Ipomoea Batatas Leaves (Sweet potato) Extract as an
alternative Detergent
Dizon, Rafael Miguel
Gallangi, Sam Kingsley
Prepose, Mark Jeffrey
Agang, Amber Leanne
Asa, Katrina May
Ligaton, Sabin Marie
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Research
Taguig Science High School
San Miguel, Taguig City
June 2022
Ms. Janeth Mamansag
Research Adviser
1
Table of contents
Page
Acknowledgement
3
Abstract
4
Chapter I
Background of the study
5
Statement of the problem
6
Hypothesis
6
Significance of the study
7
Scope and delimitation
8
Definition of terms
9
CHAPTER II
Review of related literature
10
CHAPTER III
Methodology
12
CHAPTER IV
17
Results and discussion
CHAPTER V
Summary
20
Conclusion
20
Recommendations
21
Bibliography
23
Appendices
25
2
Acknowledgement
The researchers would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to those who
made this study possible through their help, guidance, and prayers
We would like to thank our research adviser, Ma’am Janeth G. Mamansag
for her dedication in guiding us throughout this research and teaching us everything we
needed to complete this research. With her guidance and feedback to every part of our
research helped us improve every detail in our research. We thank you from the bottom
of our heart for giving us this opportunity and by helping us get ready for out near future.
To our dear family and friends also my other members families and friends,
we send you our deepest gratitude for supporting all of us throughout this, all of you have
been a great comfort helping us to complete this research journey. We sincerely thank
you for the endless love, prayers and support you have offered for all of us.
Finally, the researchers would like to express our thanks to God. For giving
us this life and meet the people we met that have helped us greatly not only for this
research but for our whole lives. For letting us get through all the difficulties. For your
guidance and trust in all of us. We will continue to honor you in our everyday life.
3
Abstract
Everyone needs clean clothes to go about their everyday lives, but
accessible clothing detergent is hard to find. We, the researchers, aim to find cheap
detergent made from easy-to-get materials. An average family washes about 300-390
loads of laundry per year. We thought of this research topic as a solution for that problem.
Ipomoea Batatas leaves contain oxalic acid which helps in removing stains. In this
experiment, we had three trials with stains on pieces of cloth. We measured the time it
took for each stain to disappear on the pieces of cloth. The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves
Extract Detergent had a total average of 22 minutes while the commercial Surf Detergent
had 27.92 minutes as its total average time.
4
CHAPTER 1
Background of the study
Detergents are one of the essential things in our life. Detergent is widely
used in our society, particularly in homes. People use detergent to remove stains, dirt,
and germs from clothes and for clothes to have a good scent. Detergents come in 4
different types; powder, liquid, pods and tablets.
However, using commercial detergents has some disadvantages. Even
though detergents clean our clothes, detergents contain harmful chemicals that can harm
the human body. Detergents can cause respiratory and skin problems if inhaled and
absorbed by the skin. Skin irritation, rashes, and skin burns are one of the most common
problems that people face when using detergent. Some detergent uses excessive alkali
which can damage the cloth and fabric. Aside from this, detergent is also not
environmentally friendly. Most factories that produce detergent throw hazardous
chemicals that can cause soil, air, and water pollution.
As an alternative to bleaching agents, we can consider using natural
stain removers. The researchers aim to develop an environmentally friendly detergent
using Ipomoea Batatas Leaves extract. Ipomoea Batatas Leaves shows a potential to
become a detergent as it contains oxalic acid that can help remove stains from clothes.
5
Statement of the problem
This study aims to test the effectiveness of Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract as
an alternative Detergent.
More specifically of it for the following questions:
1. What kind of stains did the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent remove?
2. Is it possible for the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves detergent to perform as well as a
commercial detergent?
3. How fast can the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent remove the stain in terms
of time in minutes?
4. Which between the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent and Surf liquid
detergent has greater ability in removing the following stains on white clothing?
•
Ketchup stain
•
Soy sauce stain
•
Ink stain
•
Oil stain
Hypothesis
1. The ipomoea batatas leave detergent removed the Chocolate, Ketchup and oil stain.
2. It is possible for the ipomoea batatas leaves detergent to perform as well as commercial
detergent.
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3. The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract removed the stains in average time of 45 minutes
4. Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent has greater ability in removing oil, ketchup
and soy sauce stain while the Surf Liquid Detergent has greater ability in removing the
ink stain.
Null hypothesis: There is no significant difference between the effectiveness of Ipomoea
Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent and Surf Liquid Detergent.
Alternative Hypothesis: The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent is much more
effective than the Surf Liquid Detergent
Significance of the study
The result of this study will be a great help to us, Researchers, to the society,
and the community.
This study was conducted to make an alternative detergent which can both
benefit the society and the people whom may use it. It will be extremely beneficial to us,
especially that it helps us to save money and will have a good effect on our clothes as
this extract are extremely useful to remove stains. It's not just useful for us, people but
also for our environment to be ecologically sound when it comes to cleaning. Plus, having
an abundant amount of Ipomoea Batatas Leaves will help our resources.
The outcome of this study will provide a useful information to some future
studies in regards to Ipomoea Batatas Leaves as we can make this as an alternative
7
detergent. We can create such huge amount of detergent, leading us to start a business
on selling these.
Scope and delimitation
This study will focus on testing the effectiveness of Ipomoea Batatas Leaves
Extracts as an alternative detergent. The test includes 4 set-ups with 4 different stains
specifically, Soy Sauce, Ketchup, Oil, and ink stain. This investigation was made for
research subject matter and was conducted in 1 week, starting from April 5, 2022 to April
12, 2022, pursuing this study amidst the pandemic, in 04 F. Deguzman St. Tuktukan,
Taguig City. This experiment will also be limited to the type of clothing that is going to be
used, which is cotton. The researchers would like to investigate if the leaves of Ipomoea
Batatas can be useful as well as how they are used in making foods, beauty, and for
health products. The investigators aim to diminish hazardous products that the community
uses on a daily basis. In order to make the detergent, the researchers extract the liquid
from the sweet potato leaves by boiling it under a medium heat and put it together with
the other imperative ingredients to make liquid detergent.
8
Definition of terms
The following terms were defined according to how they are being used in the study:
Detergent - is a substance usually in liquid form that is used for cleaning and breaking
off dirt in clothing or household materials. In this study, detergent is the product that we
are eyeing to create.
Hazardous - another word for harmful, risky or dangerous; used to indicate objects that
can cause danger.
Ipomoea Batatas - Sweet Potato used in the experiment, this is the main ingredient in
this experiment. Vegetables that are grown in roots.
Oxalic Acid - the acid found in many plants which are used to clean stains. It’s toxic
because of its acidic nature.
Skin irritation - diseases that affect the skin area of human beings.
Rashes - a type of skin irritation that shows red, itchy, and swollen areas of the skin. It’s
usually caused by getting into contact with heat or allergens.
Skin burns - a skin irritation caused by intense heat, or contact with acidic substances.
Stains - to leave a mark on something that is difficult to remove. For this research, the
stain on clothes will be the one that will serve as the basis to know if this experiment will
be approved or not
Beneficial - something that benefits or gives advantages to the speaker
Respiratory - pertaining to the respiratory system which contains the nose, lungs, etc.
9
Chapter II
Review of related literature
This chapter shows a retrospective presentation of previously written
material: research literature and conceptual that has relevance and significance to the
research under considered.
Ipomoea Batatas Leaves
Ipomoea Batatas is commonly used as a rice substitute in the Philippines
(Taylor & Francis Online, 2019). Sweet potatoes have the potential to increase
productivity due to their nutritious composition, as well as their natural food antioxidant
and natural food color. It is a popular root crop vegetable with high antioxidant levels.
Sweet potato leaves are high in polyphenols, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other
nutrients that are essential for life (Taylor & Francis Online, 2020). Sweet potato leaves
are extremely nutritious and widely available, despite the fact that the plant's tuber is the
most commonly consumed component. It is said to contain more polyphenols than the
entire root or tuber.
Sweet potato leaves are a type of plant that grows in vacant lots and along
roadsides throughout the Philippines (Bicol Consortium for Health Research and
Development, 2018). It grows all year and requires no maintenance. It contains
antibacterial properties derived from a lyophilized sweet potato leaf powder extract
generated from a variety of sweet potatoes. Moreover, the water extracted from sweet
potato leaves inhibited the growth of pathogenic E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and
Bacillus cereus. Sweet potato leaves are a natural source of phenolic compounds with
10
high antioxidant activity and potential antioxidant utility (Zhang et al., 2019). Sweet potato
leaves were found to be high in polyphenols and functional food ingredients.
Oxalic Acid
Many plants contain oxalic acid, which can be found in leafy
greens, vegetables, fruits, cocoa, nuts, and seeds. It's usually bound to minerals in plants,
forming oxalate.
Oxalic acid is known for its cleaning components. Oxalic Acid is
used for bleaching and polishing, it can also remove different kinds of stains, rust and
inks. According to Sienna, Seidler, Honow (2021) the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves have a
total of 496mg/ 100g oxalate. The study concluded that the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves have
a large amount of oxalate components. Related study about removing stains have been
done including the “Averrhoa Bilibmbi, Averrhoa Carambola, and Phyllanthus Acidus fruit
extract as an alternative stain remover” (Hitalia, Bringuelo, Jordan, Matinez, Leba,
Valdez, Abusama, Paculalan, 2021). The plants used in the study are also known for their
oxalate components. However, there is no study about the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves.
CHAPTER III
11
Methodology
This chapter presents the method in conducting this study. There are 4
set-ups with different types of stain, specifically Ketchup, Oil, Ink and Soy sauce stain.
This study has 2 treatments. The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Detergent is compared to a
Surf liquid detergent by how long they will remove the stains on the white clothing. The
same amount of stains were also added.
Gathering and preparing the materials.
The experiment was conducted inside the houses of the researchers. The
preparation of the materials will be the first step in the procedure. Before conducting the
experiment, make sure to wash all the materials needed. The materials needed are as
follows; bowl, pot, dropper, measuring cups, 6 bundles of Ipomoea Batatas leaves, 3
teaspoon of Lemon fragrance oil, 15 cups (120 ounces) of water, 3 drops of oil, ink,
ketchup, soy sauce and 24 pieces of 4x4 cotton cloth.
Extracting the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves
The Ipomoea Batatas needed in this research were bought in a local
market in Taguig City. After washing the Ipomoea batatas leaves, the leaves were placed
in a cooking pot with 15 cups of water under a medium heat. Let it boil for thirty minutes
and remove the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves from the cooking pot. Transfer the extract into
a bowl.
12
Mixing all the elements
To blend together all the ingredients enclosed to the recipe, we must
prepare it initially. Then, gather some containers for the components like beakers, bowls,
bottles etc., Put the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract on a bowl accumulated from the
previous preparation. The investigators gather the other component, the 8 teaspoon
Lemon Essential Oil for the fragrance of the detergent, obtained by the researchers from
an online store (https://shopee.ph/product/406582552/5495650625?smtt=0.4194090501646534840.9). Simply mix together the components to create the product of the study
Staining of cloth
One yard of cotton cloth was purchased from an online shop. These were
measured and cut into 4’ x 4’ and used as fabric to be stained. Get the 24 pieces of 4x4
cloth (cotton) and divide them into two groups, the experimental group and the control
group. The experimental group will be the one to receive the Ipomoea Batatas leaves
extract while the control group will have the commercial detergent which is “Surf liquid
detergent“. The experimental group now has 12 pieces of cloth, and so is the control
group. There will be three trials for the groups, the first trial should have four cloth, second
trial have four cloth, third trial have four cloth. For the first trial, each cloth will have their
own specific stains, one of the cloth will have three drops of Ketchup, second one with
three drops of Oil, third one with three drops of ink, and fourth one with three drops of soy
13
sauce. The trials of the experimental group should be the same with the control group.
Every trial has the exact same amount of stains.
Conducting the experiment
The effectiveness of the detergent was tested by applying it to various
types of stains on pieces of white fabric. Prepare the bowls with 8 ounces of Ipomoea
Batatas leaves extract detergent and the bowl with 8 ounces of surf liquid detergent. The
experiment consisted of three trials. The white cloth with stains were soaked in the
detergents and the same time. The researchers recorded how long in terms in minutes
did the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent and Surf Liquid Detergent removed
different stains.
Table 1. Experimental design on determination of Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract
as an effective detergent
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Ipomoea
Batatas Leaves
Extract as an
alternative
Detergent
Surf
liquid
detergent
14
Total
Average
Statistical test
Data will be gathered and analyzed following the experimentation so that
the researchers can come to a conclusion and answer the question that this study
addresses. Quantitative data analysis was used in this experiment.
T-test. The researchers used the independent t-test to determine the significant
differences in the two treatments and replication. T-test was used to determine which
detergent was faster enough to clean the same amount of stains in five minutes.
Mean. The average rating of the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves extract detergent and surf
liquid detergent will be calculated by summing the recorded values over the total number
of values.
x1= Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent
x2= Surf liquid detergent
s2= pooled standard error
n1= Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent’s number of observation
n2= Surf liquid detergent’s number of observation
15
Chapter IV
Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
16
This chapter presents results from the data gathered and interpreted after
performing the experimentation process. Discussions and through analysis of the results
are also reflected.
Table 1. Average time the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent and Surf
Liquid Detergent removed different stains in cloth.
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
28.5 mins
19.5 mins
18 mins
22 mins
36.25 mins
23.5 mins
24 mins
27.92 mins
Ipomoea Batatas
Leaves Extract
Detergent
Surf Liquid
Detergent
Table 1 presents the average time Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract
Detergent and Surf Liquid Detergent removed different stains in cloth. Ipomoea Batatas
Leaves Extract Detergent took the longest amount of time to remove the stains in trial 1
with 28.5 minutes, in trial 2, it took 19.5 mins to remove the stains and lastly, in trial 3, it
took shortest amount of time with 18 minutes. The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract
Detergent has an average time of 22 minutes to remove stains in cloth. For Surf Liquid
Detergent, it took 36.25 minutes to remove the stains in 1st trial and it is the longest
amount of time to remove the stain. In trial 2, it took the shortest amount of time to remove
the stains with 23.5 minutes, and in trial 3, it took 24 minutes to remove the stain. The
17
Surf Liquid Detergent has an average time of 22 minutes to remove stains in cloth. From
the table 1, we can conclude that both Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent and
Surf Liquid Detergent are effective but Ipomoea Batatas Leaves extract is more effective
according to the results of the experiment.
Figure 1. Average time the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves
Extract and Surf Liquid Detergent removed different
stains on white clothing
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent
Surf Liquid Detergent
Figure 1 shows the difference between the average time of the Ipomoea
Batatas Leaves Extract Detergent and Surf Liquid Detergent to determine the
effectiveness of the detergents. Overall, surf liquid detergent took the longest time to
remove the stain with 27.92 average time and the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract
Detergent took the shortest time to remove the stain with 22 minutes. We can conclude
that the Surf Liquid Detergent is more effective than the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract
Detergent
Table 2. Statistical Test
18
Detergent
n
Mean
Sum
of df
squares
Ipomoea
4
22.5
1385
6
Confidence t-
t-
level
tabulated
calculated
90%
1.440
-0.453
Decision
Accept the
Batatas Leaves
Null
Extract
hypothesis
Detergent
Surf
Liquid 4
27
2168
Detergent
Table 2 shows the t-test to determine if there is any significant difference
between the effectiveness of the two detergents. The degree of freedom is 6 and the
confidence level is 90%. The p-value for a t-statistic of -0.4530 for a one-tailed test is
1.440 Since this t-tabulated is greater than the t-calculated, we fail to reject the null
hypothesis.
Chapter V
Summary
19
This chapter summarizes the research work that was done. The focus
of this study was to determine whether the leaf extract of ipomoea batatas is an alternative
detergent. The research was carried out in order to develop an alternative detergent that
would benefit either society and the people who would use it. This will allow individuals to
save money while also making it easier to remove stains from clothes.
The researchers measured the time the Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract
Detergent and Surf Liquid Detergent removed 4 different types of stains, specifically Oil,
Ketchup, Soy Sauce and Ink stain on white cloth. To measure the efficacy of the ipomoea
batatas leaves extract detergent and the surf liquid, the researchers solve for the overall
mean of the experiments. The researchers also used the t-test to determine if there is
significant difference between the detergents. Table 1 reveals that the Ipomoea Batatas
Leaves Extract Detergent received the shortest average time to remove the stain with 22
minutes, while the Surf Liquid Detergent received the longest average time of 27.92
minutes.
Conclusion
In view of the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves extract detergent was most effective at removing the oil,
ketchup and soy sauce stain.
2. Based on the results the researchers have gathered , it is possible for the ipomoea
batatas leaves detergent to perform as well as commercial detergent
20
3. The Ipomoea Batatas Leaves Extract removed the stains in average time of 22 minutes
4. There is no significant difference between the Effectiveness of Ipomoea Batatas
Leaves Extract Detergent and Surf Liquid Detergent
Recommendations
The researchers recommend:
1. To address the effects of commercial detergents in the environment, the DENR should
encourage merchants to provide more environmentally friendly ingredients for detergent.
Future researchers should establish a more complex composition for the detergent as to
make it more effective.
2. Conduct more study about finding environmentally friendly alternatives for commercial
detergent.
3. Find additional ingredients to formulate a better working detergent.
4. Ingredients such as surfactants and builders may help to create a more efficient
detergent.
5. The researchers found out that the ipomoea batatas leaves extract left yellow stains
on the cloth. Therefore, you can improve this experiment and find a solution for the yellow
stains.
21
Bibliography
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Abusama, H., & Paculanan, A. (2021, February 11). Kamias (Averrhoa Bilimbi), Starfruit
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Stain Remover. ASEAN Journal of Science and Engineering.
23
Appendices
24
25