(1) PROJECT PROFILE

Project Title: Utilizing Hydrogen Peroxide and Sulfuric Acid as Piranha-Solution to Dissolve
Non-biodegradable Waste
Names of Project Proponents: Aidann Joseph V. Bricenio, June Rhyza B. Caballero, Denzyl G.
Escleto
Region: IV-A CALABARZON
School: Lopez National Comprehensive High School
Division: Quezon
Grade Level: 10
Project Duration (number of months): ___________
Email: bricenioaidannnjoseph72@gmail.com, denzylgescleto@gmail.com,
rhyzacaballero658@gmail.com
Contact Number: 09451261844

(2) CATEGORY OF RESEARCH

___Physical Science
___Life Science
___Robotics and Intelligent Machines
___Mathematic and Computational Science
(3) CATEGORY OF RESEARCH
___Team
___Individual
(4) CATEGORY OF RESEARCH
___Food Safety
___Water Conservation
___Renewable Energy
___ Cyber Security
___Traffic/ Road Congestion
___Health
___Disaster Mitigation
___Agriculture and Environment
___ Others (please specify)
Waste Management

(5) EXECUTIVE SUMMMARY

In this research proposal an infamous mixture called Piranha solution will be the primary
element utilized to dissolve plastics. This experiment aims to create prototype composed of
agents that will help minimize plastic waste in the community such as: Polyethylene
Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-
Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), and other plastics. The
outcome of the observed factors is going to be recorded and compared for the result and
importance of the study.
(6) INTRODUCTION UNFINISHED :0
Plastic is an inexpensive conservation, packaging and product material that makes life
convenient, yet sacrifices our environment. Along with the advancement of technology and
increased production and invention ideas from the past decades, plastic has become the main
ingredient of widely produced products we use every day. Because of its lightweight and ductile
properties while being available to the market. However, its environmental impact is not quite as
good as its functions.
Some properties of plastics are harmful to the environment. Every day, tons of plastics are
produced while leaving the rest, releasing, and degrading into microplastics. This contributes to
other polluting factors such as chemical pollution and contamination. This causes the common
practices in which burning plastic, or any waste that has a significant for air quality and our
health. Burning plastic waste also releases a range of toxic gases, heavy metals, and particles into
the air. These can be bad for our health. Dioxins are just one of the many harmful emissions from
incinerators. They are highly toxic and can cause cancer and damage to the immune system.
The ceaselessly production of plastic can lead to degradation of the whole planet, if this
doesn't stop it will greatly affect the lives of all organisms inhabiting this planet. So, when
degraded improperly, it causes more harm than good. Additionally, these plastics take years or
even centuries to disappear. (LALAGYAN PA) Yes, these oxidizing properties were to use to
and eliminate microplastics. Different kinds of recycling are taught but. A prototype containing
this main element can be used

(6.1) RATIONALE/SIGNIFICANCE

Fighting the threat of plastic trash pollution has emerged as a major environmental
challenge. Plastics offer a variety of societal advantages as well as potential for future technical
and medical advancements. However, plastic also harms the environment and pose serious risks
to wildlife. It has been observed that certain plastic waste prevalent in the ocean are entangled
and consumed by marine organisms and these can jeopardize them both internally and externally,
which can eventually cause their deaths.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures have a significant impact on
plastic production, use, and waste disposal in the Philippines, as the demand for personal
protective equipment such as gloves, face shields and disposable masks became mandatory to
stop the spreading of the virus. Furthermore, due to the lockdowns and the fact that many people
are working from home, online shopping, and food takeaways became norm because going
outside can increase the risk of getting contracted with the virus. As a result, a notable amount of
new plastic waste is produced every day, mainly the widespread use of bubble wraps and
package wrapping to secure consumer products.

With the rising use of non-biodegradable products in the urbanized civilization of the
Philippines, this study can be used to address the situation by using the mixture of Hydrogen
Peroxide (H2O2) and Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) to create Piranha-Solution to dissolve non-
biodegradable waste. This will benefit online shoppers, those in charge of waste management,
factories, and the cleanliness of our environment. It will also help us prevent pollution, save, and
conserve energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions emission the greatly contribute to climate
change.
(6.2) SCIENTIFIC BASIS/THEORETICAL FRAMEORK/ MATHEMATICAL THEORY
INVOLVED
Plastic is a great substance, a generator and driver of economic development and
synthetic modernity. However, improper use and unethical disposal of plastics can pollute our
ecosystem. As the environmental stewardship concerns grow, plastic pollution has drawn more
and more attention from the scientific community, governments, media, and the general people
due to its detrimental effects on the environment and human health.
Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. All life forms are gravely
concerned about the problems that plastic trash in the environment causes. Due to indiscriminate use,
insufficient recycling, and landfill deposits, plastic manufacture and buildup in the natural environment
are occurring at a previously unheard rate of 370 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide in
2019, but only 9% of the material was recycled, 12% was burned, and the rest ended up in landfills or the
environment. Ecosystems on land and in the sea are also becoming exposed to plastic debris at a
previously unheard-of rate. As a result, researchers, policymakers, residents, and other stakeholders face a
difficult dilemma when it comes to managing plastic trash. (Sustainability 2021)
In this study, we will be using the Piranha Solution also known as Piranha etch (H2SO5) to
dissolve non-biodegradable waste. It is a mixture of Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) and Hydrogen Peroxide
(H2O2). There has been proof that Piranha Solution can dissolve almost all organic matter, because this
mixture is a strong oxidizing agent. It can also hydroxylate most surfaces, making them highly
hydrophilic. Hydronium Ions, Bicolpate Ions, and a reactive atomic oxygen species are produced because
of the chemical interaction between concentrated Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) and Hydrogen Peroxide
(H2O2). The formation of a reactive atomic oxygen species is essential for the development of an
oxidized PDMS surface (Si-OH) because it attacks the (Si-CH3) bonds in PDMS to form a silanol group.
There are stronger intermolecular pressures created when the concentration of hydroxyl groups increases.
A Hydroxyl Ion (OH-) is also formed when the reactive atomic oxygen species reacts with water
simultaneously. Additionally, the displaced (-CH3) quickly react with (H+) in the solution to produce
Methane. (ResearchGate)
As a potent acid, Piranha Solution can quickly dissolve any organic waste or material it
encounters, including human body and remains, animal carcasses, and plant residue (IFLSCIENCE). This
might explain that we can use Piranha solution to dissolve plastic and other non-biodegradable waste
because the main goal of this study is to reduce the plastic waste on our environment. There are also
experiments conducted wherein the Piranha Solution is utilized to dissolve the chicken drumstick (Nile
Red). This can also be done on the plastic waste in Lopez, Quezon, similarly using the mixture of Sulfuric
Acid (H2SO4) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) or the Piranha Solution (H2SO5).

(6.3) OBJECTIVES
General: To identify the proper way of disposing plastic without damaging the atmosphere
Specific:
1. determine the effects of piranha-solution to plastics
2. inspect and correlate the result of subducting different types of plastic into piranha-
solution
3. examine the chemical and physical properties of the piranha-solution and the plastic
products of each type
4. identify which material can contain the piranha-solution
(7) REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Plastic pollution is one of the world’s biggest global issues affecting the environment
and inhabitants since the late 1960s and early 1970s. Plastic is a synthetic material composed of
crude oil and natural gas that undergoes refining, polymerization, and compounding process
(Baheti, 2022). While plastic is known to be cheap, accessible, lightweight, and helpful for
conservation and packaging, these plastic items take 10 to 1000 years to decompose on landfills
which causes major concerns to the environment (LeBrank, 2017) Additionally, the ceaseless
mass-production have caused the quantity of these existing single-use plastic wastes to double
from the past two decades according to the new OECD report.
Philippines is listed among the top five contributors of plastic waste globally (Braaken et.
Al. 20) A share of this overall generated waste of the Philippines is single-use packaging wastes
from online purchases amid the coronavirus (Villar, 2022) Mismanagement of the waste stated
above can trigger this to enter the ocean, via wind, waves, or tidal transport, or touch the
coastlines from inland waterways (Richie and Roser. 2018). Apart from that, as studied by
Supply Chains Solutions Center, as of now, 91 percent of packaging waste is stored in landfills
and/or in the environment. Plastic manufacturing itself is energy intensive and emits greenhouse
gases, such as carbon dioxide, which are damaging to the environment and atmosphere that
contribute heavily to global warming. As these plastics pile in a landfill, these plastic wastes
undergo an incineration process, while reducing the number of wastes, emit toxic pollutants and
irritants to the atmosphere that threatens wildlife, ecosystems, and human health (Castillo, n.d.).
Microplastic is another plastic problem that is found in different environments, it is the
outcome of plastic particles when they break down and gain new physical and chemical
properties which increase the risk of their toxic effect on organisms occurring in dust and
airborne fibrous particles (UN. 2018) All kinds of plastic waste turns into microplastics which
scatters and reduce in size when exposed to sunlight, wind, rain, and other environmental
conditions. Plastic’s generally low density allows these fragments to be carried by the wind
across the world (Thompson 2021) This occurrence according to research and studies when
contacted with, can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation in humans while
lodging in the digestive tracts and tissues of various invertebrate sea animals. These
microplastics are proof that plastics can continue to harm without degrading fully.
Piranha solution is a highly acidic, oxidizing agent that can decompose most organic
matter. It is composed of firstly, sulfuric acid which is made through contact processing by
burning molten sulfur to form the gas sulfur dioxide (SO2) (Knapp, 2020). This corrosive
mineral acid is present in explosives, fertilizers, detergents that reacts strongly with water. The
second acid that makes up piranha solution is Hydrogen Peroxide, it is a water (H2O) with an
extra oxygen molecule (H2O2) and present in both antiseptic and disinfectants (Murrell, 2019).
To put these elements into use, 3:1 mixture of sulfuric acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide is
prepared to create the traditional piranha solution. The corrosive properties of this created
mixture can melt and attack plastic containers and several other organic materials (EHS, 2017).
Plastic is a mass-produced and immense polluter to the environment that release toxic
chemicals if not degraded properly. So, this study aims to eradicate plastic chemically using
piranha solution. However, if not carefully handled, piranha solution is a strong oxidizer, both
liquid and vapor forms are extremely corrosive to skin and respiratory tract, direct contact will
create skin burns and will be extremely destructive to mucous membranes, upper respiratory
tract, and eyes. These practices can. The piranha solution's oxidizing properties which are an
alternative way of absolute degradation while causing less harm to the environment.
(8) METHODOLOGY
Collection of Plastics and Materials
The plastics, such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene
(HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP),
Polystyrene (PS), and other plastics will be collected from households in Lopez, Quezon. The
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) will be bought locally or online. The
beaker and test tubes will be borrowed from the science laboratory of Lopez National
Comprehensive High School (LNCHS). Other non-biodegradable waste will be collected locally.
Preparation for Utilization
 The traditional piranha-solution is a 3:1 mixture of sulfuric acid (H 2SO4) and 30% hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2). Measure 75 ml of sulfuric acid (H 2SO4) and transfer to beaker. Add 25ml of
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to the acid slowly to prevent overheating. The solution must be mixed
before the material is applied, applying the sulfuric acid first followed by the hydrogen peroxide.
The seven (7) types of plastics will be prepared, each plastic will be labeled 1-7 according to
their respective types, and the non-biodegradable materials such as copper wire and cement will
serve as the confounding group. Each plastic will be labelled as Polyethylene Terephthalate (1),
High-Density Polyethylene (2), Polyvinyl Chloride (3), Low-Density Polyethylene (4),
Polypropylene (5), Polystyrene (6), and other (7). All plastics and the other non-biodegradable
materials will be carefully subducted in the piranha-solution and will be monitored immediately
as preparation for the experimentation.
Experimentation
The physical appearance of the initial plastics and non-biodegradable items from
households and the chemical parameters of the piranha-solution will be observed and recorded.
The solution will be placed in glass containers because the mixture is extremely corrosive to
organic material. Each plastic will be subjected to one hundred (100) ml of piranha-solution.
Likewise, the other non-biodegradable such as copper wire and cement will also be subjected to
the container with piranha-solution. After subjecting all the plastic waste along with the non-
biodegradable waste in the piranha-solution, the results and outcomes will be observed and
documented after 2 hours.
Observation and Analysis
(Soon to be Written)
(9) EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS UNFINISED :0
(10) WORK PLAN AND TARGET DELIVERABLES
Project: Utilizing Hydrogen Peroxide and Sulfuric Acid as Piranha-Solution to Dissolve
Non-biodegradable Waste

Activities DURATION (in weeks)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 12
1
1. Identification of the problem x
2. Literature Search x
3. Planning of the experiment
4. Setting of experimental design
5. Gathering of plants and materials
6. Preparation for Utilization
a. Preparing the plastics
b. Creating the piranha-solution
7. Experimentation
8. Data gathering and recording
9. Laboratory examination of the
piranha-solution and plastic
 products
10. Analysis of the results
11. Writing the results
a. First draft
b. Second draft
12. Writing the Research Paper

(11) REFERENCES :0