LIKHA - PROJECT PROPOSAL

Project Title: Feasibility of Used Skewers as Substitutes for MDF wood

Names of Project Proponent/s: Josol, Jayne Ceilo
Parojinog, Shaira Lonna
Sigue, Earl Jeco
Region: X Division: Lanao Del Norte
School: Lanao Norte National Comprehensive High School Grade Level: 12
Project Duration (number of months): 3 months and a half
Email: jaynejosol1@gmail.com Contact Number: 09357385312
CATEGORY OF RESEARCH THEME
______ Physical Science ______ Food Safety
______ Life Science ______ Water Conservation
______ Robotics and Intelligent ______ Renewable Energy
Machines ______ Cyber Security
______ Mathematics and Computational ______ Traffic / Road Congestion
Sciences ______ Health
______ Disaster Mitigation
______ Agriculture and Environment
____ Individual ______ Others (please specify)
____ Team ___________________
Executive Summary

Every year, we generate at least 40,000 tons of garbage, a portion of which consists of single-

use or disposable items such as straws, plastic bags, skewers, cans, and many others. These

can pose hazards to the general public and to the environment if they are irresponsibly thrown

away. Bamboo skewers are one of the most environmentally friendly choices in terms of

cooking in a barbecue. They contain no toxins and biodegrade quickly. Their main

disadvantage is that they warp and fall apart easily, making them unsuitable for continued

heavy use. However, bamboo skewers are for one-time use only. They are then discarded and

are thrown into trashcans. They occasionally poke trash bags and make holes that are not

necessary. This study aims to promote green and eco-friendly alternatives to single-use

skewers in order to help solve the Philippine waste problem. The goal of this research is to

encourage people to upcycle disposable items and make them reusable and to see if the

finished product is comparable to commercially available engineered wood boards on the

market.
Rationale/Significance

The fundamental reason why this research should be conducted is for the public to be aware

of their own waste. Some aspects of the Philippines' waste management program have been

lacking. Solid waste management concerns include improper waste disposal, inefficient waste

collection, and a lack of disposal facilities. However, there are only a few recovery facilities

equipped with waste-reduction technologies such as recycling and composting (Drowning in

Waste – Case Manila, the Philippines: Woima Corporation, 2021). Disposed bamboo skewers

are a hazard to the general public as well as to the animals in the surrounding area. The public

can either step on the sharp end of the skewers or unintentionally ingest a part of a skewer.

Pets that are roaming can also ingest the skewers, thinking that they are food. Disposed

bamboo skewers can pose a risk if not discarded properly.

According to NSWMC (National Solid Waste Management Commission), there are only five

recipients of solid waste management equipment in Region X. There is only one shredder and

three operational sanitation landfills in Lanao del Norte. The country's efforts are insufficient

to cut the stem of the rising tide of single-use or disposable items. That is why upcycling is

recommended. The more we buy, the more we produce, which leads to more usage and more

items disposed of. As a result, upcycling is a clever solution. Upcycling reduces the amount

of waste sent to landfills each year and significantly reduces CO2 emissions by extending the

lifespan of materials. It also reduces the need for new or raw materials. Upcycling contributes

to the creation of a circular economy, in which materials are constantly reused rather than

becoming waste. This is significant because it allows single-use items to be used indefinitely,

which in our case are disposed of bamboo skewers.

Scientific Bases/Theoretical Framework/Mathematical Theory

Engineered wood, also called mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or

manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured

by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers or boards of wood together with

adhesives to form a composite material. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered

wood product created by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibers,

combining them with wax and a resin binder, and forming them into panels under high

temperatures and pressure. MDF is denser than plywood.

MDF is difficult to flex or crack. MDF is technically made of wood, but its structure is

completely different. If you try to bend an MDF board, it will snag rather than warp. This is

why engineered wood outperforms its competitors in terms of moisture resistance. Of course,

if you submerge it in water, the board will eventually be damaged. When exposed to airborne

moisture, the piece will expand and shrink as a whole while maintaining its overall integrity

and shape MDF boards are typically less expensive than natural wood (Dmitri Kara, MDF or

Solid Wood Furniture: What are the Advantages and Disadvantages? 11/9/17). Of course,

there are a few exceptions when comparing high-end MDF to some of the less expensive

types of wood. Another great advantage of engineered wood is that it’s easier to find than,

say, maple or white oak, especially if you need a specific size. The flexibility of

manufacturing has offered interior designers the choice between flat-paneled, partially, or

fully overlay, insert, euro-styled, and raised designs. Many types of MDF offer extra

resistance to moisture, which is crucial for kitchen and bathroom furnishings.

Assuming that MDF is on par with the proposed product, the researcher can declare that our

engineered wood stands beside plywood and any engineered wood. However, since MDF is
made with urea-formaldehyde, you might be exposed to a probable carcinogen. So, for MDF

projects, it is best to work in a well-ventilated area or, better yet outdoors. Wearing

respiratory protective equipment is also needed when you’re working with MDF.

Disposed bamboo skewers will act as the wood needed to make an engineered wood that

surpasses MDF. Wood glue is used as a binder for all of the bamboo sticks to stick together.

Epoxy will be added for durability and extra resistance to water. The functionality of the

products will vary depending on their size and the process that was put into making the final

product.

Objectives

General Objective:

● Compare the planks that were made with skewers with commercial wood that is

available on the market.

● To assess whether or not the product will work as a substitute for MDF.

Specific Objective:

● To evaluate the following tests: tensile test, compression test, flexure test, and the

moisture content of the planks to test if it is feasible as a substitute for

wood boards.
Review of Literature

The current global environmental crisis is caused by the uncontrolled generation and illegal

dumping of solid waste (SW), which endangers public health and the environment (Madrigal

& Oracion, 2017; Ali & Sion 2014). Philippines like most developing countries in Asia and

the Pacific Region faces more pronounced waste management challenges in urban

metropolitan centers. As reported by World Bank in 2001, cities within Metro Manila

generate almost 25% of the country’s total waste generation. (Albert Alatrejos, September 5,

2017). Bamboo is an Important part of millions of people’s daily lives in subtropical and

tropical areas. Increased research in recent years has greatly aided our understanding of these

crucial arbore scent grasses, as well as enhanced processing for a wider range application.

The bamboo sticks market is divided into several segments, the two most important of which

are chopsticks and toothpicks. Other bamboo stick products include barbeque sticks, incense

sticks, mat, and curtain sticks, all of which are important in their respective markets.

Bamboo-based stick items are gaining market share due to consumer awareness of bamboo’s

environmental benefits, bamboo’s strong competition with, and in many cases superiority

over, wood-based products, and the rise of Asian markets in particular.

A Chinese woman, 25, presented with a painful lower quadrant abdominal mass. CT scans

revealed a dense forked foreign body within an extra luminal mass. At laparotomy, a 2.5cm

bamboo skewer was discovered surrounded by inflamed tomentum. (WCG Peh, C Helpert,

CW Chan, March 27, 2008). A study was conducted in Southwest China about pediatric

traumatic cataract. This study enrolled 716 eyes from 716 patients, with 488 (68.2%) male
and 288 female patients in a ratio of 2.14:1; 117 patients were from a minority nationality

region. Winter was the most common season for pediatric traumatic cataract (40.2%). Sharp

metal object-related eye injuries 9scissors/knife/needle/sheet metal/dart) were the most

common, followed by botanic sticks (wooden/bamboo/bamboo skewers) and stationery

(pencil/pen/ruler/paper) (Pingping Wang, Hongbo Yin, Lin Wang, Longqian Liu, October 20,

2021). A 2-year-old female miniature dachshund had been coughing and abnormally lifting

her right forelimb for 8 months. The dog had eaten grilled chicken on bamboo skewers and

vomited them up before the onset of clinical signs, according to the owner. CT scans revealed

a bamboo skewer-like structure extending from the right lung to the right axillary region (K

Otsuka, M Yamashita, A Shibaki, H Katamotto, 2005).

A study about the physical and mechanical properties of Medium-Density Fiberboard made

from Giant Bamboo. The fiber was created using a chemo-thermo-mechanical pulping

process under four different conditions. The panels were made with 10% urea formaldehyde

resin based on fiber dry weight, 2.5% catalyzer (ammonium sulfate), and 2% paraffin. The

results show that treatments with the highest percentage of alkali (NaOH), time, and splinter

heating temperature improved the physical properties of the panels. The mechanical

properties of the panels were influenced by the fiber wall characteristics and interaction with

the resin. Giant bamboo fiber has the potential to be used in the production of MDF, but more

research is needed (M. Nelson, N. Eduardo, N. Silvana, V. Ivaldo, June 16, 2013).

A Canadian company called Chop Value that is owned by Felix Bock conducted a similar

study with chopsticks instead of skewers. The manufacturing process begins with the

collection of raw materials from over 300 restaurants in British Columbia. They are returned

to the plant, and the chopsticks are sorted. Coated in water-based resin and baked for five
hours at 2v00 degrees to kill germs. The individual sticks are then broken down and loaded

into a massive hydraulic machine, which compresses them into a composite board. The

company has kept nearly 33 million pairs of chopsticks out of landfills. The researchers want

to do the same thing that the company did, but instead of chopsticks, they want to use

skewers. And to make the planks comparable in terms of quality to MDF) boards.
Methodology

The following will show the procedures on how to make the wood items made from recycled

skewers, which will be the guide for the researchers of this study. (Refer to the flowchart

below)

Gathering the material

Creating the Boards

Testing the Boards

Preparing the Boards

Creating the wood product

Process chart showing the procedures done on the product

Test that are going to be conducted on the planks are the following:

Tensile testing

Compression Test

Flexure Test

Moisture Absorption of the boards

Four different boards will be made. The created and tested wood boards will then be sanded

down and cut to match the dimensions of the MDF; this will ensure that the planks are

flexible enough to be tested and compared to commercially available MDF. The thickness of

the planks will be 5mm, respectively.

Specifications for Standard MDF Products

Density – 788 Kg/m3

Moisture Content – 5.50%

Thickness of Tolerance - ± 0.125mm

Modulus of Rupture – 33.1 N/mm2

Modulus of Elasticity – 3,448.3 N/mm2

Size: 15cm width and 30.5cm length

MOR (Modulus of Rupture) – is a measure of the tensile strength of concrete beams or slabs.

M = (3 * P * L) / (2 * b * d2)

Where,

M = Modulus of Rupture

P = Breaking Load

L = Distance between Knife Edges on which the Sample is Supported

b = Average Specimen Breadth

d = Average Specimen Depth

MOE (Modulus of Elasticity) - Modulus of Elasticity, also known as Elastic Modulus or

simply Modulus, is the measurement of a material's elasticity. Elastic modulus quantifies a

material's resistance to non-permanent, or elastic, deformation. When under stress, materials

will first exhibit elastic properties: the stress causes them to deform, but the material will

return to its previous state after the stress is removed.

E = tensile stress/tensile strain = (FL) / (A * change in L),

Where,

F is the applied force

L is the initial length

A is the square area

E is Young's modulus in Pascal’s (Pa)

Gathering the materials

The raw materials used in this product are recycled bamboo skewers that will be found on

either the sidewalk or the garbage can. The researchers will gather the raw materials using

protective gloves to ensure safety and prevent unhygienic situation while gathering the raw

materials. Wood glue, plastic wraps, mold made from recycled woods, and a 15 kl. weight is

used in making the planks.

Sanitizing and preparing the raw materials

Sanitizing the skewers

● The skewers will be soaked in lukewarm soapy water for two minutes and cleaned

thoroughly.

● The skewers will be dried in direct sunlight for over 2-3 hours.
 ● The skewers will be soaked in a solution of vinegar, water, and lemon juice to remove

the odors. Equal parts of vinegar and water and rub the solution along the skewers'

grain. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to dilute the vinegar smell.

● The skewers will be air dried or dried in direct sunlight completely for at least an

hour.

Preparing the raw materials

● The sharp part of the skewers will be removed or cut using a cutter.

● The part of the skewers where the end was cut will be smoothed using sandpaper.

● The skewers will then be prepared for gluing the skewers to each other.

Creating the Planks:

● mold or container will be used for the shape of the boards.

● Then wood glue will be used to glue the skewers together.

● The skewers will be then compressed in the mold, and a 15-kilogram weight will be

placed on top.

● A sheet of plastic will be used to avoid sticking to the mold and for easy removal of

the boards.

● Then it will be dried completely for 3–4 hours.

● The plank will be then tested in 4 different tests.

B.

● The planks will then be submerged in a container full of wood glue to ensure that the

spaces inside are filled.

● The planks are dried for at least 7 hours in direct sunlight.

Expected Outputs

To see the inside of the planks, the planks are cut in half. Even if the sticks were neatly

stacked, there were still some empty spaces. This will be resolved by immersing it in a wood

glue-filled container. For added durability, the researchers are considering using resin to fill

in the gaps and spaces. The product is expected to last at least three years.

This research will assist the Philippines in dealing with single-use items. The study benefits

Filipinos living in rural areas with poor waste management by providing alternative uses for

single-use items, particularly skewers, because skewers on the streets can pose a great risk to

the general public. This research will provide new opportunities for small and micro medium-

sized enterprises to consider recycling their own unused products.

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a critical role in the development

of the Philippine economy. They contribute to poverty reduction by creating jobs for the

country's growing labor force. They promote economic development in rural and remote

areas. MSMEs have more freedom to be creative and innovative than larger companies with

rigid rules and set corporate structures because of their small business structures that are

unencumbered by established conventions and red tape. With less than a million small

businesses spread across the country, MSMEs account for one-third of total employment in

the Philippines. According to the DTI, MSMEs created 4.9 million jobs in 2017, compared to

2.9 million for large corporations. Thousands of families and individuals are reaping the

benefits of a steady income, earning, and spending, and contributing to the economy. This

research offers an opportunity for MSMEs to offer a product that can potentially benefit the

workers, buyers, and the environment.

 Work Plan and Target Derivable

30-Mar-22 19-May-22 8-Jul-22 27-Aug-22

Refining research topi, recording existing literature and identifying

relevant primary sources

Contact experts in the field concerning possible approaches

Gather any additional data required

Writing the research, proofreading and editing

Making of the product

Review the research with peers, experts and the professors

Double check the product and finalize the research

References

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Furniture and Home Goods.” Colossal, March 9, 2021.

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/03/chopsticks-recycle-chopvalue/.

Gozum, Iya. “A Long-Term Plan to Fix the Philippines' Plastic Waste Problem.” RAPPLER,

March 17, 2021. https://www.rappler.com/environment/plan-fix-philippines-plastic-problem/.

Kangasmäki, Jari. “Drowning in Waste – Case Manila, the Philippines.” Woima Corporation,

May 6, 2020. https://woimacorporation.com/drowning-in-waste-case-manila-the-philippines/.

Miller, Clay. “The Importance of Waste Management in Business.” Ways2GoGreen, May 26,

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Burt, Laura. “MDF or Solid Wood Furniture: Advantages and Disadvantages.” Parade of

Homes, July 21, 2018. https://www.paradeofhomes.org/blog/mdf-solid-wood-furniture-

advantages-disadvantages/.

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_wood.

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in-progress-discussing-the-waste-management-system-in-the-philippines-c5a90e913679.

Kripena, Kristiana. “Are Wooden Chopsticks Recyclable or Compostable?”

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recyclable/.
Marinho, Nelson Potenciano, Eduardo Mauro Nascimento, Silvana Nisgoski, and Ivaldo de

Valarelli. “Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Medium-Density Fiberboard Made

from Giant Bamboo.” Materials Research 16, no. 6 (2013): 1387–92.

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-14392013005000127.

Peh, WCG, C Helpert, and CW Chan. “Bamboo Skewer Perforation of the Bowel: Computed

Tomography Appearances.” Australasian Radiology 41, no. 3 (1997): 308–10.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1673.1997.tb00681.x.

“Resources.” Solid Waste Management Division. Accessed June 12, 2022.

https://nswmc.emb.gov.ph/?page_id=75.

Swizz, Martin. “MDF vs. Engineered Wood.” Wood Is Wood, March 27, 2022.

https://woodiswood.com/mdf-vs-engineered-wood/.

Wang, Pingping, Hongbo Yin, Lin Wang, and Longqian Liu. “Pediatric Traumatic Cataract

in Southwest China: Epidemiological Profile.” Pediatric Traumatic Cataract in Southwest

China: Epidemiological Profile, 2021. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-985155/v1.

Weber, Melissa. “What Is Upcycling and Why Is It Important? (Explained).” Eco Redux,

May 14, 2022.

https://www.ecoredux.com/what-is

upcycling#:~:text=Upcycling%20minimizes%20the%20volume%20of,water%20pollution

%2C%20and%20greenhouse%20gases.