Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes

Aegypti Mosquito Bites

Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes Aegypti

Mosquito Bites

A Research Study Submitted to the Division Science and Technology Fair

Innovation Team

Junior High School

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Division Science and Technology Fair (DSTF)
2019

Earl Ambida
Michael Luis Lagunday
Gabrielle Anne Pacring

September 2019

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………..………………..………………..…………………3

Methodology………………..………………..………………..………………..………..5

Results & Discussions.……………….. ………………..………………..……………..8

Conclusions…….………………..………………..………………..…………………….9

Acknowledgement ………………..………………..………………..………………….10

Bibliography ………………..………………..………………..………………..………..10

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites
Introduction
Eliminating mosquitos is a challenging
task for everyone. Not everyone can
actually do it without exerting much
effort such as removing stagnant
water, cleaning all the empty spaces
so no egg or larva can have the
potential to grow as a complete adult
mosquito, thus spending hundreds or
even thousands of peso per month to
buy aerosol mosquito killer which is
also bad for the health of whoever
inhales its particles. Another aspect
the researchers considered is the
consequence of being bitten by the
specific specie of mosquito which is
Aedes aegypti that causes the dengue
fever. Looking deeper into this case
and analyzing the possible scenarios,
the researchers decided to come up
with a project that would lessen the
problematic impacts of this issue. The
practicability of this project has been
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raised to a higher standard as it has a
special feature that makes it apart from
other mosquito repellents in the
market. It is programmed to release
organic mosquito repellent made from
the extracts of Cymbopogon citratus or
commonly called lemongrass and
called “tanglad” locally. The machine
wherein the tanglad mosquito repellent
is contained, to be diffused in the form
of vapor in an open or closed space, is
also programmed at specific time(s)
when Aedes aegypti mosquitos are
active, in terms of their biting behavior.
This research or product is limited on
repelling Aedes aegypti mosquito.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the Aedes
aaegypti mosquitos’ biting behavior
are proven to be on its peak at two
hours after sunrise and two hours
before sunset. This research was
made because of the recent dengue
INNOVATION
 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

outbreak which increased the number fact, there are already lots of mosquito

of deaths to 113% higher than last repellents in the market but most of

year in which there is a total of 271, them are dangerous for the human

480 recorded cases of dengue, with health such as containing lead and N-

1,107 cases of fatalities and almost Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) which

half of the age group of the victims are causes. In this case, the mosquito

minors or children that attend school, repellent that was used is organic and

according to the World Health it doesn’t contain dangerous chemicals

Organization (WHO) and the thus, it will lessen dengue cases. The

Department of Health (DOH). In this researchers verified if there is already

project, the materials are used are the an automatic machine that will diffuse

following: Arduino Uno for the organic mosquito repellent at a specific

installment of the programming, time(s) of the day and there was none

DS3231 AT24C32 IIC Real time clock on the market. The researchers

module to set the time(s) it will diffuse searched thoroughly in the internet

the tanglad mosquito repellant, such as Science journals, articles,

Channel Relay Module to control websites and also published

higher voltage than Arduino board researcher papers but to no avail.

does, and 9V/2A DC Adapter US Plug There are numerous repellents on the

5.5mm x 2.1mm, for the machine is the market such as the commercially

5V humidifier that has a maximum available aerosol sprays, mosquito

liquid capacity of500mL and the coils etc. and the automatic ones that

tanglad mosquito repellant solution. In are powered by electricity such as the

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

electronic ultrasonic pest repeller, also been proven to repel mosquitos

electric insect killer etc. The target as it has been historically valuable

consumers of this project are mainly source of agents to repell insects, such

students that attend school and are as in this case is the Aedes aegypti

unprotected from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. (Burfield T. et al., 2005)

mosquitos found at their surroundings.

Humidifier
This project is inexpensive and the
Humidifier therapy adds moisture to
materials used are readily available in
the air to prevent dryness that can
the market.
cause irritation in many parts of the
Materials & Methods
body. Humidifiers can be particularly

A. Materials effective which 6 can be used as PWM

outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz

Lemongrass or Tanglad
quartz crystal, a USB connection, a
Lemongrass also known as
power jack, an ICSP header and a
Cymbopogon citratus is a tall,
reset button. It contains everything
perennial grass in a class of about 45
needed to support the microcontroller;
species of grasses native to the
simply connect it to a computer with a
tropical and sub-tropical climates of
USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC
Asia, Australia and Africa. Other
adapter or battery to get started.
genuses of citrus are proven to have
Coin cell battery (LIR2032)
aromatherapeutic effects (Kiecolt-

Glaser, 2008). Aside from this, it has Each lithium coin battery offers a cell

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

size of 2032 (measures 0.8 inch in store (in Bayan). The tanglad mosquito

diameter by 0.1 inch thick). Though

repellent consists of Cymbopogon
lightweight and small in size, each
citratus found in many households and
lithium battery offers 3-volts of power
markets in Marikina City, and 1 L of
and a 225mAh capacity for impressive
tap water measured by a measuring
performance.
glass. In this case, the researchers

B. Preparation of Materials added 1 fruit of lemon to enhance the

citrus scent of the mosquito repellent

For the programming materials, the
when diffused or humidified and a
researchers purchased the following
filtering cloth. The solution is boiled in
from the local PC parts shop: Arduino
a pot.
Uno for the installment of the

programming, DS3231 AT24C32 IIC B. Creating the Product

Real time clock module to set the

The researchers install the LCD,RTC
time(s) it will diffuse the tanglad
and clear the arduinos eeprom. LCD –
mosquito repellant, Channel Relay
the lcd must have an address,
Module to control higher voltage than
declared at the beginning of the code.
Arduino board does, and 9V/2A DC
LCD module 16x2. VCC to Arduino 5V,
Adapter US Plug 5.5mm x 2.1mm. For
Ground (GND) to Arduino Ground

the device is the 5V humidifier that has (GND), SDA to Arduino analog pin 4,

a maximum liquid capacity of SCL to Arduino analog pin 5. Upload

500mL bought at the local appliance the code and open the serial monitor,

address will be displayed. Replace the

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

address if it’s not the same. (0x3F) in same time to the I2C bus ( Analog 4

the codes of the next steps. RTC – SDA, Analog 5 SCL ). First timer ;

they used the RTC 3231, but the right byte onhour1; byte onmin1; byte

time must be programmed. Add the onsec1; byte offhour1; byte offmin1;

RTClib-master to your Arduino library. byte offsec1; . A byte data type (0 to

Upload the code. This sketch takes the 255 unsigned) was used to store the

Date and Time according to the values. A byte can be easily stored on

computer you’re using (right when you the eeprom (1 data x address) and

compiled the code) and uses that bigger the number will be 59 (minute

program RTC. If your computer time is or seconds). We take the values from

not set right you should fix that first. the eeprom, 0 at the very beginning

Then you must press the Upload because the eeprom was cleared.

button to compile and then Where ( ) is the eeprom address. To

immediately upload. But note that if convert the first timer into Single

you compile and then upload later, the number Unsigned long on_Time1;

lock will be off by that amount of time. Unsigned long on_Hour1; Unsigned

Then open up the serial monitor long on_Min1; Unsigned long

window to show that the time has been on_Sec1; Unsigned long off_Time1;

set. Connecting the RTC follows VCC Unsigned long off_Hour1; Unsigned

to Arduino 5V, GND to Arduino GND, long off_Min1; Unsigned long

SDA to Arduino analog pin 4, and SCL off_Sec1; . To convert the clock into

to Arduino analog pin 5. The LCD and Single number unsigned long time;

the RTC can be connected at the unsigned long hour; unsigned long

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Aegypti Mosquito Bites

min; unsigned long sec;.The tanglad becomes light yellow-brown in

conversion is executed in the void color. Before placing the solution in the

loop. For the current time , we take the humidifier, it should be filtered using

values from the RTC with the library afiltering cloth to remove impurities or

function now ( ) , hour, minute, second, unwanted particles.

and assign this values to Hour, Min,

Results and Discussion
“Time” is the result of the sum of Hour
The humidifier with its setup
*10000 ; Min* 100 and Sec. This timer
timer was able to pass different trials
is based for the next ones. Mount the
and testing its validity and function.
circuit following the schematic,

remember RTC and LCD share the Table 1 Quantity of Solution based

same pins ( analog 4 SDA ; analog 5 on Time (hrs.)

SCL). Upload the code, remember to

Variables 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Final
Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial
add the libraries RTClib and the
Quantity 100mL 200mL 300mL 400mL 500mL 300
LiquidCrystal_I2C. In creating the (mL)
mL

solution for the mosquito repellent, the

Time 2 hrs. 3 hrs. 4 hrs. 5 hrs. 6 hrs. 4
hrs.
tanglad or Cymbopogon citratus is (Hrs.) & 30
mins.
extracted by boiling it in a 1 L tap

water and the sliced lemon is placed in

The humidifier’s length of
the mixture until it reached 100ºC. The
diffusion correlates with its quantity
solution is reduced to a fifth of the
inside the device. In Table 1, it took 4
primary liquid measurement. It is
hours and 30 minutes to diffuse the
observed that the solution and the

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

300 mL solution. It is the best or ideal their house perimeters.

duration to humidify an enclosed are.

The set time to diffuse the
The researchers decided to divide the
organic mosquito repellent increases
total or average hours into two,
the help of the machine greatly
meaning 2 hours and 15 minutes is the
because it helps the user operate the
diffusing time after sunrise and the
device with ease. It reduces the
same duration before sunset.
manual work that the user should have

Conclusion to do. The humidifier or the device

itself, worked effectively to scatter the

The product helps everyone in
organic mosquito repellent with
repelling the dengue mosquito Aedes
wherever the researcher intended to
aegypti at times of its biting peak,
diffuse, especially in a closed space or
especially people who have difficulty
room, with so minimal work. The
breathing, the people of working class
humidifier may be placed in one corner
and other people with disabilities
of the room but its humid can cover a
and/or chronic illness to have a
large space due to its density and it is
mosquito free surrounding. It helped
in the form of vapor. Also, there are no
people to deter mosquito activity
additives or harsh chemicals added in
despite of having busy schedules and
the solution so to ensure the health of
maintain their tasks with friends and
the user or the people who inhales it.
family without the trouble of

accommodating dengue-carrying The researchers had problems

mosquitos in their houses and even with the programming of the real time

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 Humidified Mosquito Repellent: An Intelligent Device Preventing Aedes
Aegypti Mosquito Bites

clock, the connections, and the Acknowledgement

conversion of the humidifier to an

This study would not be
intelligent mosquito repellent. But they
possible because of the effort,
were able to fix the problems that they
resources and time that the
have encountered. They had properly
researchers had allotted in the creation
arranged the process of programming
of this innovative project. Through the
of the real time clock, the connections,
continuous support of the parents and
and the conversion of the humidifier to
teachers of the researchers, this
an intelligent mosquito repellent.
project would not have been possible

The researchers have used the without them. For the idea of this

humidifier to utilize the fast and project, the researchers would like to

efficient scattering of the organic credit their research adviser Mrs.

mosquito repellent and that is very Jacqueline Ladera-Tabujara and to

uncommon in terms of repelling acknowledge herfor her support in this

insects, especially mosquitos. They research.

minimized the size of the equipment

Bibliography
used so that it is portable and easy to
Kiecolt-Glaser, Graham, Malarkey, et
use that even children can operate it
al., 2007
with just a press of a button to. And

finally they used organic materials that “Olfactory influences on mood and

can be easily found in the household. autonomic, endocrine, and immune

It is much cheaper and affordab function”

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Psychoneuroendocrinology, Volume

33, Issue 3, April 2008, Pages 328-

339.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article

/abs/pii/S0306453007002648

Burfield, T. & Reekie, S.-L., 2005

“Mosquitoes, malaria and essential

oils” International Journal of

Aromatherapy Volume 15, Issue 1,

2005, Pages 30-41.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article

/pii/S0962456204000992

Moore, K. and Cherney, K.,2017

“Humidifiers and Health” Issue April

25,2017

www.healthline.com/health/moments-

that-matter-with-psoriasis/remedies#3

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