Imrad_research.docx

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |1

Rice Hull, an Effective Adsorbent for Car Exhaust Fumes

By: Kerby D. Rubinas John Dylan R. Aranzado Aeron B. Asejo Marcy M. Lagua Angelo S. Reyes Eliniel I. Valdez of 10- Einstein

Manuel A. Roxas High School Research Submitted for the Science Congress Mr. Arjay Advincula Sept. 9, 2015

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |2

Abstract:

The purpose of this research is to find a cheap way to mitigate pollution problem that is caused by the irresponsible dumping of toxic and disease-causing pollutants into the air from poorly managed exhaust engine system of vehicles. This study attempted to alleviate the worsening problem of air contamination. The preparation of materials for the project began with collecting a sack of rice hulls from Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Other materials like the 30 cm by 20 cm metal sheet and 5 pieces of clamp were bought from Ragudo’s Hardware in Pandacan. As stopper, a small wire mesh of 7 cm by 12 cm is was also prepared. The metal was made into a 17 cm long tube, riveted and with 5 pieces of clamps on the side to hold the ends firmly together and to make adjustments of the pipe diameter easy, while connecting it to the exhaust pipe of the test vehicle. A small sardines can with wire mesh stopper at one of the tube’s ends was loosely filled with rice hulls to facilitate the smooth flow of exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe to the gadget. It was inserted into the main pipe of the rice hull filter device (RHFD). As the components of RHFD was completed, and set the device was tried out by exposing the filter to the exhaust gas of the test vehicle for two 15 minute-tests with controlled number of revolutions (120 revs each). The readings from QROTECH QRO-401: Automotive Emission Analyzer were monitored and recorded for analysis. The results showed a considerable decrease in the count of pollutants released from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe.

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |3 INTRODUCTION Industrialization creates alarming problems that damage man and his environment. The invention of automobiles for example though proven useful to man, poses risks in the health of an individual. One could develop lung diseases such as Asthma, Emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Heart diseases like Coronary Artery Disease or Congestive Heart Failure. These are just one of the many ailments one could develop just by inhaling polluted air. Car Exhaust Fumes are the main reason why vehicles contribute to air pollution, the dangerous components contained in that said fumes are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which contributes mainly to global warming and air pollution, Carbon Monoxide (CO) due to incomplete combustion, Hydrocarbons from unburnt fuel, Nitrogen Oxides and Particulate matter. In order to lessen the emission of harmful gases, there are exhaust filters sold in the market, they really are effective when it comes to filtration of carbon emissions but the main problem for this its affordability with its expensive prices. Companies are finding ways to create a filter, but the problem is, when it is effective, it comes with a high value of money, but with low price comes with lower effectiveness. But still, the price range of the said commercial filter ranges from roughly P,700- P3,000, really too high for a regular consumer to buy according to http://www.aliexpress.com/price/car-exhaust-filter_price.html. The aim of this research is to create an alternative, eco- friendly and an affordable car exhaust filter using rice hull as its filter for adsorbing exhaust gases from vehicles, lessening the emission of vehicle exhaust carbon fumes that contributes to air pollution. Why rice hulls? According to http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S151614392010000200011&script=sci_arttext, Rice husk is an agricultural residue which accounts for 20% of the 649.7 million tons of rice produced annually worldwide. The Philippines is an agricultural country and corresponding to it, sacks of rice is harvested every year. The produced partially burnt husk from the milling plants when used as a fuel also contributes to pollution and efforts are being made to overcome this environmental issue by utilizing this material as a supplementary cementing material. The chemical composition of rice husk is found to vary from one sample to another due to the differences in the type of paddy, crop year, climate and geographical conditions. And also In China, rice husks have a large quantity of production generated as a byproduct of rice processing. Rice husk is a kind of fibrous material containing a huge amount of silicon with the content being approximately 96.34% [23]. In addition, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are the main organic compounds of rice husk. This composition of rice husk makes it possible to be regarded as an adsorbent according to http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/496878/. Specifically, this study aimed to test the effectiveness of rice hulls as a filter gadget. Specifically, this investigation was set to answer the ff. questions. 

Was there a considerable decrease in the amount of air pollutants released from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe without RHFD and that with the use of RHFD?

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |4 Hypothesis Null 1. There is no considerable difference between the carbon emissions released directly from the car exhaust and that of the carbon exhaust from the rice hull filter. 2. Varying the amounts of rice hull inside the exhaust filter does not affect the increasing/decreasing of the carbon emissions from the exhaust pipe. Alternative 1. There is considerable difference between the carbon emissions released directly from the car exhaust and that of the carbon exhaust from the zeolite filter. 2. Varying the amounts of rice hull inside the exhaust filter does not affect the increasing/decreasing of the carbon emissions from the exhaust pipe.

If rice hull has the ability to adsorb oil from oil spillage in water without absorbing water/liquid, then it can adsorb carbon and other gas emissions from car exhaust fumes given it is in gas state.

Significance of the Study Given the chance, the rice hull could be an effective way to reduce Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other gases released from vehicle’s car exhaust pipe. It could also offer an affordable alternative for an expensive commercial exhaust filters used in vehicles nowadays. Further, this study can be of great help to reduce diseases that is associated with air pollution. Scope and Limitation This research focused only on the possibility of using the adsorbing property of rice hulls to filter/purify exhaust gas that are released from poorly managed engine/exhaust system of vehicles. The research does not involve the length of effectivity of the rice hull to adsorb the car exhaust gas fumes.

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |5 Definition of Terms: 1. Adsorption- is a process that occurs when a gas or liquid solute accumulates on the surface of a solid or a liquid (adsorbent), forming a molecular or atomic film (the adsorbate). It is different from absorption, in which a substance diffuses into a liquid or solid to form a solution. The term sorption encompasses both processes, while desorption is the reverse process. 2. Contaminants- is a contaminant is any potentially undesirable substance (physical, chemical or biological). It usually refers to the introduction of harmful human-made substances. 3. Filter-is a porous device for removing impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it. 4. Hydrocarbon- an organic compound (as acetylene or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens. 5. Genetic Modification- The modification of the genes of a plant or animal to produce a desired result. The cutting up and joining together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics.

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |6 METHODOLOGY The flow of the investigation is illustrated below: Collection of Rice Hulls and other Materials Preparation of the Gadget

The Frame

The Hull Filter

Installation and Completion of the RHFD

Testing and Data Processing Procurement of Materials The preparation of materials for the project began with collecting a sack of rice hulls from Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Other materials like the 38 by 20 metal sheet and 5 pieces of clamp were bought from Ragudo’s Hardware in Pandacan. As stopper, a small wire mesh of 7 cm by 7 cm is was also bought. Preparation of Materials The metal was made into a 38 cm long tube, riveted and with 5 pieces of clamps on the side to hold the ends firmly together and to make adjustments of the pipe diameter easy, while connecting it to the exhaust pipe of the test vehicle. A small sardines can with wire mesh stopper at one of the tube’s ends was loosely filled with rice hulls to facilitate the smooth flow of exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe to the gadget. It was inserted into the main pipe of the rice hull filter device (RHFD). Testing The vehicle used was tested at the MTM Emission Testing Center where the test vehicle exhaust gas was monitored for pollutant content. In the first phases of the investigation, the test vehicle was allowed to expel gas without the use of RHFD. The count of pollutant released was monitored from the QROTECH QRO-401: Automotive Emission Analyzer. The test vehicle was tested for 15 minutes with controlled number of revolutions (60 revs). To test the effectiveness of RHFD, the same procedure was done but with the use of the device. The data were tabulated for comparison and analysis

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |7 The pollutants emitted by the exhaust pipe before the installation of RHFD. Expelled Gas HC

Highest Amount Released 262 ppm

Lowest Amount Released 190 ppm

Average Amount Released 226 ppm

O

9.58 %

9.20 %

9.39 %

AFR

A18.5 NOx

A18.2 NOx

A18.35 NOx

CO:

7.1 %

6.31 %

6.705 %

CO2

6.37 %

6.0 %

6.185 %

λ

1.258

1.237

1.248

The pollutants emitted by the exhaust pipe after the installation of RHFD. Expelled Gas HC

Highest Amount Released 102 ppm

Lowest Amount Released 97 ppm

Average Amount Released 99 ppm

O

12 %

11.81 %

11.9 %

AFR

A24.4 NOx

A25 NOx

A24.7 NOx

CO

3.7 %

3.5 %

3.3 %

CO2

3.92 %

3.01 %

3.465 %

λ

1.673

1.686

1.7

The comparison of the pollutants expelled from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe with and without the use of RHFD. Expelled Gas

Average Amount Released Before Installing RHFD

Average Amount Released After Installing RHFD

HC

226 ppm

99 ppm

O

9.39 %

11.9 %

AFR

A18.35 NOx

A24.7 NOx

CO

6.705 %

3.3 %

CO2

6.185 %

3.465 %

λ

1.248

1.7

Rice Hull as Adsorbent |8

Results and Discussion The carbon emissions were reduced from an average of 6.705 % to a value of 3.3 %. This showed a significant difference of carbon emissions of the test vehicle. There was also a considerable decline in the average emission of hydrocarbon from 226 ppm to 99 ppm. Carbon Monoxide emission was reduced almost 50% as shown by the Automotive Emission Analyzer. But the only two that increased are the Air fuel ratio which an average of A18.35 NOx rose to A24.7 NOx indicates that it is lean, based on the stoichiometric value, wherein Lean mixtures are more efficient but may cause engine damage or premature wear and produce higher levels of nitrogen oxides. Oxygen emission also rose from an average of 9.38% to an average of 11.9%. There really is an evidence that rice hull could adsorb the carbon composed fumes and filter it when released. Based on the given data of analysis and tests, rice hull has the capability to adsorb carbon and other gases from the exhaust of the test vehicle with great performance. Varying the amount of rice hull contained in the device didn’t show significant effect on the percentage of carbon emissions emitted by the vehicle. It showed a significant effect on the carbon emissions but given the results however showed the failure of the test vehicle to pass the emission test primarily because there was a great need to replace the oil which was needing replacement for a long time. Fine tuning was also greatly recommended. The following recommendations are offered as possible ways to improve this study 1. Try washing the rice hull to determine how long it can be used as a filter. 2. Check if the RHFD affects the fuel consumption of the vehicle. 3. Try other local materials as filters.