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Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Schools Division of Tarlac Province
CORAZON C AQUINO HIGH SCHOOL
Pob. 3, Gerona, Tarlac

EFFECTIVITY OF SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria trifasciata) AS AN EXHAUST FILTER

FOR SELECTED DIESEL AND GASOLINE VEHICLES

An Investigatory Project
Presented to the Board of Judges to the
2018 Division Science Investigatory Project Competition
Physical Science -Individual Entry
Schools Division of Tarlac Province
San Roque, Tarlac

RENZ DERICK V. SIMBULAN

Proponent

October 2018
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Intel ISEF Official Abstract and Certification

EFFECTIVITY OF SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria Project ID

trifasciata) AS AN EXHAUST FILTER
FOR SELECTED DIESEL AND GASOLINE Category
VEHICLES Pick one only—mark an
“X” in box at right
Renz Derick V. Simbulan
Proponent  Animal Sciences
 Behavioral and
Corazon C Aquino High School Social Sciences
Gerona, Tarlac, Philippines  Biochemistry
 Biomedical and
Health Sciences
Abstract
 Biomedical
Engineering
This study was conducted to determine the
effectivity of Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) would  Cellular and
show great potential as an exhaust filter for selected diesel Molecular Biology
and gasoline vehicles.  Chemistry
 Computational
Two (2) treatments were prepared during the Biology and
experiment. Each treatment contains different amount of Bioinformatics
slightly dried snake leaves and well-dried leaves which are  Earth and
50, 100, and 150 grams. In this research, every treatment Environmental
has a total of 300g (50g for R1,100g for R2, and 150g for Sciences
R3) snake plant leaves inserted on the exhaust for about 5  Embedded Systems
minutes and know what kind of snake leaf treatment would  Energy—Chemical
be most effective in filtering the smoke emitted by selected  Energy—Physical
diesel and gasoline vehicles using an emission test  Engineering
machine. Mechanics
 Environmental
Based on the findings, upon instalment of filter Engineering
device, as the volume of snake plant leaves treatment  Materials Science
increases, the smoke emitted from the tricycle, SUV car and  Mathematics
jeepney vehicles decreases .
 Microbiology
All of the treatments have significant differences in  Physics and
filtering each vehicle using slightly dried snake leaves and Astronomy
well-dried .The well- dried snake leaves is the most  Plant Sciences
effective in filtering selected diesel and gasoline vehicles  Robotics and
exhaust. Intelligent Machines
 Systems Software
 Translational
Medical Sciences
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1. As a part of this project, the student directly handled, manipulated, or interacted with (check
all that apply)

 human participants potentially hazardous biological agents

 vertebrate animals microorganisms rDNA tissue

2. This abstract describes only procedures performed by me/us, reflects my/our own
independent research and represents one year’s work only. yes no

3. I/We worked or used equipment in a regulated research institution or industrial setting.

yes no

4. This project is a continuation of previous research. yes no

5. My display board includes non-published photographs/visual depictions of humans (other

than myself):
yes no

6. I/We hereby certify that the abstract and responses to the above statements are correct and
properly reflect my/our own work. yes no
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EFFECTIVITY OF SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria trifasciata) AS AN EXHAUST FILTER

FOR SELECTED DIESEL AND GASOLINE VEHICLES

Renz Derick V. Simbulan

Corazon C Aquino High School
Gerona, Tarlac
Extended Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effectivity of Snake plant (Sansevieria

trifasciata) would show great potential as an Exhaust Filter For selected diesel and gasoline

vehicles.

Sansevieria trifasciata is commonly called "mother-in-law's tongue" or "snake plant",

because of the shape and sharp margins of its leaves. The NASA Clean Air Study found S.

trifasciata has air purification qualities, removing 4 of the 5 main toxins. It

exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide using the crassulacean acid metabolism process, unique

because few plant species have adapted it. It allows them to withstand drought.

Two (2) treatments were prepared during the experiment. Each treatment contains

different amount of slightly dried snake leaves and well-dried leaves which are 50, 100, and

150 grams. In this research, every treatment has a total of 300g (50g for replicate 1, 100g for

replicate 2, and 150g for replicate 3) snake plant leaves inserted on the exhaust for about 5

minutes and know what kind of leaf treatment would be more effective on cleaning the smoke

emitted by diesel and gasoline vehicles using an emission test machine.

Based on the findings, all of the treatments have significant differences in filtering

each vehicle using slightly dried snake leaves and well-dried .The well- dried snake leaves is

the more effective in filtering selected diesel and gasoline vehicles exhaust.

Keywords: Effectivity, Slightly and Well-dried Snake plant leaves, Exhaust filter,Vehicles
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i

INTEL ISEF OFFICIAL ABSTRACT AND ii

CERTIFICATION

EXTENDED ABSTRACT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

INTRODUCTION 1

Statement of the Problem 1

Hypothesis/es 2
Significance of the Study 2
Scope and Delimitation 3
Materials and Funding 3

METHODOLOGY 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5

Conclusions 10
Recommendations 11

REFERENCES 12

DOCUMENTATION 13

APPENDICES 15

Intel ISEF Forms

Research Log

INTRODUCTION
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Air pollution is one of the major problems in our country. Cars and Trucks are one of the

leading causes. It emits harmful chemicals in the air such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,

sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. In the increasing number of people who

use cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles the more toxics are being emit and are trap in the

atmosphere.

In line with the previous study conducted by Verde (2015), Madre de Cacao, Camachile

and Ipil-Ipil leaves are proven to lower or reduce the pollutants emitted by Motor vehicles who

use Gasoline. The results showed that the three filter medium were able to reduce the density of

smoke, and lower the shade of its color. (Verde, 2015)

Making an alternative filter for vehicles that uses diesel which is known to produce

higher pollutants than vehicles who use gasoline can give a lot of help in the depleting

continuous growth of pollution in the air.

This study aim to determine which treatment of snake plant leaves as alternative filter

leaves would show potential as a substitute filter in selected vehicles’ exhaust. This study can

help in environmental problems. It may lessen the pollution in the air and global warming as

well.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to determine which snake plants (Sanseviera trifisciata) leaves

treatment either slightly dried or well dried leaves would be the most effective filter for selected

diesel and gasoline vehicles’ exhaust. It also sought to answer the following:
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1. Which of the snake plant leaves treatment would be the most effective as substitute

filter for selected diesel and vehicles exhaust?

2. How may the exhaust be described in terms of:

a. Selected vehicle type

b. Smokes emitted

3. What is the difference between the emitted of smoke with and without the instalment

of the filter device as the volume of treatment increases?

Hypotheses of the Study

1. The treated snake plant leaves show no potential as an alternative filter for diesel

and gasoline selected vehicles exhaust.

2. There is no significant difference between the effects of the substitute filter using

slightly dried and well-dried snake plants leaves.

Significance of the Study

The findings that are revealed by this project may become source of valuable information

to the following:

Researcher – the study will have been beneficial to the researcher to get an awareness as

well as giving chance to provide information to the society about an alternative use in promoting

an eco-friendly air exhaust by accessing natural resources.

Society - the knowledge given by this study will help the entire community to

acknowledge the presence of organic materials in the surrounding be of useful in depleting the

pollutants in the air which most of the diesel vehicles emitted.

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Car companies- through this study, the companies as well as its clienteles will have a

better knowledge on how to create innovative vehicles in which embraces eco-friendly clean air.

Scope and Limitation

The study will be conducted at EMJ Emission Testing Center in Poblacion 3, Gerona,

Tarlac from August 2018 – September 2018. Motorcycle, SUV Car and Jeeepney were tested

using an Emission testing device with and without instalment of each leaves. An instalment filter

device with different leaves plant preparation will be applied for different selected vehicles to

know which plant will be most effective as smoke filter.

The findings of the study are limited to the selected vehicle represented in the study. It is

also limited for vehicles with diesel and gasoline engine.

The study focuses on determining snake leaves plants either it is slightly dried or well-

dried shows a great potential as a substitute smoke filter for selected vehicles’ exhaust.

Materials and Funding

The following are the materials needed and used in preparation of treatment.

450g of slightly dried snake plant leaves 450g of well dried snake plant leaves

Trays Oven Screen wire

Scissor Weighing scale Used can

Emission tester

*Expenses on the said project are all personal funds.

METHODOLOGY

Experimental Design
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Two (2) different treatments were prepared that contained slightly dried and well-dried

snake plant leaves. Three replications were used to determine how accurate it is.

Table 1.
Application of Treatment in Different Diesel and Gasoline Vehicle Type

Filtrating
Treatments R1 R2 R3 Time
Duration
T1
(Slightly Dried
50g 100g 150g 5 min
Snake Plant
Leaves
T2
(Well Dried
50g 100g 150g 5 min
Snake Plant
Leaves

The table shows the amount of slightly dried snake plant leaves and well-dried snake

plant leaves that were used as an alternative filter for selected diesel and gasoline vehicles’

exhaust. Each treatment used different amount of leaves which are 50g, 100g and 150 grams.

Plant Preparation

A total of 900 grams of slightly dried snake plant leaves were gathered at Matindeg , Pura

, Tarlac and another 900 grams of well-dried snake plant leaves were gathered at Poblacion,

Gerona , Tarlac. The leaves were rinsed and placed in a clean tray . The leaves were cut into

smaller pieces and were placed in the metal tray.

The leaves was been dried using greater amount of heat with the use of a convection oven

since the tough consistency of the leaves are not capable of drying in natural process.

The first tray of snake plant leaves were put in the oven with a range of 150 0C in a 60

minutes duration to get the exact drying for slightly dried snake plant leaves while on the second
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tray of snake plant leaves were able to dry in a 200 0C for 90 minutes duration to get the exact

drying for a well-dried snake plant leaves.

Preparation of Treatments

Two (2) experimental treatments were prepared for each leaves with same amount. 1 st

treatment is the slightly dried snake plant leaves while the 2 nd treatment is the well-dried snake

plant leaves .

Making the Filter

The filter device was produced from the screen and from improvised tubular pipes. The

screen were cut using the iron scissors and took the exact size of each selected vehicles exhaust,

for motorcycle 1 inch, for cars 3 inches and for jeepney 2. inches. Each screen was formed into a

cylindrical shape.

Application of treatment

Each device with different treatment of leaves were placed in the selected diesel and

gasoline vehicles exhaust while the vehicles are moving up to 5 minutes to ensure the release of

smoke coming from the vehicles exhaust.

Collection of data

The data will be recorded to determine if the slightly and well dried snake plant leaves

will show potential as an alternative filter to selected vehicles that uses diesel and gasoline

through the process of Emission Test in Poblacion, Gerona, Tarlac

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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Graph 1 .
Air Filtered in Motorcycle

1.2

0.8

T1 (Slightly Dried
0.6 Snake Plant Leaves)
T2 (Well Dried Snake
0.4 Plant Leaves)

0.2

0
R1 R2 R3 Final Smoke
Emitted

Graph 1 shows the comparison of smoke filtered with different treatment of snake leaves

and instalment for motorcycle vehicle. Replicate 1, with the instalment to the device a 50g of

slightly dried snake plant leaves filtered a 0.98 ppm of smoke . Replication 2, with the

instalment to the device a 100g of slightly dried leaves filtered a 0.86 ppm of smoke.

Replication 3, with the instalment to the device a 150g slightly dried leaves filtered a 0.84 ppm

of smoke. The mean of the filtered smoke emitted of the three (3) replicate using the slightly

dried leaves is 0.89 ppm.

While in the treatment 2 using a well-dried snake plant leaves , Replicate 1 , with the

instalment of the device of 50g of well- dried snake plant leaves filtered 0.38 ppm of smoke.

Replication 2, with the instalment to the device a 100g of well- dried leaves filtered 0.94 ppm of

smoke. Replication 3, with the instalment to the device 150g well- dried leaves filtered 0.86

ppm of smoke. The mean of the smoke emitted of the three (3) replication using the well- dried

leaves is 0.71 ppm.

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As gleaned in the graph, results show that there is a difference between the effectiveness

on a slightly dried to well-dried snake plant leaves wherein , Treatment 2 which is well- dried

leaves has the lowest mean on amount of smoke emitted as compared to other initial smoke

emitted.

Graph 2.
Air Filtered in SUV Car

4
T1 (Slightly Dried Snake
3 Plant Leaves)
T2 (Well Dried Snake
2 Plant Leaves)

0
R1 R2 R3 Final
Smoke
Emitted

Graph 2 shows the comparison of smoke filtered with different treatment of snake leaves

and instalment for SUV car vehicle. Replicate 1, with the instalment to the device a 50g of

slightly dried snake plant leaves filtered a 5.73 ppm of smoke. Replication 2, with the instalment

to the device a 100g of slightly dried leaves filtered a 1.24 ppm of smoke. Replication 3, with

the instalment to the device a 150g slightly dried leaves filtered a 1.70 ppm of smoke. The

mean of the filtered smoke of the three (3) replicate using the slightly dried leaves is 2.89 ppm

While in the treatment 2 using a well-dried snake plant leaves , Replicate 1 , with the

instalment to the device of 50g of well- dried snake plant leaves filtered 3.98 ppm of smoke
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Replication 2, with the instalment to the device a 100g of well- dried leaves filtered 1.20 ppm of

smoke. Replication 3, with the instalment to the device 150g well- dried leaves filtered 0.75

ppm of carbon monoxide. The mean of the filtered smoke of the three (3) replication using the

well- dried leaves is 1.98 ppm.

As gleaned in the graph, results show that there is a difference between the effectiveness

on a slightly dried to well-dried snake plant leaves wherein , Treatment 2 which is well- dried

leaves has the lowest mean on amount of smoke emitted as compared to other initial smoke

emitted.

Graph 3.
Air Filtered in Jeepney

4 T1 (Slightly Dried Snake

Plant Leaves
3 T2 (Well Dried Snake
2 Plant Leaves

0
R1 R2 R3 Final
Smoke
Emitted

Graph 3 shows the comparison of smoke filtered with different treatment of snake leaves

and instalment for jeepney vehicle. Replicate 1, with the instalment to the device a 50g of

slightly dried snake plant leaves filtered a 6.72 ppm of smoke. Replication 2, with the

instalment to the device a 100g of slightly dried leaves filtered a 3.24 ppm of smoke.

Replication 3, with the instalment to the device a 150g slightly dried leaves filtered a 2.50 ppm
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of smoke. The mean of the filtered smoke of the three (3) replicate using the slightly dried leaves

is 4.15 ppm.

While in the treatment 2 using a well-dried snake plant leaves , Replicate 1 , with the

instalment of the device of 50g of well- dried snake plant leaves filtered 3.45 ppm of smoke.

Replication 2, with the instalment to the device a 100g of well- dried leaves filtered 2.32 ppm

of smoke. Replication 3, with the instalment to the device 150g well- dried leaves filtered 1.15

of smoke. The mean of the filtered smoke of the three (3) replication using the well- dried leaves

is 2.31 ppm.

As gleaned in the graph, results show that there is a difference between the effectiveness

on a slightly dried to well-dried snake plant leaves wherein , Treatment 2 which is well- dried

leaves has the lowest mean on amount of smoke emitted emitted as compared to other initial

smoke emitted.

Graph 4.
Summary of Air filtered in Selected Diesel and GasolineVehicles

12
8
4
0
Series1
Motorcycle
SUV Car
Jeepney

As gleaned on the graph the summary of air filtered in selected diesel and gasoline

vehicles, upon the application of the two (2) treatments using slightly and well dried snake plant
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leaves to the following vehicles such as motorcycle, SUV car and the jeepney it lessens the

smoke emitted compare from its initial; from 1.61 ppm to 0.80 ppm of the smoke emitted by the

motorcycle vehicle on which the total smoke filtered was 0.81; for SUV car from 10.00 ppm to

2.44 ppm smoke emitted on which the total smoke filtered was 7.56 ppm; while the Jeepney has

a total of 8.77 ppm smoke filtered .

It shows that there is a difference on the use of slightly and well dried snake plant

leaves in smoke filtering of vehicle exhaust. Over-all the Treatment 2 which is a well-dried

leaves is the most effective for both diesel and gasoline type of gas for motorcycle, SUV car and

jeepney.

 
CONCLUSION

Based on the results, the following statements were concluded:

1.Which of the snake plant leaves treatment would be the most effective as

substitute filter for selected diesel and vehicles exhaust?

Treatment 1 which is the Well-Dried snake plant leaves is the most effective substitute

filter in selected vehicles. It also lessens the gases emitted by the vehicle.

2.How may the exhaust be described in terms of Selected vehicle type and smoke

emitted ?

With the instalment of both treatment , the tricycle , jeepney and SUV car vehicles

exhaust lessen the smoke emitted based on the final smoke emitted as compared initial smoke

emitted.

3.What is the difference between the emitted of smoke with and without the

installment of the filter device as the volume of treatment increases?

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With the instalment of filter device, as the volume of treatment of slightly and

well dried snake plant leaves increases, the smoke emitted from the tricycle, SUV car and

jeepney vehicles decreases .

RECOMMENDATION

In the light of the drawn conclusions, insights tending to procure are as follow:

1.Compare the Snake Plant (Sanseviera trifisciata) into other house plants as an

alternative exhaust filter for further studies.

2.Since the findings revealed that the substitute filter with the instalment of leaves

gives a desirable outcome, subject for commercial advertisement of the filter is

suggested.

3. Increasing the amount of leaves is suggested to achieve better result.

4. Adding a supporting variable is also suggested.

5. Using mosquito net screen in order to make a pouch where the plants will put inside

is highly recommended

REFERENCES

http://www.pollutionissues.com/Ve-Z/Vehicular-Pollution.html#ixzz3tKRJAPnD

(http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/filter)

(http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php)

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaust)
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Richard , M.G. .(2015) “25% of cars are causing 90% of the air pollution” Union of
Concerned Scientist Science for a healthy planet and safer world “Cars, Trucks, and Air
Pollution”.

Carrinton (2015).Cars emit up to four times more toxic pollution than a bus, data reveals.

Kebin et. al .Encyclopedia of Life Support System, Vol. 1

Shaw, Jay. (2015) “Cars and Global Warming: 5 ways diesel engies are worse for the
environment” .

Verde, Diane. (2016) “Madre de Cacao, Camachile and Ipil-ipil as substitute filter for
vehicle exhaust” .
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DOCUMENTATION
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