CHAPTER I

Background of the Study

Fire is a chemical reaction that gives off light and heat. Fire is also very dangerous, it can cause
houses, trees and many other things to burn into ashes. Fire is an important process that affects ecological
systems around the globe.1 Humans have been using fires for thousands of years. The element of fire is a
significant tool for humans in that it can be useful in a number of ways. 2It is mostly used in rituals, in
agriculture for clearing land, for cooking, generating heat and light, for signaling, propulsion
purposes, smelting, forging, incineration of waste, cremation, and as a weapon or mode of destruction.
From the very basic and primitive essentials to modern living amenities, fire plays one of the most
important roles in our daily lives. As an example, we always cook our foods before we eat it. And in
cooking, fire is needed to prepare foods in many different ways.
One source of fuel for many Filipino people especially in rural areas are charcoals. According to
a survey by the Central Echo year 2011, more than 90% of Filipinos are dependent on charcoal for
cooking. While only 1-2% use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or kerosene due to high cost of living.
However, making charcoal means cutting trees. As a result, only species of trees that do not burn well are
left in our forests. Therefore, there is a compelling need to find alternative fuel sources and new methods
that can minimize the need for charcoal.
On the other hand, paper is the major contributor of solid waste by either weight or volume. Yet it
is highly recyclable and can be manufactured into some other materials. With such abundant material
available, the researchers conducted a study on the use of paper as charcoal with features that would
lessen time for it to ignite, hence making “Self-igniting Paper Charcoal”.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to introduce and promote the use of palm tree seed to easily ignite a fire on a
paper charcoal. Specifically it aims to answer the following questions:
1. How will we add the ground seed in the making of paper charcoal?
2. How long will it take to ignite a paper charcoal using the palm tree seed?
3. How long will the paper charcoal last?

Hypothesis
If dried palm tree seed can easily light up a fire, then the paper charcoal will easily ignite because
of the dried palm tree seed under it.

1
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire&https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire
2
https://www.hunker.com/12430778/uses-of-fire
Significance of the Study
The findings of this study aims to provide the easiest way to ignite a fire using the paper charcoal
made out of recycled papers that would be useful for cooking or other needs related in burning, heating,
lighting, etc.. The use of recycled papers, paper charcoal, is a great help in supplying the needs of most
Filipinos in terms of cooking. There are no chemicals included in this research so this would benefit all
without any side effects. Thus, it is a very eco-friendly product that would minimize the production of
commercial charcoals and could help preserve trees of our own and with the use of the palm tree seed it
would go up in flames in a shorter time. This product can be used by anyone particularly the citizens who
use charcoals instead of LPG.
Thus, paper charcoal was introduced as an alternative for charcoal. Also, it will not destroy our
forests and ravage mother earth but instead, this will help minimize solid waste and reduce forest
denudation due to charcoal making.

Scope and Delimitations

The main focus of this study is to use a palm tree seed to easily ignite a fire on a paper charcoal.
The dried palm tree seed is capable to ignite a fire for a longer period of time. This study is beneficial to
all the people in the Philippines who are using paper charcoals or ordinary commercial charcoals. The
independent variables are the palm tree seeds and the paper charcoal. This study is focused on using palm
tree seed in igniting a paper charcoal.

Definition of Terms
1. Wood: a material obtained from trees, is used to make charcoal and other paper products.
2. Charcoal: a flammable material made from bark of trees, used for heating in some areas of the world.
3. Commercial Charcoal: Charcoal sold in stores and markets, usually comes in chunks or briquettes.
4. Paper: a material also obtained from trees, used to write, print, wrap, etc., made from the bark of tress
and bleached.
5. Paper Charcoal: recycled papers made into charcoals
6. Fire: combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and
typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
7. Ignite: catch fire or cause to catch fire
8. LPG: also referred to as simply propane or butane, are flammable mixtures of hydrocarbon gases used
as fuel in heating appliances, cooking equipment, and vehicles.