Abstract

This study aims to determine the potential of coconut shells (Cocos

nucifera) used as natural air filtration assembly. It was proven that the

activated carbon made from coconut shell is capable of filtering air. The

carbonization of coconut shells was done by drum kiln method. The products

were applied on 15 selected air conditioning units and exposed for 48 hours.

The data were gathered by measuring the masses of activated carbon

samples before and after its application. The results showed that activated

carbon from coconut shells could be utilized as an air filtration assembly for

air-conditioned rooms.

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Introduction

Asthma, lung cancer, and emphysema are some of the diseases caused by

impurities of unclean air. It is typically composed of mixed substances such as

smokes, dusts, and even microorganisms that may be harmful to humans.

Air purifiers and filters are the most common aids that many people are

using today. It helps increase the quality of breathable air indoors. It is

typically used in rooms, cars, and other closed areas. In wanting precision in

purifying, branded air purifiers and filters are preferred, yet expensive.

On the other hand, there are indigenous materials that can be commonly

found and can be utilized as an alternative air filter because of their structural

and chemical composition. These sources might not be expensive and would

not affect the health of its users. Indigenous materials are all bio-degradable

and eco-friendly.

Cocos nucifera commonly known as “coconut”, are trees that can live up to

80 to 90 years (Chan, E. & Elevitch, C., 2006). Its shell has predominantly

pores in micro pore range (<4nm). Almost 85-90% surface area of coconut

shell exists as micro-pores (Mukherjee, 2014). Activated carbon is a charcoal

that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between

the carbon atoms. The use of special manufacturing techniques results in

highly porous charcoals that have surface areas of 300-2,000 square meters

per gram. The huge surface area of activated charcoal gives it countless

bonding sites. When certain chemicals pass next to the carbon surface, they

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attach to the surface and are trapped. Activated carbon is good at trapping

other carbon-based impurities ("organic" chemicals), as well as things like

chlorine (Morosky, F., 2014).

In the previous study an attempt is made to test the adsorption capacity of

activated carbon pairs with different refrigerants, the pairs are activated

carbon powder/R-134a, activated carbon powder/R-407c, activated carbon

powder/R-507A, activated carbon granules/R-507A, activated carbon

granules/R-407c and activated carbon granules/R-134a, at different

adsorption temperatures of 25, 30, 35 and 50°C to test the adsorption

capacity of activated carbon pairs. After the experimentation, the activated

carbon powder/R-134a pair is highly recommended to be used as adsorption

refrigeration working pair because of its higher maximum adsorption capacity

than the other tested pairs, to produce a compact, efficient and reliable for

long life performance adsorption refrigeration system (Shmroukh et al,2013).

This study aims to produce a natural air filter made from indigenous

material. It also aims to produce a healthier and cheaper source of raw

material for air filtration by means of utilizing the coconut shell.

This study focused only on the effectiveness of activated carbon from

coconut shell as an air filtration assembly. This study is limited only on the

potential of activated carbon in filtering the indoor air in 15 selected air

conditioning units set in medium mode.

3
Methodology

The study was classified as single group design under the experimental

designs of research since there was only one variable to be tested that was

assigned at selected designation, and before and after its application, the

variables were tested to see if there was any significant difference. The

dependent being the amount of mass increased by an activated carbon

sample after the application and the activated carbon on each samples as the

independent variable.

The researcher bought 15kg of dry coconut shells in Cadiz Public Market.

The researcher prepared a steel drum, big steamer, weighing scale and 15

customized mosquito nets 12in x 3in x 0.2in. The experimentation was

conducted at the back of the researcher’s house.

The researcher carbonized the dry coconut shell using the drum kiln

method. First, the researcher burned a piece of cloth inside a steel drum, put

the coconut shells and closed the lid allowing only a small passage of oxygen

so that combustion process would not occur. The researcher waited for 7

hours until the carbonization finished. After making the activated carbon, the

researcher prepared the steamer for the steaming process. The researcher

steamed the activated carbon for 2 hours to eliminate the ashes present

inside the pores of the coconut shell. After the activated carbon was steamed

for 2 hours and cooled off, it was put inside an empty sack.

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 The researcher put steamed activated carbon on each 15 customized

mosquito nets before weighing it with a uniform 250g mass. The researcher

used a Triple Balance Beam.

The researcher selected 15 air-conditioned rooms for the application of the

samples. Each air conditioning unit was set in medium mode and contains one

sample of activated carbon. Each sample was exposed for 48 hours (2 days).

After the allotted time of application, the samples were collected by the

researcher.

The researcher weighed the applied activated carbon using the triple

balance beam. The data were gathered and put into results.

The researcher used the t-Test for Correlated samples formula to analyze

and evaluate the results.

5
Results

Table A. This shows the findings of the experiment

MASS MASS
Before After D D²
Trial
application application (Xa-Xb)
(Xa)grams (Xb)grams

1 250 251.08 -1.08 1.1664

2 250 251.39 -1.39 1.9321

3 250 250.98 -0.98 0.9604

4 250 252.81 -2.81 7.8961

5 250 253.01 -3.01 9.0601

6 250 251.07 -1.07 1.1449

7 250 251.85 -1.85 3.4225

8 250 253.02 -3.02 9.1204

9 250 252.13 -2.13 4.5369

10 250 252.25 -2.25 5.0625

11 250 251.71 -1.71 2.9241

12 250 250.93 -0.93 0.8649

13 250 251.73 -1.73 2.9929

14 250 251.65 -1.65 2.7225

15 250 251.79 -1.79 3.2041

∑Xa = 3750 ∑Xb=3777.40 ΣD=-27.40 ΣD2=57.0108

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 D - the difference between the Xa and Xb.
=
D2 - the squares of the difference between Xa and Xb.
= - the mean difference between Xa and Xb.
= -1.83 n - sample size

t-Test for Correlated samples

α = .01
t = -10.05
df = n-1

= 15-1

= 14
2.624 10.05
t0.01 = 2.624

Analysis and Discussion

Table B. Comparison of the means of the masses of activated carbon

Variable n Mean |tc|-value Significance

Before 15 250 10.05 S

After 15 251.83
application

Level of Significance = 0.01 S = Significant

Degrees of freedom (df) = 14 Critical Region ≥ 2.624, α=0.01

Comparing the means of the masses of activated carbon before and after

its application, the t-Test formula was utilized. Since the |t|-computed value

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of 10.05 is beyond the t-critical value of 2.624 at 0.01 level of significance

with 14 degrees of freedom, the null hypothesis is rejected in favor of the

research hypothesis. This means that there is a significant difference between

the means of the masses of activated carbon samples before and after its

application. This implies that the activated carbon from coconut shell is

effective due to the increased mass of the air filter after the application.

Conclusion

Based on the findings and statistical analysis as proofs, the researcher had

drawn the following conclusion:

These data conclusively indicated that activated carbon from coconut shell is

capable of filtrating air.

Recommendation

The researcher presented the following recommendations based upon the

findings in the study:

1. further research and experimentation of the study;

2. use of laboratory testing for further insights and maximum

beneficial use of the material in filtering; and

3. testing and applications of activated carbon air filtration

assembly in air filter industry and automotive industry and in

the household.

Bibliography

8
 Maier, C. and Elevitch, C. (2006, April). Cocos nucifera (coconut).

 Mukherjee, N. (2014, June 7). Why Coconut shell activated carbon

filters are most preferred pre-filters in the drinking water purification

Industry.

 Morosky, F. (2014). Basic Knowledge about Charcoal Filters.

 Shmrouk et al. Experimental Study on Adsorption Capacity of

Activated Carbon Pairs with Different Refrigerants, (2013).