Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

A Qualitative Study on Bioethanol Production from Carica Papaya

Samantha Nicole S. Garalde, Mya Rocel B. Manabat, & John Faramir R. Fortuno

A. Rationale

With uses ranging from heating to aviation, Kerosene (Paraffin) is a popular

residential and industrial fuel. Kerosene which is obtained from the fractional distillation

of crude oil constitutes one of the most important fuels used in heating and as a fuel.

Kerosene is a complex mixture of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons with carbon

numbers predominantly in the C9 – C16 range (David and Dixon Dikio 2012). Cooking,

lighting, and heating are the main household uses of kerosene. Yet, because of its high

sulfur content and emissions, its use has been linked to risks to the environment and

public health. Another disadvantage of kerosene is air pollution and a high discharge

temperature which decomposes the kerosene and causes carbon elements to adhere to the

electrode surface (Chow et al. 2008). Thus, investigating more cost-effective, sustainable,

and ecologically acceptable gasoline additive sources is becoming more and more

relevant (Marlon Joseph Apanada and Kaldjian 2021).

Increases in the global demand for energy, high fuel prices, and depletion of fossil

fuels, as well as concerns of global warming, have led to the search for alternative

strategies for energy production. These high-value products include biofuels, oxygenated

fuel additives, polymer precursors and other industrial bio-based chemicals (Nda-Umar et

al. 2018). Biofuels are one key alternative option for the substitution of fossil fuels

(Sindhu et al. 2019). Enormous amounts of biomass are deposited each day in the

environment. Agriculture in countries can make use of such resources for various useful

purposes. Bioethanol is one of the important commodities which can be produced by

using biomass (Shah and Rehan et al. 2014). Unlike other renewable energy sources,

biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called "biofuels," to help meet fuel

needs (“Biofuel Basics” 2020).

The production of biofuels from renewable feedstocks has captured considerable

scientific attention since they could be used to supply energy and alternative fuels (Bušić

et al. 2018). Alternative and renewable fuels have the potential of solving many of the

current social problems and concerns, from air pollution and global warming to other

environmental improvements and sustainability issues. (Agunbiade and Adewole 2014)

Innovation from the driving improvements of research have led to the improvement of
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

the utilizations of different biomasses for creations such as the two most common types

of biofuels in use today; bioethanol and biodiesel, both of which represent the first

generation of biofuel technology (“Biofuel Basics” 2020).

Bioethanol derived from biomass contributed 10–14% of the total world energy

supply and solved the world crisis such as global warming and depletion of fossil fuel

(Moneruzzaman Khandaker et al. 2021). As they are derived from biomasses, there has

been a significant amount of investigations involving food scraps. There is potential for

fruits and vegetable wastes thrown away daily in every household, and as there is

potential for fruits and vegetable wastes thrown away in every household, it is therefore

feasible to embark upon the conversion of these wastes into a useful product, ethanol.

(Pratik Gosavi, Chaudhary, and Durve 2017). Although past research has been conducted

to know the difference between ethanol and kerosene. It was observed that even though

both fuels combust to produce flame, ethanol burns cleanly and does not produce any

smoke or smell when blown out. On the other hand, kerosene produces more carbon and

greenhouse gases than ethanol and also produces an unpleasant smell when blown out

(Dioha et al. 2012). Aside from that, ethanol has much lower “energy density” than
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

kerosene, so you’d need to use a lot more of it to do the job. (“What Is the Difference

between Kerosene and Ethanol Fuel?” 2022).

Kitchen wastes contain a significant amount of organic matter, particularly

carbohydrates that can be converted into fermentable sugars for subsequent use in

bioethanol fermentation. In addition to sugar, Carica Papaya (Papaya) contains carbon, a

critical but costly component of current algal-based methods of producing oil for

conversion (“USDA ARS Online Magazine Algae + Papaya = Biofuel” 2016). In terms

of area planted in 2000, papaya ranks sixth in the Philippines among fruit crops.

Sinta, Papaya is the most common among all known papaya species in the Philippines.

Since its introduction to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, papaya has

become a major fruit crop in the country and a common staple in Filipino cuisine,

whether used raw in appetizers, or served ripe and sweet as a dessert (John Glen Sarol

2022). The country contributes a little over 1 percent of global papaya production, with

Brazil and Mexico accounting for 30 percent. Average yield of papaya in the Philippines

is about 14 m tons/ha on small farms and 70-90 m tons/ha from plantations/commercial

farms (Laude, 2002). Among all the major crops produced, papaya has the highest yield
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

in Occidental Mindoro, which is 20.41 metric tons per hectare (Super User 2021).

Consider the use of Papaya (Carica Papaya) waste as a different source of biofuel, which

has already been the subject of some studies. As a result, Carica Papaya (Papaya) seed oil

(CPSO) may be used as a feedstock for the methanolysis-based generation of biofuel

(Agunbiade and Adewole 2014).

However, using Carica Papaya (Papaya) waste as a fuel substitute may render the

source unsustainable and be unable to supply a steady stream of biofuel as a result –

which would defeat the purpose of the aim of sustainability in the production of

bioethanol. One alternative, is the use of Carica Papaya (Papaya) waste as a kerosene fuel

additive instead of by itself as a biofuel. While Carica Papaya (Papaya) waste is typically

either used to make fertilizer or thrown away, our research will be able to provide an

ecological application for Carica Papaya waste (Carica). As such, this study also aims to

investigate the potential of utilizing Carica Papaya (Papaya) wastes as a fuel additive for

kerosene.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

Our research will explore the feasibility and effectiveness of using Carica Papaya

(Papaya) waste as a source of fuel additive for kerosene and evaluate the properties and

characteristics of the resulting fuel. The advantages of using food waste as a fuel

additive, including the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a

more sustainable energy future, will also be tackled. Kerosene additives can greatly

improve the efficiency of oil-powered domestic appliances such as central heating

systems and range-cookers. In particular, these chemicals can help to reduce wear and

tear, lower maintenance costs and even extend the life of your boiler, oil tank or AGA

(Coldstar Systems Ltd 2023).

Despite the many possible types of fuel additives, one reason for using fuel additives

is the same across the board; to save money on fuel bills (Shaw 2020). The ethanol

production cost in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation-based bioethanol

process is influenced by the requirements for yeast production and for enzymes

(Wingreini et al. 2023). Upon a strictly biochemical point of view, fermentation is a

process of central metabolism in which an organism converts a carbohydrate, such as

starch or sugar, into an alcohol or an acid. For example, yeast performs fermentation to

obtain energy by converting sugar into alcohol. These yeasts produce and accumulate
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

lipids from glucose during growth (Pointner et al. 2014). Moreover, yeast can act in the

fermentation of global non-alcoholic products (bread, chocolate or coffee, beverages such

as kefir, sodas, lemonades, and vinegar or even biofuels and other chemicals. (Maicas

2020).

Overall, this research aims to contribute to the development of sustainable and

environmentally friendly fuel sources by exploring the use of degradable food wastes as a

fuel additive for kerosene. The study will provide insights into the feasibility and

potential benefits of using food waste as a source of fuel additive and contribute to the

growing body of research on sustainable energy solutions not only to bioethanol

production, but alongside alternatives for biodiesel, kerosene and potentially biodiesel.