Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Division of City Schools
City of Muntinlupa
MUNTINLUPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL - TUNASAN ANNEX
SY 2018-2019

FEASIBILITY OF CIGARETTE FILTER AND NAIL POLISH ACETONE AS AN

ALTERNATIVE GLUE

APPLIED SCIENCE TEAM CATEGORY

Official Entry to the Division Science Quest 2018

Proponents

ANGEL D. DELINA
AIRA MARIE M. GLORIA

Research Adviser

Mr. LOUIE M. VALDEZ

September, 2018
FEASIBILITY OF CIGARETTE FILTER AND NAIL POLISH ACETONE
AS AN ALTERNATIVE GLUE
ANGEL D. DELINA
AIRA MARIE M. GLORIA

Abstract

Smoking rate has gone down, cigarette butts are seen almost everywhere,
scattered along green spaces, sidewalks, roadsides, beaches, waterways and
almost everywhere. There are 4.5 trillion reported cigarette butts being littered each
year, globally. Most of the Filipinos are prone in smoking and consumes a lot of
cigarettes every single day to release stress. Unfortunately, smokers just throw their
waste anywhere. So, the researchers come up with an idea to prevent the
increasing rate of improper disposal of garbage and as well to create an easy way in
making glue as an alternative. Based on the result conducted by the researchers,
the alternative glue made out of cigarette filters and nail polish acetone was effective
in paper but not in cardboard, wood and plastic.

INTRODUCTION

A cigarette filter is used to strain the dangerous ingredients of the cigarette.

Most of the Filipinos are smokers or cigarette users, afterwards they just throw their

waste anywhere which is one of the common issues of the society. This leads the

researchers to find a way to help the community against improper disposal of

garbage and as well compose a useful product like an alternative glue as an

outcome.

Cigarette filters are design specifically to absorb vapors and to prevent

particular smoke components. Cigarette filters prevent the smoke from the tobacco

from entering from smoker’s mouth and give a mouthpiece that will not collapse as

cigarette smoked. 95% of cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, and the

remaining 5% are made from papers and rayon. The acetate fibers are thinner than

sewing thread. It is white packed tightly together that create a filter and look like
cotton. Other materials have been tried and denied due to the taste and acetate

produces. Cigarette filters vary in filtration efficiency, depending on whether the

cigarette is to be regular. The natural glue that serves as the first glues is come out

of rubber trees when they cut. Eventually people discovered another way of making

glue, by cartilage or bones. Very strong glues were first made of rubber or milk and

fish bones. It can also made at home by mixing wheat flour and water.

Natural glue and glue that made of cigarette filter have the same purpose. It

is called natural glue because it is made of nature like animals bone, this glue is

strong enough to use by students and workers. Cigarette is hazardous to our health

but in terms of financial aspect of our economy, cigarette helps through its taxes.

The researchers would like to investigate and apply further research in

making such alternative glue from a cigarette filter and acetone.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the feasibility of cigarette filter and acetone in

making an alternative glue.

Specifically,the study ought to answers the following questions:

1. Is it acceptable in terms of:

a. Color?

b. Odor?

c. Texture?

2. Is it effective to:

a. Paper?

b. Cardboard?
 c. Plastic?

d. Wood?

3. Is there a significant difference between the commercial glue and glue made

out of acetone and cigarette filter in terms of its (a) physical properties and (b)

effectiveness?

Hypothesis

H1: There is no significant difference between the physical properties of

commercial glue and glue made out of acetone and cigarette filter.

H2: There is no significant difference between the effectiveness of commercial

glue and glue made out of acetone and cigarette filter.

Significance of the Study

This study would benefit the community for it can be an eye-opener for them

to avoid and stop smoking cigarettes, aside from damaging the environment, these

cigarette filters can be recycled and been used as an alternative glue, in this way it

can help to reduce the waste and can be a useful product for everyone. This study

also focuses on how effective the cigarette filters and acetone in making such an

alternative glue.

Scope and Limitations

his study focused only on how an acetone and cigarette filters processed and

have the feasibility to make an alternative glue. This also provides incite about what

particular chemical component of an acetone do make the cigarette filters melt and
how this component make melting of fibers in the cigarette filters. This may not

include the improving of color and odor, this study needs a continuation research to

improve the following:odor and color. This study had undergone to know if an

acetone and a cigarette filter have a feasibility to make an alternative glue.

METHODOLOGY

Materials and Instrumentation

The main material in this experiment was the used cigarette filters. 15

cigarette filters was gathered from Barangay Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. 12 ml of nail

polish remover acetone ( with a component of acetone, Butyl Acetate, and Isopropyl

Myristate). The researchers used home materials such as plastic spoon, sealed

container, tupperware and a syringe ( in 10 ml). Face mask were worn during

experimentation to ensure safety while conducting the experiment.

 Procedure

In the first step of the experiment, the researchers removed the paper

covering the cigarette filters and cleaned it through the use of water in a plastic

tupperware. Put the washed filters under the sun and wait at least two hours for it to

dry.

Place the dry cigarette filters into a container and apply the solution. Mix the

filters gradually until all of the filters has been dissolved.

Grab a sheet of paper and apply a small amount of the product. Paste the

applied sheet of paper with glue on another paper and patiently wait for a few

seconds to see and observe the outcome of the made product.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The glue from cigarette filter had undergone a several test. It was tested in

papers and card boards to found out what appropriate concentration is effective as

glue, at the same time what materials is it best used. The data below shows the

effectiveness of glue form cigarette filter.

Table1. Result for identifying the effectiveness of the glue to a Paper and

Cardboard.

No. of Amount of Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 ( Plastic) Trial 4 ( wood)

filters acetone (Paper) (Cardboard)
(ml)

5 4 Effective Not effective Not effective Not effective

10 8 Effective Not effective Not effective Not effective

15 12 Effective Not effective Not effective Not effective

The other test was the difference between the glue from cigarette filter and

commercial glue. This test aims to find out similarities and differences of the

compared glues. The data below shows the differences.

Table2. Acceptability Test in terms of color, odor and texture.

Color Odor Texture

White Unpleasant Sticky

Green Unpleasant Sticky

The results indicated that commercial glue is still most preferred among the glue

from cigarette filter because of its stickiness property. But it can be concluded that

glue from cigarette filter was able to achieve the other characteristic such as color,

odor and texture. But it is not advisable to use at home, school, offices and other

works that uses glue.

Conclusion and Recommendation

In conclusion, dissolving process were completed to create alternative glue

from cigarette filter using nail polish remover acetone as solvent. It was discovered

that the alternative glue from cigarette filter has lesser stickiness property than a

commercial glue. However,the alternative glue was able to meet the standard of
some properties of a commercial glue. It was still advisable to utilize it as a regular

glue to use, but still the researchers end up by that, the recycled stuff as an

exchange of commercial glue for paper is feasible.

After the researchers conducted the experiment, they come up with the

following recommendations to consider:

a) Further experiment can be implied as long as the nail polisher remover

(acetone) has the components of Butyl Acetate and Isopropyl Myristate.

b) For easy absorption of the acetone applied, cutting the filters into tiny pieces

is preferable.

c) Other ways can be implied by mixing another chemical, fumes or aroma in

order to improve the smell more pleasing.

d) For a greater advertence to its color, future researchers can apply food

coloring to add color to its appearance.

e) Applying chemicals or other solutions to the product can improve its texture,

stickiness and durability.

REFERENCES

Cuano, Matt., Mallari, Fae., Curan, Shella., 2007, Study of the Mental Health of
Grade 11 Dalton in Earth and Life Science Subject, Tunasan National High
School Publishing Comp., Page 1 – 3.

Online Reference:

https://studylib.net/doc/5362593/from-waste-to-paste
http://vanezzapascal07.blogspot.com/?m=1

https://www.scribd.com/document/341731821/The-Feasibilty-of-Using-Aceton-and-
Cigarette-Filter-as-Glue.

http://www.smokefreekids.info/04costs.htm

http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-nail-polish-remover.

http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/cigbuttfilters.htm

http://www.quora.com/What-are-cigarette-filters-made-of-Does-it-depend-on-the-
brand

https://www.nysmokefree.com/FactsandFAQs/Filters

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com

https://www.csmonitor.com