Gmelina seeds (Gmelina arborea) as
Potential Source of Biofuel

Diane Claire Q. Bragais
Jeanne Isabelle B. Bilasano
Jessa C. Buendia
Researchers

Mr. Ronaldo C. Reyes
Adviser
Tabaco National High School
Tabaco City

INTRODUCTION

We rely on coal, oil and gas (the fossil fuels) for over 80% of our current energy needs and by 2030, global energy consumption is projected to grow by 36% and demand for liquid transport fuels will have risen by some 16 million barrels more a day. With the world’s population projected to reach 8.3 billion by then, an additional 1.3 billion people will need energy. (BP Outlook, 2013)
The Philippines, which has a population of over 94 million, has three million households which lack access to electricity. Some provinces only have electricity for several hours each day, while countless households on the country's more remote islands still rely on diesel-powered generators. Energy rates in the country remain among the highest in Asia, placing a heavy burden on the 26 percent of the population that lives below the poverty line. (Santos, 2013).
These facts prove that energy crisis is indeed one of the serious issues that the world is facing now. As the world struggle with a growing demand for energy, government agencies and private groups say the answer to these power needs may lie in alternative sources. This is where biofuels can help; in the next two decades, biofuels are expected to provide some 20% (by energy) of the growth in fuel for road transport. (BP Outlook, 2013)
Biofuels are alternative energy sources derived from biomass. Biomass comes from grains, cellulose, plants and animals fats. Biofuels convert sugar and starch from high-cellulose plants into ethanol, which may be used on its own directly in internal-combustion engines, or mixed with gasoline.
The Philippines is an agricultural country. Thus, various local plants and trees can produce materials which may minimize the country’s expenses because of buying imported fuels used in energy consumption.
One of the local plants which is abundant in the Philippines is gmelina (Gmelina arborea). Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) is an unarmed, moderately sized to large deciduous tree with a straight trunk. The wood is pale yellow to cream coloured or plukish-buff when fresh, turning yellowish brown on exposure. The fruit is up to 2.5 cm long, smooth, dark green, turning yellow when ripe and has a fruity smell. (Udyaniki, 2003) Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) was first introduced from Myanmar as a fast-growing tree species into forest plantations of Peninsular and East Malaysia. It was also introduced to other ASEAN countries, such as the Philippines and Indonesia. (ICRAF, 2003) Even though the gmelina’s (Gmelina arborea) fruits/ seeds are edible, people would often disregard and abandon these fruits most likely because of the fruits’ unpleasant odor.
On account of the rapid need for energy sources leading to an apprehending case of energy crisis, the researchers would like to discover the probability of producing biofuel from Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) seeds. This study was conducted to verify the potential of producing biofuel from Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) seeds. This study aims to know the type of biofuel which can be produced from gmelina seeds as well as the produced biofuel’s physical properties. Also, the present percent (by volume) of biofuel in gmelina seed extract. There are various significances of this study. This study will provide students, the future researchers, records and data which can be used in future researches. These data can also be used in the formulation of new studies which are in relation to this study. Thus, the results of this study can also help the community for the study’s goal is to provide a new source of biofuel which is efficient and does not cause any harm to the environment. This study will use data to be able to generate a new source of biofuel from the gmelina seed extract. No new discovered experiments will be used during the whole study process. Gmelina fruit has been processed into many forms. One of which is the use of Gmelina arborea fruit extract as an insecticide. Whereas, it was used to control the legume pod bearer, Maruca vitrata Fab. And the pod sucking bug, Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal on cowpea. Field studies conducted in 1999 and 2000 cropping seasons at the research farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru showed that extract of Gmelina arborea fruit at 10% (w/v) caused impressive reduction of both pests and protected the pods from serious damage. (Oparaeke, 2005) An experiment was also conducted to test the probability of Gmelina arborea fruits (GAF) as a swine feedstuff. The pigs fed diets containing graded levels of Gmelina arborea fruits meal performed well, likewise, results of enzyme profile and blood parameters indicated that GAF is relatively non-toxic to pigs and leading to the conclusion that GAF, may serve a useful alternative feedstuff for animals. (Folorunso, 2003) In the face of the different related studies that we have come across, we have not found any study which utilizes gmelina fruit extract as a new source of biofuel. This study investigated on the potential of gmelina (Gmelina arborea) fruit extract as source of biofuel. The amount of distillate was also subjected to laboratory analysis to know the present ethanol content.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials: 400 mL gmelina fruit extract, 8 g yeast, 2 wash bottles, graduated cylinder, digital weighing scale, funnel,
Kina ikay:
MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental method of research was employed in this study to determine the potential of tabog- tabog(Ficus nota) as source of biofuel.

Materials
The materials used in the conduct of the study were 1.8 kgtabog- tabog fruits, distilled water, beaker, 10 g yeast, test tubes, filter paper, funnel, 5 mL 15% hydrochloric acid, hot plate, 500 mL distilling flask, iron stand, iron clamp, aerator, thermometer, alcohol lamp, electronic scale used for weighing, 6 wash bottles, 10 mL graduated cylinders, and ice bath.

Preparation of Fruit Extract

A total of1.8 kg tabog- tabog fruit was gathered from the backyard of the researcher’s residence. The fruits were washed with distilled water, cut into small pieces and extracted using cheese cloth. Out of this mass, 1.8 liter of extract was obtained.
The extract was then boiled to kill other microorganisms which might interact during the fermentation process. After cooling the mixture, six wash bottles were filled with 300 mL tabog- tabog extract. The first three wash bottles filled with extract were used for yeast fermentation (set- up A) while the other three bottles filled with tabog- tabog extract were used for acid hydrolysis (set- up B).

Yeast Fermentation and Acid Hydrolysis
In set- up A, yeast fermentation was employed with three replicates. The average pH of the extract was 7.2. Tengrams of yeast was added to 300 mL tabog- tabog(Ficus nota) fruit extract and allowed to ferment for 15 days. In set- up B, acid hydrolysis and yeast fermentation were employed. The pH of the extract was determined and it’s equal to 7.6, which is basic. Before putting the yeast, five mL of 15 % hydrochloric acid was put to make the extract acidic since yeasts favorably thrives in acidic environment. Ten grams also of yeast was added in each wash bottle in set- up B.
** satuya one set-up pero 2 replicates. Each containing 200mL gmelina and 8g of yeast for fermentation