spaces inside the solidified mixture. After this, the mixture was molded, air dried for four days and fired in a furnace. Three trials were made at different temperatures 900 degrees Celcius, 950 degrees Celcius and 1000 degrees Celcius. The finished products were compared in terms of texture and color to those made using silica. Ten evaluators from the staff of the University of Northern Philippines Ceramics Research, Training and Development Center rated set-ups in a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the lowest rating and 10 the highest. It was found that the texture of the experimental set-up is better than the control set-up. It was also found that the color of the experimental set-up is comparable to the control set-up. Tests on durability of the ceramics, which were done at SLU College of Engineering Laboratory, revealed that the experimental set-up is more durable than the control set-up. This proves that oyster shell can be utilized in the production of ceramics. It also affirms that ceramics made using oyster shells are better than those produced using silica in terms of texture and durability.

Post harvest Shelflife of Table Bananas with Chitosan Coating

Techniques to manipulate the ripening of fruits transported from the farmland to the market are varied but they are either complicated or expensive. For small farmers and even fruit vendors, the use of chemical agents to delay the ripening of fruits is seldom resorted to. For large fruit dealers, paraffin waxes and chemical coatings, which are inedible, are used. Chitosan coating is one agent that has been proven to delay the ripening of non-climacteric fruits (e.g. apples, oranges, peaches). However, this has not been extensively studied among climacteric fruits (e.g. tropical fruits such as papaya, bananas, mangoes). This study used chitosan coating to manipulate such ripening in table bananas (Musa sapientum). The concentration at which this worked better was determined and the quality of the fruits with treatments were evaluated. Powdered shrimp exoskeletons were obtained

for the production of chitosan. This underwent three processes (deproteinization, demineralization, and deacetylation) for conversion to chitosan. Two different sets were weighed and diluted in 1.0% acetic acid for subsequent preparation of concentrations (0.5% and 1.0%). Recording of weights of bananas was done daily. The day on which ripening occurred was also noted. After nine days evaluation, the samples were tested for the soluble solids present and the pH as well. Results show that the chitosan coating can indeed delay ripening of table bananas. The higher concentration yielded a lower percentage of ripening among the samples. The quality of the ripened fruits was compared to the untreated samples with respect to pH and soluble solids.

Insecticidal Property of Acacia Seeds and Bark Against Termites

Insecticidal Property of Acacia (Samanea saman) Seeds and Bark Against Termites (Coptotermes vastator). A study on the insecticidal property of Acacia seeds and bark against termites was conducted to find out if these could be used against termites. The experiment was conducted at the laboratory of the Bureau of Soils in Lipa City and in Lumbang National High School from September to October 2005. The effort was initiated to enrich the laboratory activities in Chemistry and Biology for high school students. It especially attempted to answer the following questions: 1. How can insecticides be prepared from Acacia seeds and bark? 2. How effective is the Acacia insecticide in combating or killing termites (Coptotermes vastator); 3. Are there significant differences in the effectiveness of the ethanolic Acacia extract and commercial insecticide (Solignum) in combating termites? 4. What are the implications of the use of Acacia seeds as insecticide on the environment and human health? Ethanolic extracts were prepared from the seeds and bark of Acacia collected from areas surrounding Laurel farm in Lumbang, Lipa City. These extracts were used as samples in the qualitative analysis and preliminary screening for insecticidal property against termites. The screening of the ethanolic extracts from Acacia seeds and bark revealed the presence of saponin, tannins, alkaloids, reducing agents glycosides, carbohydrates, which have the capacity to kill termites. The one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used in comparing the means of the effect of the ethanolic extracts against termites. Results were positive, showing the experimental sample to be comparable to Solignum.

Insecticidal Effect of Yellow Oleander Fruit Extract on Rice Bugs

Insecticidal Effect of Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana) Fruit Extract on Rice Bugs (Leptocorisa oratorius). According to the Department of Agriculture Reference Manual (1998), 14% loss of rice is due to rice bugs infestation. A survey conducted in Cuartero, an agricultural town in Capiz revealed that rice bugs rank third among the pests infesting rice. Generally, the study aims to find out if Yellow Oleander fruit extract can be used as

insecticide against rice bugs. Specifically, it aims to determine if there is significant difference in the effect of different concentrations of Yellow Oleander fruit extract, and varying the mortality rate (in minutes) on the percent mortality mean of rice bugs. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with the following treatments: Treatment A - (25 ml extract + 25 ml water), Treatment B - (50 ml extract + 25 ml water), Treatment C - (75 ml extract + 25 ml water), Treatment D - (100 ml extract), Controlled set-up (100% water) and replicated three times. The crude extract was obtained by pounding, squeezing, and filtering. Phytochemical analysis revealed that extract of the young fruit contains alkaloid at 0.73%. Thevetin at 0.37%, Peruvoside at 0.35%, Cyanogenic Glycosides at 0.12%, and Iridoid Glycosides at 0.07% have influenced the effectiveness of extract and using greater concentrations can hasten and increase mortality to 100%. Using the One-way Analysis of Variance and Duncans Test, results led to the conclusion that: Yellow Oleander can be used as an insecticide against rice bugs. There is significant difference in using different concentrations of Yellow Oleander fruit extract and varying the length of time (in minutes) of exposure on the percent mortality mean.

Plants Extracts as Control Agents of Braconid

Selected Plants Extracts as Control Agents of Braconid sp. Corcyra cephalonica Stn. is used as a fastidious host in the production of Trichogramma sp. It is a stored grain pest with the common name rice grain moth which can be found in corn/rice mills. It is easy to handle and can be mass produced in the laboratory. The mass production of Trichogramma sp., a biological control agent of lepidopterous pests is dependent on the abundance of Corcyra cephalonica Stn. The eggs of Corcyra cephalonica Stn. are used to mass produce Trichogramma sp., but the Corcyra cephalonica Stn. which serves as the host of Trichogramma sp. for its production are being attacked by Braconid sp. This study was conducted to determine the effectivity of selected plant extract such as: Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), Cobra-cobra (Ipomea sp.), Cogon (Imperata cylindrica), and Makabuhay (Tinospora rumphii Boerl) as control agents of Braconid sp., a larva parasitoid of Corcyra cephalonica Stn. Ten Braconids were placed in each of the 25 test tubes containing 30 grams of corn meal. Cheese cloth was used as cover for each of the test tubes. Extracts were prepared by disinfecting the leaves with 1% sodium hypochlorite NaOCl) then rinsed with distilled water three times. Leaves were pounded using mortar and pestle. The extracts were filtered using filter paper and placed in a sprayer. Two ml of extracts was sprayed in every test tube and observed for 24 hours. Analysis of variance showed significant results. This proves that the extracts have the potential to control Braconid sp., the parasitoid of Corcyra cephalonica Stn. Spirulina platensis: Potential Biosorbent for Lead Heavy metal contamination is one of the problems encountered by industrialized countries due to its harmful implications. At present, biosorption, a biological method in removing heavy metal ions, is deemed as an inexpensive and effective alternative to physicochemical methods of separation in treating wastewater contaminated with heavy metal ions. This study Spirulina platensis: Potential Biosorbent for Lead aimed to prove the

effectiveness of Spirulina platensis in absorbing lead ions from simulated wastewater. S. platensis and lead acetate were obtained from UPLB. Four separate 90 ml lead solutions, each containing 50 ppm of lead, were prepared and inoculated with 10 ml of S. platensis. Cellular Phone as Electrical Device Activator This study aims to focuses on the development of a remote control that will function in activating any desired electrical device out of a common gadget, the cellular phone. The researchers developed a remote control using the widely used medium for communication, which is the cellular phone. This device will operate as a remote control that can activate different electrical devices regardless of the distance, because cellular phones operate through microwaves as its medium. Since the device can operate in very large distances, a confirmation for the activation of the electrical devices will be obtained. This device will function as a remote control to activate desired electrical device anywhere, anytime.

Air Battery/ Saltwater Battery Introduction: We all know that the world is now facing an energy crisis and everyone is trying to do something about that. Now you can show everyone that electrical energy or electricity can be made from air and saltwater. After all, both the air and the saltwater are freely available everywhere. These are the two things that we have plenty of them. This may seem impossible. I could not believe it myself the first time that I heard about it. It almost sounds like a magic trick. Finally, I decided to test it anyway. I tried different concentrations of salt water, different temperatures, and different electrodes and had no success. It took me a few months thinking about it until I solved the problem in my mind and decided to repeat my tests again. This time everything worked fine and I was able to make enough electricity to light up a small light bulb. Electric Generator Wooden Generator Making an electric generator is a good way of learning the principles of generators. It also is an exciting science project. As a display project, you just need to make it and demonstrate its structure. As an experimental project, you need to come up with questions about the factors that may affect the rate of production of electricity. Fruit Battery (Make Electricity From Fruits) Introduction:

This project is one of the most famous electricity projects that can be performed successfully by most students in the age of 10 to 16. It helps students to learn about producing electrical energy using chemical energy. Since the same method is used to get energy from many fruits and chemicals, this project has many names. Following are some of the other names or titles for this project: http://www.kidslovekits.com/pr... Make a DNA Model DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life. By changing parts of DNA, scientists are able to produce plants, animals and other live organisms with new properties and abilities. Genetically modified crops and genetically modified fruits are widely known and used. http://www.kidslovekits.com/pr... Starch test kit Starch test has been the most versatile science project in the past few years. Students can modify it and make totally new projects that are all based on starch test. Some variations of starch test program are: http://www.kidslovekits.com/pr... Electromagnet An electromagnet is by far the most important electrical structure that exists in almost all electronic devices. Most of today's Radios, televisions, door bells, telephones, telegraphs and computers could not exist without electromagnets. http://www.freescienceproject....