1

App
rova
l
For
To Be Completed by Student and Parent
m
a Student Acknowledgment:
I understand the risks and possible
dangers to me of the proposed research plan.
(1)

I have read and will abide by the following Ethics statement.

A
comple
Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research. Such practices
te form of other researchers work as ones own,
include plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation
and fabrication of data. Fraudulent projectsiswill fail to qualify for any competition
requirethe University, and will not be accepted as
affiliated by the College of Engineering and/or
d for of the Chemical Engineering program.
compliant to the requirements for completion
each
studen
t,
06/12/16
CHRISTIAN PAOLO ASEQUIA
includi
Students Printed Name
Signature
Date Acknowledged (mm/dd/yy)
(Must be prior to experimentation)
ng all

team

Parent/Guardian Approval: I have read

and understand the risks and possible dangers
membe
involved in the Research Plan. I consent to my child participating in this research.
rs.

ATINODORO ASEQUIA
Parent/Guardians Printed
Name

Signature

06/12/16
Date Acknowledged (mm/dd/yy)
(Must be prior to experimentation)

To Be Completed by the College of Engineering Technical Review Committee

(Required for projects that need prior TRB approval BEFORE experimentation)
(humans, vertebrates, potentially hazardous biological agents, PDEA-controlled substances,
and hazardous chemicals, activities or devices)

The TRB has carefully studied this projects Research Plan and all the required forms are
included. My signature indicates approval of the Research Plan before the student begins
experimentation.

TRB Chairs Printed Name

Signature

Date Acknowledged (mm/dd/yy)

(Must be prior to experimentation)

Students Name(s):

Title of Project

Risk
Qualifi
Asse
ed
ssme
Scienti
Christian Paolo S. Asequia
ntst
Mark Joseph T. Reyes
Emman Jemuel R.
Velos
Form
Form
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
OF SULFONATED POLYSTYRENE
(3)
(2)

POWDERED Required
ACTIVATED
CARBON (SPS-PAC) IN THE
May be
REDUCTION OF WATER
HARDNESS
AND TURBIDITY OF THE
for
required
for
CAGAYAN DE ORO
RIVER
projects
research

using
involving
hazardou
human
To be completed by the Qualified
Scientist:
s
participants
, vertebrate
Scientist Name:
Engr. Edwin Richard R.chemical
Ortiz
s or
Degree(s):
animals,
devices,
Educational
potentially
or
Background:
hazardous
potentiall
biological
Experience/Training as relates to the
students area of research:
y
agents, and
dangerou
PDEAs
Position:
Chemical Engineering
Institution:
Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan
controlled
activities.
Department Chair
substances.
Must be
Must be
complete
Address:
Corrales Avenue, Cagayan de
Email/Phone:
________eortiz@xu.edu.ph______
completed
d before
Oro City
and signed
experime
before the
ntation.
1 Will any of the following be used?

start of
Human participants
student
Vertebrate animals
Potentially hazardous biological agents experimenta
(microorganisms, rDNA
and tissues, including blood and blood products)
tion.
PDEA-controlled substances
Hazardous chemicals, activities or devices
Is this study a sub-set of a larger study?

To be completed by the Qualified Scientist:

I certify that I have reviewed and approved the
Research Plan prior to the start of the experimentation.
If the students or Designated Baby Thesis Advisor is
not trained in the necessary procedures, I will ensure
their training. I will provide advice and supervision
during the research. I have a working knowledge of the
techniques to be used by the students in the Research
Plan. I understand that a Designated Baby Thesis
Advisor is required when the students are not
conducting
experimentation
under
my
direct
supervision.

Date of Approval

No
No

Yes

No

Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
No

To be completed by the Designated Baby Thesis

Advisor:
I certify that I have reviewed the Research Plan and
have been trained in the techniques to be used by
these students, and I will provide direct supervision.

ENGR. EDWIN RICHARD R. ORTIZ

Designated Baby Thesis Advisors Printed Name

Signature

Date of Approval

Phone

eortiz@xu.edu.ph
Email

Students
Christian
Paolo S. Asequia
ENGR.Name(s):
EDWIN RICHARD
R. ORTIZ
Mark
Joseph T. Reyes
Qualified Scientists Printed
Name

Signature

Yes
Yes

Emman Jemuel R. Velos

Title of Project

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SULFONATED POLYSTYRENE

POWDERED ACTIVATED CARBON (SPS-PAC) IN THE
REDUCTION OF WATER HARDNESS AND TURBIDITY OF THE
CAGAYAN DE ORO RIVER

To be completed by the Student Researcher(s) in collaboration with Designated Baby

Thesis Advisor: (All questions must be answered; additional page(s) may be attached.)
1

Identify and assess the risks involved in this project.

The chemicals that will be used in the duration of the experimentation are Sulfuric Acid (H 2SO4)
and Toluene (C7H8) which are both extremely hazardous in case of skin and eye contact since
these chemicals are very corrosive especially at higher concentrations.

Describe the safety precautions and procedures that will be used to reduce the risks.

The safety precautions that should be observed when handling sulfuric acid and toluene
includes the basic personal protective equipment such as chemical safety goggles, chemical
resistant long gloves, face shield, and laboratory gown. It is also advisable to have an easy
access to an eye-flush station in case of eye contact.

Describe the disposal procedures that will be used.

Situation

Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

Small Spills

Large Spills

Dilute with water and

mop up, or absorb with
an inert dry material
and place in an
appropriate waste
disposal container. If
necessary: Neutralize
the residue with a
dilute solution of
sodium carbonate.
Corrosive liquid.
Poisonous liquid. Stop
leak if without risk.

Toluene (C7H8)

Absorb with an inert material

and put the spilled material
in an appropriate waste
disposal.

Toxic flammable liquid,

insoluble or very slightly
soluble in water. Keep away

Absorb with DRY earth,

sand or other noncombustible material.
Do not get water inside
container. Do not touch
spilled material. Use
water spray curtain to
divert vapor drift. Use
water spray to reduce
vapors. Prevent entry
into sewers,
basements or confined
areas; dike if needed.
Neutralize the residue
with a dilute solution of
sodium carbonate.

from heat. Keep away from

sources of ignition. Stop leak
if without risk. Absorb with
DRY earth, sand or other
non-combustible material.
Do not get water inside
container. Do not touch
spilled material. Prevent
entry into sewers,
basements or confined
areas; dike if needed

List the source(s) of safety information.

Materials Safety Data Sheet attached in the next sections

To be completed and signed by the Designated Baby Thesis Advisor:

I agree with the risk assessment and safety precautions and procedures described above. I certify that I have
reviewed the Research Plan and will provide direct supervision.
ENGR. EDWIN RICHARD ORTIZ
Designated Baby Thesis Advisors
Printed Name
Faculty Xavier University
Position and Institution
Students Name(s):

Signature

Date of Review (mm/dd/yy)

eortiz@xu.edu.ph
Phone or Email Contact Information

Christian Paolo S. Asequia

Mark Joseph T. Reyes
Emman Jemuel R. Velos

To be completed by Student
List all components of the current
different from previous research.
form; use an additional form for
Components

Title

Change in goal/objective

Continu
ation/Re
search
Progres Researchers:
sion
project that make it new and
Project The information must be on the
2012 2013 and earlier projects.
s Form
Current Research Project
Previous Research Project
(5)
PERFORMANCE
2013-2014:

Required for
EVALUATION
OF
projects that
SULFONATED
POLYSTYRENE

are a
POWDERED
ACTIVATED
continuation/
CARBONprogression
(SPS-PAC) IN THE
REDUCTION
OF WATER
in the same
HARDNESS AND TURBIDITY
field of study
OF THE CAGAYAN DE ORO
as RIVER
a previous
project. This
form must be
accompanied
by the
previous
To evaluate years
the performance
of the Sulfonated
Polystyreneabstract
Powdered Activated Carbon
and/or
(SPS-PAC) packed bed
Research
column
through the
construction Plan.
of breakthrough

curve and determination of

breakthrough time

DEVELOPMENT OF
PARTIALLY SULFONATED
POLYSTYRENE-POWDERED
ACTIVATED CARBON (PSPPAC) COMPOSITE AS
FILTER MEDIA FOR WATER
HARDNESS AND
TURBIDITY

2013 2014:

To determine the optimum

ratio of polystyrene and
powdered activated carbon in
the composite material that
will give the maximum ionexchange and adsorption
capabilities for the material.
2013 2014:

Change in methodology

Variables studied

The sulfonation mixing time

will be varied at 4, 5 and 6
hours while keeping constant
the mixing temperature at
60oC to determine the
optimum sulfonation reaction
conditions that will yield the
highest turbidity and water
hardness percent reduction.
Also, the mixture of
polystyrene to powdered
activated carbon was kept
constant at 65:35 PS:PAC
ratio.

Varying ratio of P and PAC

namely 80-20 %w/w (set A) ,
65-35%w/w (set B) and 5050%w/w (set C) was
implemented and a constant
sulfonation mixing time and
temperature at 1.5hrs and
60oC was done

2013 2014:

Sulfonation Mixing Time

Breakthrough Time of the
Packed Bed Column

Optimum ratio of the

Polystyrene to Powdered
Activated Carbon.

Additional changes
Construction of the
breakthrough curve and
determination which
adsorption isotherm the
column follows.

Attached are:

2013 2014 Abstract

DEVELOPMENT OF PARTIALLY SULFONATED POLYSTYRENE-POWDERED ACTIVATED

CARBON (PSP-PAC)
COMPOSITE AS FILTER MEDIA FOR WATER HARDNESS AND TURBIDITY
Irish Crest G. Almanzora, Jan Karina S. Lapeab, Leonar S. Pabualanc, Dahn F. Suand
Chemical Engineering Department, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Corrales Avenue,
Cagayan de Oro City
a

ic_almanzor@yahoo.com, bjankarina_62792@yahoo.com,cleonarpabualan20@gmail.com,dsuan_143@yahoo.com

Abstract - The study aims to develop a composite material out of polystyrene (P) and powdered
activated carbon (PAC) with functionalities of both adsorbent and cation exchange resin. Varying
ratio of P and PAC namely 80-20 %w/w (set A) , 65-35%w/w (set B) and 50-50%w/w (set C)
respectively were used to determine the best ratio that will give an optimum water hardness and
turbidity reduction. The composite material was prepared by dissolving polystyrene in toluene
and adding powdered activated carbon. It was then dried, crushed and converted to cation
exchange resins through partial sulfonation followed by neutralization to activate the ion
exchange sites. FTIR spectroscopy verified the presence of sulfonic groups. Set B has the
highest degree of sulfonation (DS) with 13.50% and the highest ion exchange capability (IEC) of
1.19 meq Na+/g. In the test of percent water hardness reduction (WHR), set B has the highest
percent reduction with 58.57% and is also 160.31% more effective in water hardness reduction
than the control, commercial GAC, having 22.45% WHR capability. In the test of percent
turbidity reduction (TR), set B has the highest percent reduction with 94.44% and is 111.94%
more effective in TR compared with GAC, having 44.56% TR capability. Using SEM, the
development of P-PAC composite and its subsequent development into PSP-PAC were
confirmed. It was also observed using SEM that PSP-PAC has larger surface area than the
control GAC but is lesser than when compared with P-PAC and PAC.