12 STEM - Sinai
Group 3
Experimental Research - Main RRL
Potentiality of Calamansi Peel (Citrofortunella microcarpa) Extract as a Degreasing Agent
Overview (Brief Description of your Main RRL)
Title: Making Detergents from Organic Waste Products
Authors: Hau, T. (2024)
The study focuses on utilizing organic waste, particularly citrus lemon peels to produce
detergents and soaps. By combining lemon peel with other natural ingredients, the process
produces natural cleaning agents containing compounds like ethyl alcohol and acetic acid,
which are effective at breaking down grease and dirt. The research highlights various processes
for making detergents from organic waste, aiming to reduce environmental pollution while
promoting sustainable waste management.
● There’s no stated phytochemical findings, minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC), and mechanism of action in the study.
Plant used in the Main RRL
Lemon (Citrus limon) peel contains high amounts of citric acid, essential oils, and natural
antibacterial compounds. In the study, it was combined with other citrus peels to enhance the
cleaning power of the detergent. Lemon peel is traditionally used for:
● Cutting through grease due to its acidity
● Adding a fresh, clean scent to soaps and detergents
Method of Extraction and Solvent for Extraction
● Fermentation method using plant-based waste (e.g., citrus peels)
● Solvent/medium: clean water, brown cane sugar (as fermentation substrate)
● Duration: 40–45 days for grapefruit peel detergent production
● Produces ethyl alcohol and acetic acid naturally during fermentation
How many treatments (concentration) and trials?
The study tested three treatments with specific concentrations
Treatment C – Eco-enzyme from citrus peels
● Citrus peel : water : brown sugar ratio = 3 : 10 : 1
● Fermentation time = 40–90 days
Each treatment was tested in three trials to evaluate cleaning effectiveness, foamability, and
scent.
Which is the most effective concentration?
- For waste frying oil soap, 15% orange peel extract was found optimal for strong
decontamination, stable performance, and gentleness on the skin.
- For grapefruit peel detergent, the effectiveness is attributed to fermentation completion,
producing noticeable cleaning agents (ethyl alcohol, acetic acid).
Parameters - How is it done?
- Cleaning liquid: citrus peels cleaned, fermented with sugar and water for 40–45 days,
filtered, and bottled.
- Soap production: orange peel extract combined with waste frying oil, saponified under
optimized conditions (70°C, specific oil ratios, 15% extract concentration).
- Products tested for cleaning properties from different stains such as ketchup, oil, coffee,
and soy sauce in a singular plate.
Apparatus to be used in conducting the parameters
● Fermentation containers
● Filtering cloth/sieve
● Bottling containers
● Heating setup for saponification (soap process)
● Molds for soap shaping
● Drying racks (for solid soaps)
Recommendations of the Proponents of your Main RRL
The study recommends adopting citrus peel-based detergents for their multi-purpose
cleaning potential. It encourages further research to refine processes, evaluate large-scale
production feasibility, and optimize fermentation for stronger cleaning efficiency.
Research Gap
The research presents practical processes but lacks detailed quantitative evaluation of
cleaning efficiency compared to commercial products. Limited focus on different concentrations
and trials for grapefruit-based detergents leaves room for experimental validation.
Overview (Brief Description of your Supporting RRL)
Title: The Effectiveness of Pomelo Peel (Citrus grandis) Extract as a Dishwashing Liquid
Detergent
Authors: Alanquihan, M. et al. (2022)
This RRL investigates the effectiveness of using pomelo peel extract rather than other
citrus fruits as a natural degreasing agent in dishwashing liquid. This compares various
formulations with commercial detergents, evaluating cleaning power, foamability, scent, texture,
and surface cleanliness across different ware types (ceramic, stainless, glass). The pomelo is
commonly found in the Philippines. The pomelo extract was added to the dishwashing liquid for
its natural cleansing and deodorizing properties such as citric acid that acts as a natural
degreaser and breaks down fats and oils, d-limonene functions as natural solvent that dissolves
stubborn greases and its antibacterial properties reduces microbial presence in the dishes,
wherein these contents help remove grease and add a fresh citrus scent to the formulation,
making it a potential natural substitute for chemical ingredients.
● There’s no stated phytochemical findings, minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC), and mechanism of action in the study.
The study concludes that pomelo peel extract can be used as an effective dishwashing
liquid, showing an acceptable performance in terms of the foamability, scent, and cleaning ability
of the dishwashing liquid across different surfaces it was tested on.
Plant used in the Supporting RRL
Citrus grandis or known as Pomelo peels were used in this study.
Pomelo is a large citrus fruit with a thick peel and a strong citrus smell. In the study, its
peel was the one used to make a natural dishwashing liquid because of its cleaning properties.
It belongs to the Rutaceae family and is commonly grown in tropical places like the Philippines.
The researchers chose pomelo because it’s easy to find and showed good results in cleaning
greasy dishes.
Pomelo peel is traditionally used for:
- as a natural cleaner to remove grease
- leave a fresh smell because of strong scent
Its ability to be a natural cleaner to remove grease makes it a promising candidate for being a
degreasing agent as highlighted in the study by Alanquihan, M. et al. (2022).
Method of Extraction and Solvent for Extraction
In the study, the extraction process was simple and did not use any chemical solvents.
The researchers conducted the extraction through:
- Peeled the pomelo fruit, then blended the peel to break it down.
- The blended peel was then boiled with water to release the extract and remove
any foul odor.
- After boiling, the liquid extract was cooled and used directly as part of the
dishwashing liquid formulation.
This shows that the study used a water-based extraction method with heat involvement also,
and did not involve any alcohol or other chemical solvents to extract the pomelo peel.
How many treatments (concentration) and trials?
The researchers tested three different concentrations of pomelo peel extract mixed with
dishwashing ingredients to see how effective each one was in cleaning dishes. The
treatments were:
- Set A: 200 ml pomelo extract, 100 ml SLES gel, 3 ml essential oil
- Set B: 100 ml pomelo extract, 200 ml SLES gel, 5 ml essential oil
- Set C: 150 ml pomelo extract, 250 ml SLES gel, 8 ml essential oil
Each formulation was tested on three types of dishware (ceramic, stainless steel, and glass)
with some greasy food residue. This allowed the researchers to compare the cleaning power,
foaming ability, and scent of each treatment under similar conditions.
Which is the most effective concentration?
From the study, the effectiveness of each pomelo peel extract formulation was evaluated
based on its cleaning ability, foam production, scent, and appearance after usage. While the
paper did not directly state which concentration was the best, but results suggest that the
formulation with higher amounts of SLES (sodium laureth sulphate) gel and pomelo extract
(such as the Set C) performed better in terms of foam and scent, while still maintaining a good
cleaning power.
Parameters - How is it done?
The study investigated the cleaning effectiveness of pomelo peel extract when used in
homemade dishwashing liquid. Three different formulations were prepared using various
amounts of pomelo extract, SLES gel, and essential oil. Each mixture was tested on three types
of plates (ceramic, stainless steel, and glass) that had visible grease or food residue.
To assess cleaning performance, the researchers observed and compared the:
- Foam produced during washing
- Ease of grease removal
- Final appearance and scent of the plate
These observations were done visually and manually without any specialized instruments. The
results were compared across treatments to determine which formula performed best in
practical dishwashing.
Apparatus to be used in conducting the parameters
● Kitchen knife and peeler – to remove and collect pomelo peel from the fruit
● Blender – to grind pomelo peels into smaller pieces for extraction
● Cooking pot and stove – to boil the blended pomelo peel and extract its juice using
heat
● Measuring cups and beakers – to measure exact amounts of extract, SLES gel, and
essential oil for each formulation
● Plastic containers or mixing bowls – to prepare and store each dishwashing liquid
mixture
● Dishwashing sponge – to apply the dishwashing solution during testing
● Three types of plates (ceramic, stainless steel, glass) – to test the grease-removal
capability
● Scoring sheet or observation checklist – to rate foamability, cleaning performance,
and scent after washing
● Personal protective equipment (gloves, apron) – for hygiene and safety during
preparation and testing
Recommendations of the Proponents of your Main RRL
The proponents of the study on pomelo (Citrus grandis) peel extract as a dishwashing
liquid recommends conducting further testing using a wider range of formulations to determine
the most effective ratio for cleaning performance, foamability, and scent. They also encouraged
increasing the number of trials and participants to gain more reliable and generalized results. In
addition, they suggest exploring the long-term storage stability of the formulated dishwashing
liquid and comparing its effectiveness against more other brands of commercial dish soaps. It
also recommends considering testing pure pomelo extract without SLES to assess its
effectiveness as a fully natural product. For future research, they propose investigating other
natural ingredients that may enhance the performance of pomelo-based cleaners without relying
on synthetic components.
Research Gap
While the study showed that pomelo (Citrus grandis) peel extract can be formulated into
a dishwashing liquid with acceptable cleaning performance, it is primarily focused on visual and
user-based evaluation such as foamability, scents, and grease removal. The research did not
investigate the chemical composition of the extract or the presence of specific bioactive
compounds responsible for its cleaning potential. Furthermore, the study did not assess
antibacterial or antimicrobial properties, leaving a gap in understanding how effective the extract
may be against bacteria or pathogens commonly found on dishware. There is also a lack of data
on long-term stability, shelf life, and consumer safety, which limits the potential for real-world
product development.
