SIP - Chapter 1

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Philippines continually increases its efforts in the attempt to develop more
energy resources. Consequently, its demand for fuel and energy emarkably
intensifies thus spending its dollar reserve in importing fossil fuel worth
millions of dollars just to ease the energy crisis it is facing today. This
unbalanced trade brings dramatic increase of prices of its basic commodities
which can be considered a big burden to most of its people who can hardly
meet both ends in their daily survival.
The country’s high dependence on imported fuel is limiting its financial
resources that could be otherwise spent on viable developmental projects to
improve the health and lifestyle of the Filipinos.
Ethanol is largely used as a motor fuel and fuel additive. It is also
considered an important industrial ingredient and has widespread use as a
base chemical for other organic compounds and ethanol is used in medical
wipes and in most common antibacterial hand sanitizer gels. Ethanol can also
be used as an antidote for poisoning by other, more toxic alcohols, in
particular methanol and ethylene glycol. It is found in paints, tinctures,
markers, and personal care products such as perfumes, deodorants and also
used as alcoholic beverages and solvent in cooking, such as in vodka sauce
(Myers, 2007).
Given this outlook, the researcher came up with this timely and very
relevant study to explore further the study of ethanol production from
harvested corn stalks which are considered waste products after harvesting.
Corn is always available here in Cebu. As there are many corn being sold here
in Cebu, so is the volume of corn stalk being wasted and dumped. It is
therefore significant to carry out this kind of investigation because in one way
or another, this research project study will help in maintaining a healthy
environment and lessening the country’s dependence on importing fuel.

Objectives:
1. To extract ethanol from corn stalks.
2. To assess the presence and measure the volume of sugar from
extracted corn stalk juice.
3. To measure and compare the ethanol yield in the various stages of
fermentation as influenced by the addition of yeast.
4. Test conduct a volatility test for the ethanol extracted from the corn
stalks.
Null Hypothesis:
Ho: There is no significant difference of ethanol yield between the
control and yeast-treated corn stalk juice.
Ha: There is a significant difference of ethanol yield between the
control and yeast-treated corn stalk juice.

Significance of the Study
The current energy crisis is one of the major contributors to this research.
The speedy increase of commodities in the global market confuse consumers
where to get extra income to this added burden. It is therefore a necessity to
remedy to the existing present crisis where consumers are now crabby due to
the great effects on various items. As a way out, this study aims to conduct a
test on the feasibility of ethanol in corn stalks where ethanol is extremely
significant nowadays. The largest single use of ethanol is as a motor fuel and
fuel additive, with this study this gives everyone an overview that after
harvesting corn, instead of throwing the stalks which can only add to the bulk
of waste in the environment, these waste can be converted into something
very vital to everyone which is the ethanol. This study will yield information
regarding the use of harvested corn stalks. Consequently, the result of this
study would be very useful because this can be considered as an initial phase
to scale up the production of ethanol from corn stalks, and this study can also
be an avenue in solving the present problem on energy.

Definition of Terms:
Bagasse = corn stalks refuse after crushing.
Corn = plants that yield grain or maize.
Corn stalks = the stem or body of corn plant.
Distillation = is the process in which a liquid or vapor mixture of two or
more substances is separated into its component fractions of desired purity by
the application or removal of heat.
Extracted Corn Stalks Juice = is the juice collected from corn stalks after
extraction.
Fermentation = is the process of deriving energy from the oxidation of
organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, and using an endogenous
electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound, as opposed to
respiration where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor,
such as oxygen, via an electron transport chain.
Refractometer = an instrument used to measure the level of sugar.
Micro mill or Juice Extractor = an instrument used to crush the corn stalks
to extract the juice.
Yeast = a fungus that causes alcoholic fermentation

Scope and Delimitations:
This study will be conducted in the science laboratory of University of San
Carlos - South Campus and in the residences of the researchers here in Cebu
City. The researchers will be seeking support from the DOST, Cebu City, in
the provision of the equipment and materials needed for the experimentation.

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CHAPTER I

Background of the Study

Philippines continually increases its efforts in the attempt to develop more

unbalanced trade brings dramatic increase of prices of its basic commodities

meet both ends in their daily survival.

The country’s high dependence on imported fuel is limiting its financial

resources that could be otherwise spent on viable developmental projects to

improve the health and lifestyle of the Filipinos.

Ethanol is largely used as a motor fuel and fuel additive. It is also

considered an important industrial ingredient and has widespread use as a

be used as an antidote for poisoning by other, more toxic alcohols, in

particular methanol and ethylene glycol. It is found in paints, tinctures,

used as alcoholic beverages and solvent in cooking, such as in vodka sauce

relevant study to explore further the study of ethanol production from

in Cebu, so is the volume of corn stalk being wasted and dumped. It is

or another, this research project study will help in maintaining a healthy

environment and lessening the country’s dependence on importing fuel.

1. To extract ethanol from corn stalks.

2. To assess the presence and measure the volume of sugar from

extracted corn stalk juice.

3. To measure and compare the ethanol yield in the various stages of

fermentation as influenced by the addition of yeast.

Ho: There is no significant difference of ethanol yield between the

control and yeast-treated corn stalk juice.

Ha: There is a significant difference of ethanol yield between the

control and yeast-treated corn stalk juice.

The speedy increase of commodities in the global market confuse consumers

where to get extra income to this added burden. It is therefore a necessity to

test on the feasibility of ethanol in corn stalks where ethanol is extremely

of waste in the environment, these waste can be converted into something

be an avenue in solving the present problem on energy.

Bagasse = corn stalks refuse after crushing.

Corn = plants that yield grain or maize.

Corn stalks = the stem or body of corn plant.

Distillation = is the process in which a liquid or vapor mixture of two or

more substances is separated into its component fractions of desired purity by

the application or removal of heat.

Fermentation = is the process of deriving energy from the oxidation of

organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, and using an endogenous

electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound, as opposed to

respiration where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor,

such as oxygen, via an electron transport chain.

Refractometer = an instrument used to measure the level of sugar.

to extract the juice.

Yeast = a fungus that causes alcoholic fermentation

This study will be conducted in the science laboratory of University of San

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