A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF RICE HULLS (Oryza sativa) AS A SUBSTITUTE IN

MAKING ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP

i. INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE

Rice hull became a huge remainder after the harvest. Globally, approximately 600
million tons of rice paddy is produced each year. On an average 20 % of the rice paddy
is hull, giving an annual total production of 120 million tons (Manuel, 2018). Hence, the
whole world is suffering from this excess waste and became one of the agents
contributing to air pollution (Bastaweesy et al., 2017). Coin

Rice hulls or rice husks are the coatings of seeds, or grains of rice. The hull protects
the seed during the growing season and is formed from hard materials, including
opaline silica and lignin. The hull is hard to eat or swallow and mostly indigestible to
humans because of its enriched fibre components (Lina, 2006).

The combustion ash of rice hull as an alternative source in making soap has the
perfect ability to control facial oil. It is effective in the removal of dead cells, thus,
providing clean and flawless skin. It works wonders on clearing the pores of the
impurities which are responsible for blackheads. It works by absorbing oil, deep-seated
debris and environmental pollutants to detoxify the skin. After using it, your skin should
feel smooth and your pores should be visibly refined and results to an amazing deep
cleanse (Liu, 2005).

This study aims to make a special kind of soap which is harmless to the user and
environment-friendly. There are many kinds of soap that are made with bleach which
can irritate consumer's skin. Nowadays, beauty bars are not marketed as beauty soaps
because technically speaking, they are not soaps but detergents that are made up of
harsh substances and lathering agents.
 In addition to, this study could lessen the impacts of rice hulls as one of the agents
contributing to air pollution and reduces the p of waste materials by converting rice hulls
into a more innovative and profitable antibacterial soap.

Lastly, the result of this study will give importance to the essence of recycling.
Instead of disposing rice hulls and creates air contamination, this can be a great source
to eradicate expensive commercial soap products which can irritate and causes
damage to consumer’s skin.
ii. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

a.Definition

Rice hull (Oryza sativa) have been attracted as value added material towards waste
utilization and cost reduction in domestic and industrial processing. Rice milling
generates by product known as rice hull .The rice hull, also called rice husk, is the
coating on a seed or grain of rice. It is formed from hard materials, including silica and
lignin, to protect the seed during the growing season. (Source, year)

Rice hull (RH) is widely available in rice producing countries like China and India
which contribute 33% and 22% of global rice production respectively, as by-product of
the rice milling. RH content ranges from 16-25% of paddy . Every year approximately
500 million tonne paddy produced by world and 120 million tonnes of paddy produced
by India, it gives around 24 million tonnes of RH per year (Shwetha et al., 2014).

Rice hull ash (RHA) is the by-product of RH, when it burned in ambient atmosphere.
Rice husk ash fillers are derived from rice hulls, which are usually regarded as
agricultural waste. Rice hull ash is a wide-ranging term describing all kinds of ash
formed from burning rice hull. Silica ash is produced upon burning and subsequently
cellulose and lignin are removed. This RHA, in turn, contains around 85 % - 90 %
amorphous silica. (Source, year)

In the study of Koteswara (year), there are twenty million tonnes produced per year
worldwide. Due to low density and less commercial interest of RH, handling as well as
transportation, it poses challenges, like disposal and serious environmental problems .
High-value applications of RHA are synthesis of silica, activated carbon, silica gels,
porous carbon, zeolites, siliconcarbide, silicon nitride, manufacturing of silicon chip and
light weight construction materials insulations, catalysts, cordierite, ingredients for
lithium ion batteries, graphene, energy storage/capacitor, carbon capture. Other
applications include in the manufacture of soluble silicate, silicones and its alloy, silicon
based chemicals, reinforcing filler in natural and synthetic rubber. Due to lack of
awareness of its properties and applications, rice husks are not being utilized
effectively. Therefore, application of RH and RHA in domestic and industrial processing,
not only useful to increase farm income directly and indirectly, but also an alternative
solution to disposal problem of RH ( source, year)

RH contents are hemicelluloses (24.3%), cellulose (34.4%), lignin (19.2%), ash

(18.85%), and the other trace elements (3.25%). Hemicelluloses are used as resource
of activated carbon, xylose and silicon dioxide. RH contains main elemental
components as carbon (37.05%), hydrogen (8.80%), nitrogen (11.06%), silicon (9.01%)
and oxygen (35.03 %). Hull contains 17-25% silica . Moreover, rice hulls have bulk
density of 96-100 kg/m3, hardness (Mohr's scale) 5-6, ash (22.29%), oxygen (31-37%),
nitrogen (0.23-0.32%), sulphur (0.04-0.08%), hydrogen (4-5%). However, the
composition of RH depends on many factors such as rice variety, type of fertilizer used,
soil chemistry, and even the geographic localization of the production (Muthadhi et al.,
2007).
 RH is high in ash content as compared to other biomass fuels ranging 14-25%. Silica
content in RHA varies from 83-98% . The presence of high amount of silica makes it, a
valuable material for use in industrial applications. Chemical composition of RHA
determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) are Si02 or silicon dioxide (89%), A1203 or
aluminum oxide (1.20%), C or carbon (18.24%), CaO or oxocalcium (1%), K20 or
potassium oxide (1.22%), Fe203 or ferric oxide (1.28%). There are various factors
which affects the ash properties such as, incinerating conditions (temperature and
duration), rate of heating, burning technique (Adam et al.,2006).

Unique physical and chemical properties of RH, like high ash content and silica
content can be effectively used in domestic and industrial processing, Many of reports
shown that, RH is used as fuel for different purpose, such as in brick kilns, in furnaces,
in parboiling process of rice, as a cleaning or polishing agent in metal and machine
industry, briquettes molecular sieve, and serve as the raw material for the production of
sodium silicate (source, year).

The presence of silica in RH has been known since 1938 (Martin, 1938). Due to its
high silicon content, RHA has become a source for preparation of silica (Della et al.,
2002).Precipitated silica is widely used in many of the industries like electronics,
ceramic, paint industry, polymer material, tyre industry, cosmetics, reinforcing agent in
rubber, thickening agent in paints, thixotropic agents, thermal insulators, composite
fillers, in toothpastes as a cleansing agent ,and a great component in soaps and
detergents, and anticaking agent in food industry (Dongmin et al., 2010).

The high silica content of RH makes it insoluble in water, having good chemical stability,
structural strength (Lee et al., 1994). So it plays important role in water purification as
well as in waste water treatment. Sorbent made by RH effectively used to removal of
the six heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb (Munaf, 2010). RH is also
used as adsorbent to remove various pollutants, phenols, dyes, pesticides, inorganic
anions, organic compounds and heavy metals (Lata and Samadder, 2014).

Due to high silica content of RH now, it become a source for a number of silicon
compounds, silicon nitride, silicon tetrachloride, including silicon carbide, silica, zeolite,
and pure silicon. Also for preparing advanced materials like SiC or silicon carbide,
elemental Si or silicon, Mg2Si or magnesium silicide, Si2N20 or silicon nitride oxide, SIN
or silicon nitride, silanes ( Patil et Al., 2014).

At the same time, rice hull is an alternative source of sodium silicate. Sodium silicate
solutions have strong adhesive properties similar to those of organic colloids like gums
and resins. The silicate has the advantage of being colourless, odourless, heat resistant
and of becoming insoluble. The major uses of sodium silicate are connected with its
adhesive, wetting, binding and detergent properties (source, year)
Various researchers have analyzed some antrimicrobial potentials found in rice hulls. In
the study of Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Dhaka,year of publication

Bangladesh ,the crude methanolic extract of rice hull was investigated for possible
phytochemical, antimicrobial activities (source, year)Thin layer chromatography and
ultra-violet spectroscopy were used to detect the presence of various types of
compound in methanolic extract of rice husk. The methanolic extract showed
antibacterial activities. crude methanolic extract was fractionated by vacuum liquid
chromatography by differents seven polar solvent.

The seven fractions were identified by performing TLC and later Disc diffusion assay of
the primary seven fractions were performed to show the antibacterial effect using gram
positive, gram negative strains of bacteria and fungi. Among the fractions n-butanol
demonstrated antimicrobial activity. Other six fractions did not demonstrate antimicrobial
activity( source, year )

The n-butanol fraction was further exploited VLC to isolate the active principle which
exhibited the antimicrobial activity. Dichloromethane fraction showed good antimicrobial
activity than other six fractions. DCM fraction also showed good result in the MIC and
MBC using bacteria and fungi. Lethality index and Receptor binding activities of the
DCM fraction was investigated by hemagglutination inhibition assay. DCM fraction
showed the negligible amount of toxicity effect and showed moderate hemagglutination
inhibition activities (source, year )

There are several well-known biochemicals in rice husk such as momilactones which
play a role as plant growth inhibitors , and are involved in drought and salinity tolerance
in rice. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid and trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid were identified from
rice husk and showedantimicrobial potential Glycosyl flavonoid and phytic acid in
Katakuhara cutivar, and (anisole); mhydroxybenzaldehyde; 4-hydroxy-3-
methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin); and 4-hydroxy-3,5dimethoxybenzaldehyde
(syringaldehyde) in wild rice have been reported as antioxidants in rice husk. The
polysaccharide fraction was useful for various applications, such as adhesives, films,
and biofuel production . Rice husk has been described as exhibiting weed-suppressing
abilities .
In order to explore further potential use of rice husk and provide a positive measure to
reduce the environmental problems caused by this rice by-product, this study was
conducted to examine total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC),
an&oxidant (DPPH radical scavenging activity, ß-carotene bleaching method, and
reducing power), and antimicrobial (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Listeria
monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus mirabilis) activities of rice husk (Noguchi,

2008). In order to enhance the commercial value of rice husk, different extracting
solvents, temperatures, and pressures on optimization of chemical components, and
antioxidant and microbial activities were investigated.

Another antimicrobial study of rice hull has conducted by Noguchi. It was shown in his
research study that Momilactones A (MA) and B (MB) were isolated from rice husk and
found to be correlated to the drought and salinity tolerance capacities , these
compounds concentrated on plan growth, pathogen, and antioxidant capacity ,and

cytotoxic and antitumor activity . Both MA and MB further were found from many other N
rice cultivars. However, this study is the initial step to observe that rice husk, especially
the E'OAc extract, contains rich antioxidants that should be exploited, M7 (distilled water
only, at 100 "C) wag found to yield the greatest TPC and TFC. M6 (distilled water only
at room temperature) and M20 (dried and then boiled at 100 QC for each 1 h) were
shown to be strongest jn antioxidant capacity. M18, which was the most potent, showed
a strong inhibition against emergence of all studied bacteria (temperature 100 oc + 10%
MeOH.)
Noguchi's study revealed that major constituents in rice husk included mornilactoneg A
and Bi phenols, phenolic acids, and long-chain fatty acids, although their presences
varied among extracting protocols. There were 3 constituents, including cig-I I-
octadecenoic acid methyl ester, 4-((1 E)-3-hydroxy-1-propenyI)-2-methoxyphenol, and
trans-p-cournaric acid, which obtained the maximum peak areas as compared to other
compounds. MA and MB were also the major chemicals but appeared with lesser peak
areas and they were not detected in the extracts with either solely distilled water or
MeOH 50% at any temperature, Among them, MA and MB and trans-p-coumaric acid
have been known as bioactive compounds, thus their existence may help to increase
the value of rice husk. In this study, because many identified can neither successfully be
purified nor purchased, the peak areas were used to compare the efficacy of different
extracting protocols. The use of standards of these identified constituents for
quantification will help determine with more accuracy of the quantities of chemicals
obtained in rice husk, that need further elaboration.

The findings of Noguchi's study suggest that the quantity of paddy rice by-product's
wagte can be reduced when rice husk can be exploited for medicinal and antibacterial
purposes, as it is revealed to possess rich and safe antioxidants, and antimicrobials.

The use of temperature, extracting solvents, and pressure, as shown in this study, to
optimize the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacjtjes is useful to apply at an industrial
scale. The search for novel bioactive compounds in rice husk will also help to foster the
valuable use of the rice by-product.

In conclusion, this study indicated that the extracts prepared from rice husk contained
potent amounts of phenolic and flavonoid contents. Rice husk also showed prornising
antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The use of temperature at 100 oc for > 2 h,
combined with either EtOAc or 10% MeOH can optimize the chemical components and
antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities of rice husk (source, year )

With the above-mentioned antimicrobial studies, rice hull plays an important role not just
in industrial processing but also to the production of antibacterial and whitening soap
that could lessen the spread of skin infecton caused by commercial soaps.
iii. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

To prevent the negative effects of commercial soaps in people's skin and to reduce
the expenses in buying whitening soaps in the market. attempts to study an alternative
source for antibactenal and whitening soap is necessary. Hence, to give solution to this
problem with regards to health and financial commercial soap issues. the aim of this
study will answer the following questions:

1.Is rice hull an effective source in making antibacterial soap?

2.Is there significant difference between the concentration of rice hull ash to the
antibacterial activity of rice hull soap?

iv. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This study covers the feasibility of rice hull (Oryza sativa) as another source in
making antibacterial soap. The delimitation of the study is only the rice hull ash to be
analyzed. The rice hulls must be well dried and its ashes must be grinded into finest
particles so that during the process, it will easily dissolve in a mixture creating a better
outcome in producing antibacterial and whitening soap out from rice hulls.
 CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods to be used in the study. It also

describes the subjects of the study, the instruments used, the
procedure of data gathering, and the statistical treatment of the
data.

This study will determine the feasibility of Rice Hull as a substitute

in making an antibacterial soap.