Undergraduate Theses
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Item Sediment organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus of four tivers in Miagao, IloiloCahilig, Guen Gian D. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2019-06)The four rivers of Miagao are examples of aquatic areas where sediment pollution can be related and mostly caused by anthropogenic and non-point sources. The four rivers of Miagao, namely Bacauan, Naulid, Oyungan and Tumagbok rivers, were assessed and observed to have low levels of water due to the dry season, presence of water stagnation due to dikes; other factors such as discharges from domestic activities and livestock wastes, and thick vegetation are also present in the river. The relevance of this study is to provide baseline information about the levels of organic matter, NH4-N, and available phosphorus present in the river, provide public knowledge about the negative impacts of excessive levels of those parameters; and locate possible sources of the pollution through the values obtained. For the total phosphorus concentration present in river sediments, the values are ranging from 0.0648 ppm to 0.154 ppm. Therefore, the values of the available phosphorus are harmful and can cause eutrophication to the river. However, for the values of organic matter and nitrogen, it was reported to be not harmful to the river but can still contribute to the excessive nutrient levels and eutrophication of the river.Item Spontaneous formation of silver nanoparticles in humid acid-rich water of Santa Barbara, IloiloCadelina, Mary Dored Ann D. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2018-06)Humic acid (HA) - rich water of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo is successful in acting as a reducing and capping agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). UV-Visible spectroscopy was used to determine the effect of irradiation time, varying HA and AgNO3 concentration, and electrolyte addition. Furthermore, the bactericidal efficacy of AgNPs was evaluated using broth microdilution method. Measurement of AgNPs was done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Lower irradiation time (10- 40 min) shows an increasing absorbance trend. However, absorbance decreased and showed bathochromic shifts when irradiated at longer times (50-60 min). AgNP formulations of 40 ppm HA with 4 mM AgNO3 and 50 ppm HA with 4 mM AgNO3 showed the highest peak intensity for varying AgNO3 and HA concentration, respectively. These results were found in both irradiated and un-irradiated samples. Aggregation occurred upon the addition of 50 mM, 100 mM, and 500 mM NaCl but was more prominent at 500 mM NaCl. Dialyzed and un-dialyzed AgNPs have bactericidal activity. However, un-dialyzed AgNP was a more effective treatment because it showed a bactericidal activity up to 1:16 dilution for both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as compared to the dialyzed AgNPs which showed a bactericidal activity up to 1:4 for S. aureus and 1:8 for E. coli. The dialyzed AgNPs are polydispersed but were mostly small with sizes less than 10 nm based on the TEM image.Item Microwave-assisted extraction of sulfated polysaccharide (Fucoidan) from Sargassum oligocystum MontagneCaceres, Kristhia Loren Maree R. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2016-06)Algae have been a source of food and medicine for humans. It contains sulfated polysaccharides that have been used as drugs. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, found in brown algae have received more attention in recent years due to its potential biological properties that are important in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and health industries. Fucoidan was recovered from brown seaweed Sargassum oligocystum Montagne by microwave - assisted extraction (MAE) technology. Different conditions of extraction time (10, 15 and 20 min) at 0.150kW were evaluated and the optimal fucoidan yield was 1.255 ± 0.0068 %, obtained at 20 minutes. Using this condition, a different set of samples was subjected to hot water extraction (HWE) and the average yield was 0.9767 ± 0.0002 %. The extracts from both methods were subjected to physico-chemical tests like gelling temperature, melting temperature, FTIR analysis, total carbohydrate content and total sulfate content. Having gelling and melting temperature values of 32 "C and 91"C for MA extracts and 30 "C and 89 °C for HW extracts showed qualities of a good agar gel. The total carbohydrate contents were 75.31 ± 0.015 % and 74.06 ± 0.0113 %, for MAE and HWE, respectively. It was also observed that the sulfate content of extracted fucoidan decreased with increasing extraction time. This study shows that MAE is an efficient technology to recover fucoidan from Sargassum oligocystum Montagne compared with the conventional heating method. This method provided enhanced extraction efficiency at reduced process time.Item The adsorption capacity of silica gel and rice hull ash on phenol and anilineBulatao, Ben Fermin P. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2011-04)Chemical waste has been a problem here in the University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo. Various methods of removal have been utilized. Extraction of silica gel from rice hull and rice hull ash was used to remove organic compounds (phenol and aniline). In this study, silica gel and rice hull ash adsorption on phenol and aniline were investigated with varying contact time and initial concentration. Silica gel reaches its optimum adsorption of both phenol and aniline at 60 minutes contact time. Silica gel was the basis for rice hull ash’s contact time because rice hull ash is 90% by weight silica gel.. Silica gel-phenol system decreases it adsorption capacity as the initial concentration is increased from 25 ppm to 100 ppm. Rice hull ash- phenol system, on the other hand, shows that the adsorption capacity increases as the initial concentration is increased. Both on silica gel-aniline system and rice hull ash- aniline system have increasing adsorption as initial concentration is increased. As the contact time is increased, adsorption increases only until it reaches its optimum adsorption which is 60 minutes contact time where saturation is reached. Increasing initial concentration however has different effect on adsorption on all system explained by the adsorption isotherms. The isotherms show that phenol has the fastest rate to form a monolayer (K and Q°) with the greatest binding strength (b) on silica gel. It is also observed that phenol and aniline formed a monolayer (1/n) on the surface of the silica gel and rice hull ash.Item Photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous media using TIO2 -based heterogeneous photocatalysts under natural lightBernido, Julidyn P. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2015-06)This study developed two heterogeneous TiO2-based photocatalysts: pure TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 (Fe-TiO2). Heterogeneous catalysts were prepared by coating TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 powder on glass beads. The photocatalytic activity of both heterogeneous photocatalysts were studied by photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under two pH conditions (6 and 9) and two ionic concentration conditions (0 and 38 ppt). The Fe-TiO2 powder contained minimal amount (2.245%) of Fe as expected. However, surface functionality and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) profile of both TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 powder were very similar indicating that doping did not alter these properties. Between the two heterogeneous catalysts prepared, the amount of Fe-TiO2 catalyst coated on glass beads was lower compared to pure TiO2. The removal of methylene blue was significantly affected by ionic concentration which removal is higher at lower ionic concentration (0 ppt). Although it appeared that the removal of methylene blue was higher at pH 9, statistical analyses revealed that the effect was not significant. In addition, the removal of methylene blue by the two catalysts were significantly different. Heterogeneous photocatalyst based on pure TiO2 showed higher removal of methylene blue in all pH and ionic concentration. Moreover, no interactive effects between variables were observed. Lastly, the blank showed no significant difference on the removal of methylene blue with the heterogeneous photocatalysts which suggest that degradation by direct photolysis from sunlight could be the reason for this result.Item Moss (Brachythecium sp.) and a filamentous green algae (Oedogonium sp.) as bunker oil sorbentsBautista, Norwell Brian C. (Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2007-04)Oil spills are very catastrophic and very destructive events. One way of controlling the dispersion of oil from these spills is by the use of sorbents. The procurement of commercial sorbents can be very costly. Thus, this study analyzed and evaluated the efficiency and effectivity of moss (Brachythecium sp.) and a green filamentous algae Oedogonium sp. as substitutes for commercial sorbents. Brachythecium sp. can grow in any moisture—rich environment and Oedogonium sp. algae grow freely in fish ponds and in any body of stagnant, oxygen-poor water. Thus, both samples are very abundant in the environment. Sorption capacity results showed that the moss Brachythecium sp. and the algae Oedogonium sp. can sorb five times and seven times its weight, respectively. In comparison, Peat Sorb, a commercial sorbent, was recorded to sorb 15 times its weight (Emedco, 2007). The minimum sorption capacity of the moss and algae samples was recorded to be approximately equal to their weight. The adsorption isotherms of both samples follow the Langmuir plot for monolayer adsorption. In the hexane capillary rise experiment, hexane rose significantly in ground moss (72.25 mm in 7 min.) and unground moss (64.80 mm in 7 min.) compared with unground algae (23.52 mm in 7 min.) and (20.70 mm in 7 min.), indicating that moss is more hydrophobic. In water, capillary rise, on the other hand, unground algae is a better medium (5.76 mm in 4 min) compared to the rest (ground algae - 4 mm, unground moss - 5.29 mm, and ground moss — 4.11 mm, all in 4 min.). Results also revealed that the moss Brachythecium sp. and the algae Oedogonium sp. expressed hydrophobic characters in the hexane-water system by remaining in the hexane layer after agitation. The moisture content of the algae (14.85%) is twice that of moss (7.94%). This gives the moss an advantage in oil sorption. The lipid contents of algae (15.58%) and moss (11.47%) do not comprise the majority of their biomass, but the lipids aid in increasing the samples’ affinity for non-polar substances. The samples may not sorb as effectively as the commercial sorbents, but they are abundant in the environment, thus, a cheaper alternative. Like Peat Sorb, which was processed from the biomass of Sphagnum sp. moss, the samples may undergo the same process that increases the hydrophobicity several-fold and gives oil-biodegradation capabilities.Item Bioaccumulation of cadmium, copper and lead by Hydrilla (Hydrilla vericillata)Baniago, Arjay C. (Division of Pysical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2007-04)Bioaccumulation of cadmium, copper, and lead by Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) were tested to 5 different initial concentrations. The water contaminant sample was composed of mixed cadmium, copper and lead metals supplied as nitrate salts. These were analyzed for the decrease in concentrations at 24-hour intervals for 5 days using the SpectrAA 55B Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Plants exposed only for 5 days were digested and analyzed. The plant growth was normal at lower concentrations and showed higher removal efficiency. H. verticillata showed maximum removal percentage on the 5th day of exposure at 5 mg L-1 for cadmium (90.47%) and copper (95.20%) but for lead was on the 1st day (96.74%). The order of metal ion removal and the actual uptake for the three metals by H. verticillata is Pb>Cu>Cd, but at lower concentration, cadmium was absorbed more than copper. The copper and lead uptakes by H. verticillata are superior as compared to other aquatic plants uptakes. Lead uptake at higher concentrations might be due to physicochemical adsorption of the metal to the plant components and not on metabolism-mediated uptake, because plant condition does not have an adverse effect on the uptakeItem Mud crab (Scylla serrata) shells for the removal of humic acids from Santa Barbara well waterAsdillo, Reina Jean A. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2010-04)The chemical contamination of drinking water from a wide range of contaminants such as humic acids can potentially lead to health-related in living organisms, especially humans. In rural areas of the Philippines, the use of low cost methods to remove water pollutants is, therefore, of great interest. In this study, osterized mud crab (Scylla serrata) shells or exoskeletons from cooked crab wastes were used to remove humic acids from the Santa Barbara well water. Adsorption experiments were done to evaluate its capacity to remove humic acids from the well water. Adsorption Isotherms and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were employed to study the characteristics of the adsorption of humic acids onto the OSSE (osterized Scylla serrata exoskeletons). Adsorption experiments showed that at an average 1.0010 g of OSSE and after six hours of agitation, an average 74.95% of humic substances were removed from 50 mL of Montinola, Santa Barbara well water sample. Isotherm experiments showed that the experimental data can be fitted in both Langmuir and Freundlich models with low K values of 0.0235 L/mg and 0.4450 (mg/g)(L/mg), respectively. Based on the results of the above experiments, OSSE is a good adsorbent for humic acids in well waters (although more research need to be done on the removal of the substances remaining in the water after OSSE treatment) and the U-OSSE (used osterized Scylla serrata exoskeletons) can possibly be recycled.Item Comparison of protein quality of three seaweed species (Sargasum polycystum, Sargassum oligocystum and Ulva pertusa) from Panay and Guimaras Island, Philippines for potential use in milkfish feedArnaiz, Regina Marielle T. (Division of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2016-06)Aquafeed production is the largest expenditure in intensive aquaculture operations, contributing to about 40-60% of total costs (Yildrim et al., 2009; Akiyama et al., 1992 cited in Ali et al., 2009). This is mostly due to the ingredients being used, particularly the protein source fishmeal (Millamena, 2002). The variable and finite supple of fishmeal, however, result in high costs, prompting the search for cheaper alternative ingredients as a priority in cost reduction practices regarding the production of aquafeeds (Attala and Mikhail, 2008). Seaweeds have known nutritional values, and are naturally abundant in Philippine waters, thus their potential could be tapped to reduce costs in aquaculture and could therefore maintain the sustainability of the industry (Shields and Lupatsch, 2012; Trono, 1999). In this study, the protein quality of two brown seaweeds (Sargassum polycystum and Sargassum oligocystum) and one green seaweed (Ulva pertusa) was evaluated by determining their crude protein content, inhibitory activities against trypsin and chymotrypsin, and in vitro protein digestibility. Among the three species, the green seaweed U. pertusa has the highest crude protein content at 23.43%. The obtained crude protein content was 8.28% for S. polycystum and 9.22% for S. oligocystum. Trypsin inhibition of the seaweeds ranged from 54-57%, and chymotrypsin inhibition was from 57-64%. Total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in S. polycystum, and lowest in S. oligocystum. In vitro protein digestibility action of milkfish gut enzyme was highest in S. oligocystum (92.30 ± 2.80), followed by the observed digestibility in U. pertusa (75.01 ± 2.14), and lowest in S. polycystum (64.99 ± 8.11). Determination of Pearson's correlation (r) showed a negative correlation (r=-0.99, p=0.08) existing between the TPC and %RPD values. Based on the results, among the threes species, U. pertusa with 23.43% crude protein content and a %RPD of 75.01% has a potential for partial inclusion in aquafeeds to reduce costs.Item Treatment of Vibrio harveyi-infected Penaeus monodon using Alibutbut (Tabernaemontana pandacaqui Poir.) plant powderBacaling, Marivic T. (Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2005-04)The cytotoxicity test of crude methanolic leaf extract using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay revealed that Alibutbut (Tabernaemontana pandacaqui Poir.) is safe to use in treating vibrio-infected penaeid shrimps. The effectiveness of the alibutbut powder against vibriosis was examined through the determination of the post-larvae 20 (PL 20) penaeid shrimp mortality and the water microbial assay after 48 hours. Percent penaied shrimp mortality (0-6.67%) and microbial count (2.91 x 10^4- 3.26 x 104 cfu/mL) of the plant treatments were significantly lower compared to the negative control (no treatment) that exhibited 50% penaeid shrimp mortality and a microbial count greater than 6.00 x 10^4 cfu/mL. The results of the experiment showed that Alibutbut plant powder is indeed effective in controlling Vibrio harveyi bacteria.