Chapter 2

The Feasibility of Banana Peel as an Alternative Shoe Polish

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Researchers conduct an investigatory research which states and promote an

eco-friendly product made from banana, orange peel, charcoal and kerosene as an

alternative for real shoe polish. The review of the study focuses on the banana peel,

charcoal, kerosene,and orange peel. Why banana peel is one of the alternatives for a

shoe polish, what’s in its skin that makes it an alternatives ingredient for a shoe polish.

Shoe polish(or boot polish), usually is a waxy paste, cream, or liquid used to

polish, shine, and waterproof feather shoes to extend the footwears life, restore

maintain and improve their appearance. It contains fats, lipids and wax. The lipids

makes the leather smooth and soft, While the wax protects it from dirt and moisture.

(Caldito, J.,2015).

The analytic result of a study conducted, showed and concluded that the

banana peeling of lacatan, a kind of banana found in the Philippines, showed potential

to be an alternatives shoe polish cream. Because the banana has many uses, the large

leaves may be used as umbrellas and many more. She recommended further test or

more precise ratio of banana peel extract for the sufficiency it will give. (Crisostomo, J.

A., 2013).
 The banana peels will be a natural shoe polish, which can be non toxic to

human, pets and for the environment. (permasoftly,2012). It shown on their result that

banana peel has no significant effect on shoe polish making and said that it can be a

potential ingredients for a shoe polish thus making some modification on materials and

some additional to improve general properties. Both banana peels and commercial

shoes contains potassium where in potassium nourishes the shoe. (Doncillo, H.

G.,2013).

Moreover, banana peel ethanol yields with significantly higher that plantain peel

ethanol yield. The finding of this study suggest that waste from fruits that contain

fermentable sugars can no longer to be discarded into our environment , but should be

converted to useful products. ( International Journal of Environmental Science and

Development, 2013). That’s why, Banana peel have been an important ingredient for

making shoe polish. Tannis present in ripe banana peel act as tanning agents in leather

processing. (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2013).

In the other side, shoe polishes have different colors like brown but the most

common is the color black. Shoe polish is usually flammable, can be toxic, and if

misused, it can stain skin. The researchers think of an idea that can combine as an

alternative colorant for shoe polish based on its characteristics that can be the main

source or ingredients of shoe polish. It was discovered that the most common

characteristic of color in shoe polish can be found in a charcoal so the researcher made
a shoe polish made from charcoal, because charcoal is dark gray or black color that is

one of the characteristic of shoe polish. ( Vez, J.,2015).

Additionally in a study of 2012, shoe shiner made from charcoal was deseigned

to produce a cheaper but effective shoe shiner than the commercial shoe shiner. The

black shoe shiner charcoal is affordable for everyone especially for student, teacher and

office workers.

According to the book entitled Wax Polishes Manufacturing Handbook with

Process and Formulate (Automobile, Industrial, Leather, Furniture, Floor, Marine, Metal

and Shoe Polish), Shoe polish is usually made from ingredients including some or all of

naphtha, lanolin,turpentine, wax (often Carnauba wax), gum arabic, ethylene glycol, and

if required a colourant, such as carbon black or an azo dye (such as aniline yellow). It

typically has aspecific gravity of 0.8, is negligibly soluble in water, and is made of

between 65 and 77% volatiles — usually naphtha. The high amount of volatile

substances means that the shoe polish will dry out and harden after application, while

retaining its shine. (NPCS Board of Consultants & Engineers, 2019). The chemical

composition of kerosene is fairly complex, and it is a complex mixture of paraffins

(55.2%), naphthenes (40.9%), and aromatic hydrocarbons (3.9%). (Hanania, J.,

Heffernan, B., Jenden, J., Stenhouse, K., & Donev, J., 2017). Kerosene has a

component called naptha that is also one of the component in making shoe polish to

help retain its shiness and dry out easily.

 In terms of using orange peels, the researchers observed and investigate

before decided to add this ingredient as freshener. According to the first conducted

study in year of 2020, shoe polish contains chemicals which can be absorbed through

the skin or inhaled because it has a component called nitrobenzene that can be found in

kerosene in which contains aromatic nitrogen compound with an almond like odor that

emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides upon combustion. Moreover, kerosene called

paraffin oil which is typically pale yellow or colourless and has a not unpleasant

characteristic odour. (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020). That's why

ingestion of kerosene is harmful because it can even be fatal if fumes are inhaled.

(Zsinj, 2016). So, for best remedy the researchers used Orange peels as an alternative

ingredient that are naturally absorb bad odors and are used to maintain a clean and

odor free house without using any chemical. Citrus fruits are effective in reducing odor

because they have antimicrobial properties that help control the growth of bacteria that

causes a bad smell.(Sandanski, Благоевград, Bulgaria, 2020). Additionally, orange

peels can eliminates the bad odors caused by kerosene and can be an alternative

organic ingredient in making shoe polish with a good scented smell.