SAN BEDA COLLEGE ALABANG

INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

The Usage of Banana (Musa Acuminata)

Leaves as an Alternative Thermal

Insulator for Drinkware

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

RES 114 – Research Project : Science Investigation

STEM 12-J

Submitted by:

RUBIO, Jakob Francis

BALUNGAYA, Jan Beatrice

DELIGENCIA, Jonah Alma

LATOJA, Tiffany Kyryle

Submitted To:

Mr. John Renz A. Torres

April 2020
Chapter 1

Introduction

Are you aware of what a drinkware wears? The world would not have

been able to hold their favorite beverages properly if cup sleeves did not exist,

especially hot beverages such as coffee and tea. Cup sleeves are usually

composed of corrugated cardboard, which is the main reason why most people

are able to hold their drinks without problem. One of the most recognized

versions of cup sleeves was the Java Jacket, which was created in 1991 by Jay

Sorensen, although earlier designs were made in the 1920s. (Connelly, 2013)

The musa acuminata or more commonly referred to as bananas, contain

numerous amount of nutrients such as potassium, fiber, and etc. But its leaves

are also known for the different uses that it can provide to the human race.

However, they are mostly used in situations that involve food, as its leaves are

either used as a makeshift plate, or are wrapped around food so that it would be

packaged in such a way that it can help the person carry food from one place to

another without being burned from the heat.

Background of the Study

The researchers wish to determine the feasibility of banana (musa

acuminata) leaves as an alternative thermal insulator in drinkware. The possibility

can be considered especially since there are previous researches that support
the notion that the fruit can be used. To give an example, a research conducted

in 2016 by Manohar stated that out of four (4) lignocellulose fibers (coconut,

sugarcane, oil palm, and banana), banana fibers were shown to have the lowest

thermal conductivity therefore making it a candidate for production of products

that require thermal insulation (Manohar, 2016).

Banana (musa acuminata) leaves are shown to have long decomposition,

depending on its lignin content and the climate that it resides in (Chu, 2012).

Though leaf decomposition can be accelerated when it is buried in soil when

compared to being decomposed on the surface (Coulis, et al., 2016). Therefore,

banana (musa acuminata) leaves can be buried after its consumption as a

thermal cup insulator so that it can be decomposed rather quickly.

Since the leaves of bananas (musa acuminata) have been found to be

used for packaging and it has a fairly long decomposition rate, the researchers

assume that there is a possibility that it can be used for replacing cardboard-

made coffee cup sleeves as an alternative. Therefore, the researchers have

decided to examine if banana (musa acuminata) leaves are possible as a

substitute for cardboard-made cup sleeves.

Objectives

The general objective of the research is to create an alternative cup

insulator using Banana (musa acuminata) leaves. It also aims to:

 a) To measure the thermal insulation properties of the alternative cup

insulator

b) To measure the land decomposition duration of the alternative cup

insulator

c) To compare the alternative product to the commercialized product

in terms of thermal insulation

Statement of the Problem

The study will determine if banana (musa acuminata) leaves are capable

in being an thermal insulator in drinkware. Specifically, the study attempts to

answer the following parameters:

1) Nature of the Sample

a) Polyester Fiber Content

b) Sap Content (per gram)

c) Insulating Properties

d) Thermal Capacity

2) To what extent is the thermal insulating capabilities do the Banana (musa

acuminata) leaves have?

3) How long does the Banana (musa acuminata) leaf cup sleeve

decompose?
 4) How does the alternative product compare to the commercialized product

in terms of their insulating properties?

5) Is there a significant difference between the alternative product and the

commercialized product?

Hypothesis:

Ho: There is no significant difference between the alternative cup sleeve

and the commercialized cup sleeves.

HA: There is a significant difference between the alternative cup sleeve

and the commercialized cup sleeves.

Conceptual Framework

Significance of the Study

The study aims to be able to create an alternative cup insulator that aims

to reduce disposable waste. It also aims to determine the capability of banana

(musa acuminata) leaves as a substitute in creating a thermal insulator. The

beneficiaries for this study are the following:

a) Environment

The study aims to reduce disposable waste concerning drink

ware wastes (such as curated cardboard etc.)

 b) Community

The study aims to promote eco-friendly consumption of

products concerning drink consumption

c) Drink (Hot Beverages) Enthusiasts

The study aims to provide a cheaper and better cup insulator

for a better experience in beverage consumption

d) Future Researchers

The study will provide as groundwork for researches

concerning the usage of Banana leaves as insulators.

Scope and Delimitations

The study will only focus on the thermal insulation capabilities of the

products with hot beverages including only coffee, tea, and hot water with a

temperature reaching only a minimum of 71.1 degrees Celsius and a maximum

of 85 degrees Celsius (Brown & Diller, 2008).

Furthermore the product will be focused as a thermal insulator as a

regular cup sleeve. The production will only take into account the quality of the
fiber and tree sap (product adhesive) as it insulates the beverage in terms of its

poros

The decomposition properties of the product will only be tested in terms of

land decomposition. The researchers will intend to mimic land decomposition and

will only use qualitative instruments in observing the decomposition properties.

Review of Related Literature

Banana fibers showcase the primary characteristics to be seen in fibrous

thermal insulation. The study also showcases that in order to increase the

product’s insulation properties. An increase of Banana fibers must be added.

[ CITATION Kri16 \l 1033 ]

There are certain parameters that should be observed when assuming

that an object is suitable as a thermal insulator. Following this, an object should

have a high flame tolerance and high porosity so that it can insulate heat. (Ureta

et al., 2018)
Chapter 2: Methodology

The study would be exercised in a triangulation research design. There

will be two parts of the experiment proper: the Product testing in terms of

Insulation and product testing in terms of decomposition The first part of the

experiment, product testing in terms of Insulation, will be using a quantitative type

of analysis for the data gathered. The second part of the experiment, product

testing in terms of agricultural land decomposition, will be using qualitative type

of analysis for the data gathered. The two results will then be used for the final

analysis part of the experiment, which will lead to the final answer to the

research.

Research Design:

The study will be using a Triangulation Research Design. The researches

intend to use both Quantitative and Qualitative Research Design.

The First part of the experiment will be using a Quantitative Research

Design. The data accumulated will be used to create a statistical line graph that

will showcase the insulation capabilities of the alternative product. The graph will
then be used for statistical analysis in order to easily interpret the insulation

capabilities of the alternative product and commercialized product.

The second part of the experiment will be using a Qualitative Research

Design. The data accumulated will be used to create a logbook denoting the day-

to-day progress of the alternative product’s decomposition. The results will be

compared to an article stating that a cardboard will approximately decompose for

two months. The Qualitative data gathering procedure will help the researchers

compare the decomposition of the alternative product to the commercialized

product despite the lack of decomposition measuring devices available to the

researcher’s caliber.

Sample

Banana (Musa) is tropical plant commonly found in tropical countries. The

Plant is known to have 5 parts namely: Roots, Stalk (Stem), Leaves, Banana

Blossoms, and Banana Fruit. The Research will delve into the usage of the

Banana Leaves and Banana Sap (obtained for the Banana stalk). The Banana

leaf (Musa Acuminata) has a fiber mean of 26% cellulose, 17% hemicellulose

and 25% lignin in terms of Fiber content. The sap contains sodium, potassium,

magnesium, and calcium (Basak and Chattopadhyay, 2016). The Insulating

properties are estimated to have a flame tolerance and porosity.

Sample Collection.

The Sample will be collected in the following step-by-step procedures:

1. Find a Banana tree

2. Obtain the leaves by cutting closely to the stalk (Estimated 1 leaf product)

3. Get a piece of the stem by cutting near the incision earlier made.

4. Set aside the leaves for now.

5. Get the stem and chop into cubes.

6. Gather the chopped Stem pieces and squeeze out the sap.(Use a Mortar

and Pestle if needed)

7. Gather all the sap collected and place in a room temperature container

with no conductivity mechanisms.

8. Get the set aside leaves.

9. Separate the leaves by creating an incision along the stem part of the leaf.

10. Set aside the leaves in a low humidity container.

Data Gathering Procedure

Insulation Testing:
 1. Gather the prepped materials (the sap and the leaves)

2. Gather the commercialized product (curated cardboard)

3. Gather 2 Beakers, 2 Thermometers, and Heated Water (Heat the water

over heat to a minimum of 71.1°C)

4. Place the Heated Water on the 2 beakers

5. Poke a small hole (tight fit on the thermometer) unto the alternative and

commercialized product.

6. Insert the Thermometer through the product’s hole.

7. Place the Product and thermometer over the beaker containing the heated

water.

8. Every 2 minutes get the temperature

9. Continue on for 10 minutes

10. After gathering the temperature drops, place the data in a line graph.

11. Repeat 3 times for both products

12. Conclude results using statistical analysis

Land Decomposition Testing:

1. Gather the prepped materials (the sap and the leaves)

2. Gather the materials for the decomposition capsule

3. Prepare the decomposition capsule (2) by putting the soil in the capsule

4. Place the alternative and commercialized products inside the capsule.

5. Each day log the observances

6. Continue observance each day until 7 days have passed (RRL)

 7. Gather the logged data and compile into table.

Statistical Analysis

The researchers will us two types of statistical analysis namely:

Descriptive

Inferential (ANOVA)

The Descriptive portion of the statistical analysis will be using a line graph

in order to depict the insulation capability of the alternative product and the

commercialized product. The drops in the line graph will depict the change of

temperature over time. The line with the shallowest line drop will be the product

with the better insulating capabilities.

The Inferential part of the statistical analysis will be using the Hypothesis

generated by the researchers. The test is to help compare the two products,

alternative and commercialized. There will be two parts in the inferential part.

a) The first part will be an F-test regarding the insulation properties between

the alternative and the commercialized product.

For the Land Decomposition Property, a qualitative comparison via table shall be

used.
Bibliography

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