[Investigatory Project] CITRUS FRUITS AS A BACTERIAL HAND SANITIZER

Manila Cathedral School 287 Tayuman, St. Tondo, Manila

An Investigatory Project To be submitted to the Science Department

In partial fulfilment of the Course Requirement in Biology

Submitted to Mrs. Agnes Cruz

Bernabe, Nicole Czerena Desierto, Germeign Ann Maliclic, Chelsea Anne Manglangit, Treb Miguel Marasigan, Austin

Second Year - Maximillian Kolbe

February 2013

CITRUS FRUITS AS A BACTERIAL HAND SANITIZER

ABSTRACT The researchers’ main purpose in conducting this study is to help create a product which is cheaper and could use the same quality as the one through the use of oranges. This study aims to help people who do not have enough money to buy expensive hand sanitizer. It also helps the researchers determine the similarities and differences of the two products have by comparing their qualities. The procedure in making this product is simple. First, scrape the gel inside the Aloe Vera leaves. After scraping the gel, the group put it a plastic container and added 1 cup of Ethyl alcohol and 2 teaspoons of Glycerin. Next, grate the orange to get the zest and add it to the mixture, then, mix till well blended. Lastly, the group recycled a small bottle that was used as a container for the mixture. The researchers concluded that the Aloe Vera gel can be used to make the hand sanitizer more jelly and the zest of the orange more hydrating to the skin. It is easy to make since the materials used are found in stores and have the cheapest price. The group is confident that the product is effective because of the Ethyl alcohol. The researchers advised to use more Aloe Vera for the product to be more jelly.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The researchers would like to give their heartfelt gratitude to the people who helped in making and considering this study and for the success of the researchers. First, the parents who gave their time to help and support their child in conducting this study. Second, the researcher’s teacher who was always there when the researchers have questions or problems that needs to be solved. And last but not the least, to our dear God who guided the researchers in the right path and for all the blessings that the researchers have received.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii Chapter I: The Problem and its Background Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Background of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Significance of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Scope and Limitations of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Chapter II: Review of Related Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Chapter III: Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - 6 Chapter IV: Results and Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Chapter V: Conclusion and Recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Appendix Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Curriculum Vitae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14

CHAPTER I: THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction Earlier, whenever the people’s hands used to get dirty, people used to go in search of a good soap and water. This used to become a great inconvenience especially when travelling. Water spills and soap not getting rinsed properly and of course, water wastage, all these factors contributed to the discovery of something called as hand sanitizer.

Background of the Study The researchers chose the citrus fruits to make it into a Citrus Hand Sanitizer because the season today is where most citrus fruits bloom. Another factor why the researchers chose this study because of the protein of Vitamin C most citrus fruits have from common illnesses like colds, cough, etc. Third, Citrus fruits are easy to find and are cheap. Fourth, you can easily find them from local grocery stores and/or markets per kilo, sliced, peeled, mixed with other fruits, canned, and/or juiced.

Statement of the Problem The researchers need to solve the following problems: 1. How cheap will it be compared to other hand sanitizer? 2. How effective is the citric hand sanitizer compared with other products? 3. Does it have side effects? 4. Does the Citrus Hand Sanitizer can make hands dry? 2

Significance of the Study The people who will benefit from the hand sanitizer are students, from pre-school to college. People who live in squatter’s area, condominium units, small and big houses. People who work as part-time or full-time. People who work on hospitals like odctors, nurses, janitors, and even patients. Bank employees, security guards, salesman or women, police officers, etc. Even people who don’t have jobs and senior citizens!

The Citrus Hand Sanitizer can be significant by helping our hands to be clean and germ free. Instead of using soap and water, we can use this hand sanitizer in travelling, in school, in malls, etc. whenever, wherever.

Scope and Limitations of the Study The study covers how citrus fruits can be used as a hand sanitizer and to know the health benefits when it is used to be a hand sanitizer, the side effects arise when using the hand sanitizer. Other than that, the study will not cover topics beyond the scope of the research.

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CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. These plants are large shrubs or small trees, reaching 5-15 m tall, with spiny shoots and alternately arranged evergreen leaves with an entire margin. The flowers are solitary or in small corymbs, each flower 2-4 cm diameter, with five (rarely four) white petals and numerous stamens; they are often very strongly scented. Citrus fruits are notable for their fragrance. The juice contains a high quality of citric acid giving them their characteristic sharp flavour. The genus is commercially important as many species are cultivated for their fruit, which is eaten fresh, pressed for juice, or preserved in marmalades and pickles. The invention of hand sanitizer was from Lupe Hernandez of Bakersfield, CA. In 1996, he called an invention hotline off of the TV, and ordered a package for an idea he had on how he would create system in hospitals, to where all sinks would have an alcohol solutions, at the bottom of the sink connected to the pipe, outgoing water reaching our hands with cleaning solution and a sanitizer gel making it easier for hospital staff and quicker to get patients. This idea came to mind because he was attending school to become a RN.

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CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY In this chapter, the group will be making a hand sanitizer out of materials that can be found in homes and that are cheap to buy. The group found out that Citrus fruits are cheap and easy to buy especially when it is in season. Citrus fruits also have a high quantity of Vitamin C that make the skin healthy and prevent it from drying that’s why the researches chose this as their primary ingredient for their product – home-made Citrus hand sanitizer. Alcohols that have 70%-up solution are mostly found on homes and are cheap in the market. The researchers chose this ingredient because of its cleaning properties when it comes to germs and bacteria that can cause sickness in people. The group did was, first, researched the materials needed and the procedures on making a hand sanitizer. Second, the group bought the materials needed to be able to make a hand sanitizer. The group will be making a hand sanitizer out of the following materials: ½ cup of Aloe Vera gel, 2 teaspoons of Glycerin, 1 cup of Ethyl alcohol, zest of a 1 whole orange. The researchers did was, first, scrape the gel inside the Aloe Vera leaves. After scraping the gel, the group put it a plastic container and added 1 cup of Ethyl alcohol and 2 teaspoons of Glycerin. Next, grate the orange to get the zest and add it to the mixture, then, mix till well blended. Lastly, the group recycled a small bottle that was used as a container for the mixture. 5

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CHAPTER IV: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1

Findings

The researchers conducted a list of findings on the product Features Colour Fragrance Texture

Citric Hand Sanitizer brownish-yellowish color orange-y sticky

Commercial Hand Sanitizer clear color fruity smooth

This table showed the results of the survey. 5 different people tested the Citric Hand Sanitizer in each trial. Criteria Affordable Fragrance Effectivity

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Citric Hand Sanitizer ///// /// //

Commercial Hand Sanitizer // ///

Results

In Criteria #1, 5 different people agreed that the group’s product was affordable. In Criteria #2, 5 people tested the product by smelling. 3 out of 5 agreed that the fragrance was not harsh on the nose when it’s being smelled. In Criteria #3, 2 out of 5 people agreed that the product was effective to use.

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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 5.1

Conclusions

The researchers therefore conclude that the citrus hand sanitizer was confidently a success because of the presence of Ethyl alcohol that made it more disinfectant and the ingredients used to make the hand sanitizer were readily available and easily accessible in the market. 5.2

Recommendations

In the findings the group have conducted, the researchers respectfully recommend some instructions for better results. 1. It is optional to put essential oil for the sake of your nose not to be irritated with the smellof the original essence. 2. You should put more Aloe Vera gel than the ethyl alcohol to make the hand sanitizer jelly.

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APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAPHY http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_sanitizer http://biology.about.com/od/microbiology/a/handsanitizers.htm http://www.humantouchofchemistry.com/how-hand-sanitizers-made-theirdebut.htm http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_the_first_person_to_formulate_hand_sanitizer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus

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CURRICULUM VITAE Name: BERNABE, Nicole Czerena D. Age: 13 Educational Attainment Primary: South Crest School Secondary: Manila Cathedral School Honors/Awards received: Elementary – 2nd honor Highschool – Top 3 on English (subject proficiency) Organization: Biotechnicians Club

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Name: DESIERTO, Germeign Ann S. Age: 14 Educational Attainment Primary: EMD Carmelite School Secondary: Manila Cathedral School Honors/Awards received: Nursery – 1st Honor Kinder – 2nd Honor – Best in Music – Most Cooperative Organization: Hiyas Ng Sining Club

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Name: MALICLIC, Chelsea Anne J. Age: 14 Educational Attainment Primary: Manila Cathedral School Secondary: Manila Cathedral School Honors/Awards received: Grade 2 – Top 7 2nd Year – Top 6 on Science (subject proficiency) Organization: Biotechnicians Club

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Name: MANGLANGIT, Treb Miguel V. Age: 13 Educational Attainment Primary: Shilloh Christian Academy Secondary: Manila Cathedral School Honors/Awards received: -Organization: Biotechnicians Club

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Name: MARASIGAN, April Austin C. Age: 14 Educational Attainment Primary: St. Anne De Beaupre School Secondary: Manila Cathedral School Honors/Awards received: 1st to 3rd Grade – Champion in Elocution Test Organization: Earth Savers Club

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