THE VIABILITY OF LEMON (CITRUS LIMON) EXTRACT WITH AN
ACTIVE CHARCOAL AS A SUBSTITUTE
AIR FRESHENER GEL
A thesis presented to
The Faculty of the Senior High School Department
of Laguna University
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in
Research and Inquiries, Investigation
and Immersion
CARTAVIO, MARK EPHRAIM SION
DADES, JENIVIE CUSTODIO
DELOS REYES, SOPHIA ROSE SUEÑA
UMALI, NOREEN CORTEZ
VERGARA, ANDREA MARIE MOLINAR
INTRODUCTION
` Organic vapors are a major source of air pollution. They are directly responsible
for a multitude of odors, and they can also supply to the atmosphere material that may
react to form even less desirable components, such as smog. (Rowe, 2012). Exposure to
air pollution increases stress. Most of the people easily get distracted due to the ambiance
of their surroundings, many are having breathing problems because of the unpleasant
smell. The best way to get rid of these unpleasant smells is to use an air freshener, it will
make your surrounding fresh and fragrant. The smell of a pleasant aroma help to set the
mood in order to stay physically and mentally healthy.
According to Merriam-Webster, an air freshener is a device used to disperse
chemicals intended to mask or eliminate unpleasant odors. Air freshener are products
that people often use for places that has unpleasant smell. It releases fragrance that are
mostly used in homes, restrooms and other indoor areas and it is mainly used for odor
elimination. It is used by many people for the smell that it produces.
Smelling something is remarkably like the act of thinking. The mind is going to
work if someone smells odor around from place to place, setting off complex repertories
through the brain. A pleasing fragrance gives an extraordinary feeling and relaxing
sensation. It could be the reason why negative vibe turns into positive vibe like when
someone is in a bad mood and then smells an aromatic scent, it can decrease the
negative aura. A variety of compounds have been used over the past two millennia for
their abilities to create pleasant aromas or eliminate unpleasant odors.
The researchers believe that Citrus limon air freshener gel with activated
charcoal is a product that can change the not so fragrant smell in any indoor place. The
scent of lemon improves the air freshener gel because of its natural fruity aroma. The
activated charcoal neutralizes the bad odor. The said ingredients are suitable for making
a good and inexpensive air freshener gel.
Background of the Study
Filipinos are known for being well groomed. They always want to look fresh and
presentable. They act meticulously not just on their personal hygiene but also on the
surrounding that they are involved in.
One of the factors that can make the surrounding pleasant is by using air
fresheners. Air freshener is created to be used in different places to emit fragrance. This
fragrance has been used to mask odors since antiquity. Many compounds have been used
over the past two millennia for their abilities to create pleasant aromas or to eliminate
unpleasant odors. (Alioden et. al., 2014)
The researchers conducted this study to decrease the experience of using stinky
comfort rooms. The researchers want to help in preventing the bad habit of some people
who hold back their urine because of foul odors emitted from comfort rooms due to the
fact that it is dangerous for the health. The odors you smell when you are outdoors and
sometimes when you are indoors can cause temporary symptoms such as headache and
nausea. (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2015)
The study is all about the air freshener gel made up of lemon extract with an
active charcoal. Lemon extract has an aromatic smell that is appropriate for releasing
stress. Its smell is suitable to be used as an air freshener. Its aroma has a calming effect on
the brain. According to PubMed (2016), “Aromatherapy uses plant materials and
aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the
purpose of altering one’s mood, cognitive, psychological, or physical well-being.”
Activated charcoal is a charcoal that has been chemically treated to increase the
amount of oxygen it contains. The infusion of oxygen makes the charcoal more porous
thus, it has more surface area with which to absorb bad odors. Activated charcoal
neutralizes odors and it is much safer than chemical odor neutralizers. Activated charcoal
is available as loose granules, disks or embedded in filters and hanging deodorizers, so
you can place it anywhere. It can also purchase loose granules in bulk and can be used to
make simple air fresheners. (Mackenzie, 2017)
The researches want do this product with the absence of harmful chemicals in
order to provide safety while using it. According to American College of Allergy, Asthma
and Immunology (ACAAI), home fragrance products including air freshener contain
volatile organic compounds (VOC) that include such nasty chemicals as formaldehyde,
petroleum distillates, and esters. (Walsh, 2011)
The researchers want to accomplish a less expensive yet safe product and so they
conducted this research.
Theoretical Framework
Robert Brown investigated the way in which pollen acted during impregnation.
One of the plants he studied under the microscope was Clarkia pulchella, a wildflower
found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The pollen of this plant contains
granules varying from about five to six micrometers in linear dimension. It is these
granules, not the whole pollen grains, upon which Brown made his observation in his
microscope. He wrote “While examining the form of these particles immersed in water, I
observed many of them very evidently in motion. These motions were such as to satisfy
me, after frequently repeated observation, that they arose neither from currents in the
fluid, nor from its gradual evaporation, but belonged to the particle itself'. This inherent,
incessant motion of small particles is nowadays called Brownian motion.
In a citation conducted by Norman R. Rowe, published in Odor Control with
Activated Charcoal, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association (2012), he stated
that an air pollution can be caused by particulate matter, such as dust; vapor or gas, such
as organic solvent vapors; or a combination of vapor and particles, such as smoke.
Activated charcoal may be used to remove the vapor component of polluted air.
Adsorption is not in itself a method of disposal, but a means of concentration— so that
the contaminants removed will be in a form that will facilitate disposal.
A high quality lemon extract is actually a mixture of natural products from
lemon (lemon juice concentrate, lemon oil, lemon peel concentrate, etc) and alcohol. It
contains plenty of oily active ingredients like limonene and others. Besides, organic
lemon extract is considered one of the best source of natural vitamins, including vitamin
C, vitamin B1, B2, and B3. It can be a very effective and quite safe natural remedy to
stimulate appetite, improve digestion and prevent minor digestive problems like
constipation, indigestion, and others. (Herbal Lifestyle, 2012)
This study- the viability of lemon extract with an active charcoal as a substitute
air freshener gel is based upon the following theories that is presented above
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
Ideas on how to The extraction of An air freshener
mix the active Lemon that absorbs foul
charcoal with the odor and provides
lemon extract. The mixture of aromatic blend
lemon extract and that uses Lemon
Watch related active charcoal in a extract with an
videos about the gel. active charcoal as
steps on making a substitute for the
air freshener gel. Used the extract of
chemical based
the lemon fruit
Review a study with an active freshener used in
the classroom and
and literature that charcoal to replace
is related to air the chemical based comfort room of
LU 12.
freshener gel using air freshener.
organic materials.
Testing the
fragrance and the
effectiveness of
lemon extract with
an active charcoal
as an air freshener
gel.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study aims to know if Lemon (Citrus Limon) extract with an active charcoal
can be used as an alternative air freshener gel in Laguna University Room 12
Specifically, it aims to answer these following questions:
1. The efficiency of lemon extract with an active charcoal as an air freshener.
1.1 Comfort Room at the back of LU 12
1.2 Classroom in LU 12
2. Number of days will the fragrance of air freshener last.
2.1 Comfort Room at the back of LU 12
2.2 Classroom in LU 12
3. The feedback of the air freshener to those who will use the comfort room and
classroom.
3.1 Students
3.2 Teachers
3.3 School Maintenance
Null Hypothesis
The air freshener gel can’t be a substitute to the commercial air freshener and it
can’t absorb the unpleasant odors.
Significance of the study
This air freshener gel will give appropriate scent. It can also absorb the unpleasant
smell. This study about the viability of lemon extract with an active charcoal as a
substitute air freshener gel will benefit the following:
STUDENTS. This study will help the students who are using LU 12 on focusing more in
their lessons. The unpleasant smell of the surroundings may distract the students attention
during class hours, with the use of air freshener made from lemon extract with an active
charcoal it will give them a relaxing scent that is conducive for the teaching learning
process .
TEACHERS. This study will help the teachers who are teaching in LU 12 to teach
without distractions due to the unpleasant smells. Some of the teachers are stressed
because of students, paper works and their ambiance specifically the smell of the
surrounding. The air freshener made from lemon extract with an active charcoal will be
able for them to lessen their stress.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE. This study will help the school maintenance who are
cleaning the LU 12 to lessen their cleaning time. The pleasant smell will provide them
satisfaction and also the people who will use the LU 12 after cleaning it. They will enjoy
cleaning the comfort room because it will stay fragrant.
FUTURE RESEARCHERS. This study will provide them information as references.
This can be their basis for their research that is related to air freshener made from lemon
extract with an active charcoal. It will give them ideas and expand their knowledge about
their own research.
OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of this study is to:
1. Determine the efficiency of lemon extract with an active charcoal as an air freshener in
the comfort room at the back of LU 12 and in its classroom.
2. Document the number of days that the air freshener last.
3. Consider and reflect on the feedback of those who will use the comfort room and
classroom.
Scope and Limitation
This study focuses on the viability of lemon extract with an active charcoal as a
substitute air freshener gel and whether it will or will not last so long as it is absorbing
the foul odor while releasing an aromatic blend.
The research will be conducted in Laguna University located in Laguna Sports
Complex Brgy. Bubukal Santa Cruz, Laguna. The respondents of this study is only
limited to those who are using and cleaning the LU 12 classroom and comfort room. The
researchers will place the product into the classroom and comfort room of LU 12 and
observe the diffusion of the fragrance and the absorption of unnecessary odors. The
researchers will also document the whole process until the products are consumed.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Activated Charcoal. It neutralizes odors safely than the other chemicals that usually
used in other air freshener. It can also absorb the bad odors so that it can’t mix on the
smell that the air freshener gives.
Air Freshener. A pleasing and relaxing smell used to diminish unpleasant odor. It can be
placed in the comfort room, classroom and in other indoor areas.
Air Freshener Gel. A kind of air freshener that is gel based. It is working by means of
evaporation.
Classroom. It is where the students learn different knowledge. A learning space that the
air freshener gel can be tested too.
Comfort Room. It is the place where we take a bath and exert waste in our body. It is
also one of the important area in the school, buildings and houses. It is where the air
freshener gel will be tested.
Denatured Alcohol. It is a kind of alcohol that is use to easily diffuse the gel. It serves as
the base for the air freshener that the researcher will be make.
Lemon. A kind of yellow citrus fruit that has an acid and aromatic scent. It is the scent
that researchers will use for air freshener gel.
Olfactometer. It is the way of measuring the intensity of the scent. The human panelist
will be the source of information on how much range does the air freshener gel can
occupy.
