CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

This chapter gives the readers a birds eye view of the problem the researchers
have studied. It is consisted of the background of the study, statement of the problem,
hypothesis, significance of the study, review of related literature, operational definition of
terms, and scope and limitation.
1.1 Background of th Stud!
Water is really essential in life. It takes weeks before a man would die without
food but only days without water.
Water is the most important substance on earth. Without it, no living things can
exist. Watery solutions carry nutrients throughout individual plants and animals.
Through chemical processes, nutrients are converted into energy or used to build new
tissues. Then, the water solution will carry away the waste products of the chemical
processes.
Furthermore, water is also vital in the human body. It makes up seventy percent
of a human body. xample is blood which is almost water. !arge parts of human skin,
bones, and other body tissues are also water. Therefore, people need to have clean
and safe drinking water for consumption.
"ad to say, #other arths water now is polluted due to household and industrial
wastes, agricultural chemicals, oil spills and many more. $ow, this is one of the serious
environmental problems not in this country, but also in the world. "ometimes, we read
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in newspapers of sicknesses, the reasons of which are traced to toxic waste in the
water. %ne cant even be sure the water, even if it undergoes several treatments,
coming out of the faucet is safe. The contamination may come from the pipe where the
water passes through. &opper, for example, may appear in drinking water either from
contaminated well or corroded copper pipes. !ead, too, gets into the water through the
lead solder or brass fixtures through ones plumbing. 'oth copper and lead, when taken
in large amounts, are toxic minerals which can lead to poisoning and even death.
"ilver, another mineral, occurs in drinking water but (ust in small amounts. )nlike
copper and lead, it is not toxic and cant affect ones health but when taken in large
amounts, it can cause argyria, blue*grayish pigmentation of the skin, eyes and mucous
membranes.
This problem led to the formulation of this study. The researchers wanted to
contribute to the removal of the copper, silver and lead from the water through natural
means. +t the same time, they would like the people to know that tap water is not one
hundred percent safe to drink.
1." Stat#nt of th Pro$%#
This study proposes to investigate on the effectiveness of corn bran and coconut
husk in removing copper ,&u-, lead ,.b- and silver ,+g- from water. "pecifically, it aims
to answer the following /uestions0
1. What are used by the proponents to lessen the amount of copper, lead and
silver2
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3. +re corn bran and coconut husk effective in eliminating the copper, lead and silver
content2
4. 5ow do the proponents determine that there is a change in the amount of copper,
lead and silver when using corn bran, and coconut husk2
1.& H!'oth()(
This study is carried out to experiment the following hypothesis0
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. The coconut husk and corn bran is not effective in removing copper, lead and
silver from the water.
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1
. The coconut husk and corn bran is effective in removing copper, lead and silver
from the water.
1.* S)gn)f)canc of th Stud!
This study is important because some people dont know that the water they use
in bathing, washing, or even cooking is contaminated with copper, lead or silver which
pollute the drinking water that eventually lead to sickness and even death. #oreover,
this study educate people that coconut husk and corn bran are helpful in removing
harmful chemicals in the water without undesirable side effects of decontaminating
substances.

1.+ R,)- of R%atd L)tratur
This sub*chapter contains the related literature of the investigation to further
explain the contents of this pro(ect. It gives a more vivid view of the topics included in
this research.
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Copper
&opper is a chemical element that can be found in the periodic table with the
symbol &u and atomic number 37. It is a reddish* colored metal that occurs usually in
various mineral ores. It is malleable, ductile and good conductor of electricity. It has a
high boiling point and tensile strength and capability to resist corrosion by atmosphere
and seawater.
It is said that copper is probably the first metal used from which useful articles
were made. &ivili8ations in places like Ira/, &hina, gypt, 9reece and the "umerian
cities have early proofs of using copper. :uring the ;oman mpire, copper was mainly
mined on &yprus, therefore the origin of the name of the metal as &yprium, <metal of
&yprus=, later shortened to &uprum.
&opper is normally applied in making coins> products of electronics like copper
wire, electromagnets, and many more> and household plumbing materials. #oreover,
many parts of airplanes, missiles, automobiles and satellites are made of this metal. It
is used also in electroplating and some batteries.
$ot only in technology is copper needed but also in living things. It is necessary
for the synthesis of hemoglobin, for certain oxidative en8ymes such as cytochrome
oxidase and uricase. Furthermore, they act as a cofactor for the en8yme superoxide
dismutase, which remove superoxide ions from our body. levated superoxide levels
have been associated in arthritis, aging and radiation sickness. &opper is found in the
brain in the form of cerebrocuprein, in the blood cells as erythrocuprein and in the blood
plasma as ceruloplasmin.
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)nfortunately, copper when taken in large amounts can be poisonous and even
deadly to organisms. The average daily diet contains about 3.? to ? mg of copper, an
amount that is believed to be sufficient for a normal adult. %ne way copper can go to
ones body is when the water he drinks is from contaminated well water or corroded
copper pipes. If one drank water containing high levels of copper, the immediate health
effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. If one is doing these
of many years, this would likely result into liver or kidney damage. Fatal cases, on the
other hand, are generally finished by convulsion, palsy and insensibility. xample of
illnesses brought about by too much copper in the blood is Wilsons disease, a rare
hereditary disease caused by a defect in the bodys ability to metaboli8e copper. If the
disease is untreated, the accumulation of copper in the body can lead to liver failure and
brain damage. +nother example is #enkes syndrome ,also known as <kinky hair= or
<steely hair= syndrome-, an inherited abnormality in copper metabolism. It affects male
infants and can be fatal.
Lead
!ead is another chemical element that can also be located in the periodic table
with the symbol .b and atomic number @3. It is bluish white in color when freshly cut
but tarnishes into dull gray when exposed to air. It is a soft, ductile and malleable metal
which has low tensile strength and low boiling point> and dull luster. It is a poor
conductor of electricity. It is also extremely resistant to corrosion so it is used to contain
acidic li/uids.
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It is used for a long time already since it is widespread, easy to extract and to
work with. In the early 'ron8e +ge, it is used with antimony and arsenic. +lchemists
considered lead as the oldest metal and related it to the planet "aturn. ;omans make
use of this for constructing water pipes, (oined with an alloy of lead and tin. +dditionally,
lead is used in enormous /uantities in storage batteries and in sheathing electric cables
and in industry for lining pipes, tanks, and A*ray apparatus. 'ecause of its high density
and nuclear properties, lead is used extensively as protective shielding for radioactive
material. +mong numerous alloys containing a high percentage of lead are solder, type
metal, and various bearing metals. + considerable amount of lead is consumed in the
form of its compounds, particularly in paints and pigments.
!ike copper, lead can enter ones body through the water he drinks. #ost of the
time, lead gets into the water after it leaves the local treatment plant. The most possible
source of lead in drinking water is the lead solder or brass fixtures in ones own
plumbing. It is said that the chloramines which is used to minimi8e chlorine disinfection
by*products in drinking water, was the reason why lead drain away from the lead pipes
and brass plumbing materials. !ead taken internally in any of its forms is highly toxic.
ven the ancients recogni8e lead poisoning and its effects. The symptoms of lead
poisoning are anemia, weakness, constipation, colic, palsy, and often a paralysis of the
wrists and ankles. The effects are learning disabilities, hyperactivity, decreased muscle
and bone growth, and behavioral problems. !ead*based paints and toys made from
lead compounds are considered serious ha8ards for children while for adults, one lead
ha8ard at levels once thought safe is that of increased blood pressure.
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Silver
The BC
th
chemical element in the periodic table is silver, which has the symbol
+g. It is a soft rare white lustrous transition metal with the highest electrical and thermal
conductivity for a metal. It can be easily shaped and resists corrosions by the
atmosphere. It sometimes take place in nature as a metal but usually in association
with gold, copper, lead or 8inc in complex ores.
"ilver is used and known as an ornamental and coinage metal since old times.
"ome silver ornaments found in the #iddle ast date back to about 4?66 '.&. The
elements name comes from the +nglo "axon word for metal while its chemical symbol
came from the !atin word argentum.
For many centuries, India, &hina, and other countries of +sia used more silver
than the rest of the world. "oon, uropeans began using silver but a little were made
during the #iddle +ges because their supply is limited and mining is not yet developed.
.roduction increased when silver mines were discovered in #exico, .eru and 'olivia in
1?66s and in )nited "tates and &anada in the 1C66s.
$ow, this element is important in making photographic film, welding alloys and
electronic contacts. In addition, it is used in purifiers to make water safe to drink
because it has toxic effects on some bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi. It is part of a
cream used to heal skin burns. It also is used on huge carved mirrors that collect
sunlight, which is then changed into electricity and heat energy.
"ilver is occasionally found in groundwater, surface water and drinking water at
concentrations above five micrograms per liter. ven though silver is not toxic to human
beings, too much ingestion of silver can lead to argyria, blue*grayish pigmentation of the
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skin eyes and mucous membranes because silver and compounds containing this
element can be absorbed to our circulatory system and deposited in various body
tissues. This condition is usually permanent and disfiguring. +rgyria is a rare and mild
form sometimes mistaken for cyanosis.
Coconut husk
&oconut is a plain, dry fibrous fruit known as a fibrous drupe. It has a thick outer
covering called the coconut husk ,mesocarp-. This husk is composed of bristle fiber,
mattress fiber and coir fiber. The coir is located between the husk and the outer shell of
a coconut. It is water*proof and one of the few fibers that can resist the damage brought
about by salt water. The individual fiber cells are narrow and hollow, with thick walls
made of cellulose. They are pale when young but later become toughened and yellowed
as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls. The polysaccharide components of plant
cell walls are highly hydrophilic and thus, it is permeable to water whereas the lignin is
more hydrophobic or afraid of water.
The husk has traces of beta*carotene, an antioxidant, on it. This pigment is
responsible for producing orange color.
Corn bran
The corn bran, a form of starch, refers to the husk or leafy outer covering of an
ear of mai8e or corn and contains aleurone and pericarp. They are milled or removed
from the mai8e. It is rich in dietary fibers and contains significant /uantities of starch,
protein, fat, vitamins and dietary minerals. The husk or psyllium husk is also known as
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plantago*seed mucilage which is a white fibrous material that is hydrophilic. !ike the
coconut husk, it has a lignin which is also hydrophobic.
1.. O'rat)ona% Df)n)t)on of Tr#(
The following terms are defined depending on how they were used in this study.
The definition of terms is for the readers benefit.
ceruloplasmin* a copper*transporting protein present in the blood.
chloramine* an unstable colorless li/uid with a strong odor for manufacture of
hydra8ine.
Copper - a metallic, reddish metallic element that is a good conductor of electricity and
heat. Its source is ores such as chalcopyrite. It is used as wirings, coatings and
alloys.
cyanosis* a c bluish skin condition because there is not enough oxygen in the blood.
cytochrome- a protein belonging to a group that contains iron and plays a role in cell
respiration.
hemoglobin* an iron*containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen around
the body.
hydrophilic- having affinity for water0 dissolving in, absorbing or mixing easily with water.
hydrophobic* not dissolving in, absorbing, or mixing easily with water
lead* a heaving bluish gray metallic element that bens easily. Its sources are galena
and cerussite. It is used car batteries, pipes, solder and radiation shields.
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lignin* the complex polymer in plant cell walls that gives the plant rigidity and strength
and is the ma(or component of wood.
oxidase* an en8yme that cataly8es oxidation.
silver* a shiny grayish white metallic element that has the highest thermal and electric
conductivity of any substance. It used as coins, ornaments, (ewelry, dental
materials, solders, photographic chemicals, conductors.
Superoxide - an inorganic chemical compound containing %
3
*
ion, an oxygen molecule
with an extra electron.
uricase* an en8yme occurring in the liver and kidneys that breaks down uric acid.
1./ Sco' and L)#)tat)on(
This study is limited and focused only on the removal of the heavy metals copper,
lead and silver concentration from the water through the use of corn bran and coconut
husk as the agents. The study was conducted from Duly 3@* +ugust B, 366C in the
laboratory ,in vitro- of 9eneral "antos &hristian "chool. This study is also based on
/ualitative observation or observation with the use of the five senses only. Therefore,
this will not attempt to deal with problems answered by /uantitative observation or
observation in terms of measurement.
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