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CHAPTER 1

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Rationale

Wall tiles are thin, flat tiles that are usually shaped with beveled edges.

They are used for lining or covering a surface and may provide corrosion

resistance, thermal protection, wear resistance, and/or surface decoration. Wall

tiles come in many different sizes and colors. They are secured to a surface such

as a subfloor with mortar. The spaces between the tiles are filled with grout.

Coconut Shell is a coverage of coconut fruit that is composed of cellulose,

water, pentose, lignin, uronate anhydrous, ash, and extraction solvent. It may be

biodegradable, but it takes several months to decompose because of its tough

components. Compared to other parts of a coconut, the shell is the hardest part

making it not rot quickly. Coconut shells are commonly used in handicraft

industries, but coconut shells can also be entered in the architectural industry.

The use of aggregates for construction is one of the most essential parts

of construction, for it will add strength to the concrete. Finding a substitute for the

aggregates used today is a task that is worth formulating because the quarrying

of aggregates from rivers and mountains harms the environment. If a substitute

for aggregate can be obtained naturally and the source is abundant and

regenerated, obtaining the aggregate would deplete its source (T. U. Ganiron et

al, 2017).
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Using coconut by-products has been a long-time source of income for

some people in the country. Coconut has many uses. The fruit is used in many

industries not only as food but for other uses (Reddy, 2015). Recycling the

disposed of material is one method of treating agricultural waste. Coconut shells

could be a valuable substitute in forming composite materials for housing

construction, such as wall tiles.

The non-decaying waste materials cause a waste disposal crisis, thereby

contributing to environmental problems. However, the environmental impact can

be reduced by using this waste more sustainably. This is known as the Waste

Hierarchy. It aims to reduce, reuse, or recycle waste, the latter being the

preferred waste disposal option (Kambli et al., 2014).

Marble rocks and coconut shells can be comparable because of their

components. Marble rock is medium to coarse-grained where it can be powdered

just like the coconut. The coconut shell’s components are compatible to be an

alternative to marble rocks.

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Background of the Study

The Philippines is a tropical country located in the Pacific Ocean north of

the equator. The abundance of natural resources gives its citizen a variety of

tropical scenery and crops, including the ―Tree of Life,‖ the coconut tree. The

Philippines ranked second behind Indonesia in the world. It produces 14.8 million

metric tons of coconut in the year 2019, according to Philippine Statistics

Authority. People mostly use the meat and milk of a coconut while disposing of

the coconut shell, for it is gibberish.

Coconut shells are a readily available agricultural waste product the

coconut industry generates. Traditionally, coconut shells have been underutilized

or discarded as waste, contributing to environmental pollution. However, coconut

shells possess unique properties, making them a good alternative ingredient for

various applications, including building materials. Since coconut shell has strong

and compacted fibers, it can be a potential ingredient in some building materials

such as tile.

Rocks are commonly used as a building material but may soon fade as

people reduce or consume the supply of natural resources. This research study

aims to make use of coconut shells as an alternative ingredient in making wall

tiles.
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Statement of the Problem

This study focuses on using coconut (Cocos nucifera) shells as an

alternative material for the marble component of tiles to lessen the use of marble

rock.

It specifically aimed to respond to these questions:

1. What is the difference between using coconut shells and marble rocks to make

wall tiles?

2. Can the combined coconut shell and ordinary Portland cement be variable

materials in making wall tiles?

3. What is the status of wall tiles made out of coconut shells in terms of the

mechanical properties such as;

3.1 Surface Quality

3.2 Surface Thickness

3.3 Durability
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Hypotheses of the Study

The research is anchored on the following null and alternative

hypotheses. The study has two sets of hypotheses because the researcher is

attempting to answer the goals stated in the statement of the problem.

Coconut shells can be an efficient alternative to marble rocks.

Coconut shells cannot be an efficient alternative to marble rocks.

1. The blended coconut shell and Portland cement cannot be used

in making wall tiles.

2. There is no significant difference between the tiles out of

coconut shells and Portland cement in the market.

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Conceptual Framework

The figure on the next page illustrates the three consecutive boxes

connected by arrows that indicate the series, showing how the study will be

conducted.

This study is premised on coconut shells as an alternative ingredient for

marble rocks in making wall tiles.

The first box was labeled as the process. The first box consists of the

process being used: 1. Collecting coconut shells; 2. Cleaning of coconut shells;

3. Crushing of coconut shells; 4. Weighing; 5. Mixing of ingredients; 6.

Compressing in an improvised molder; and 7. Drying.

The second box was labeled as the input, consisting of the title of the

thesis: Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Shell as an Alternative Ingredients for Marble

Rocks in Making Wall Tiles: Coconut (Cocos nucifera) shell, Ordinary Portland

cement, and another ingredient.

The third box represents the output, tiles made from coconut shells.
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Input-Process-Output (I-P-O) Model

Figure 1: The Paradigm of the Coconut Cocos nucifera Shell Conceptual

Framework as an Alternative Ingredients for Marble Rocks in Making Wall Tiles.
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Significance of the Study

The study is relevant because tiles have played a huge role in designing

Filipino homes. Completing the study may give people an idea of what they will

do with excess coconut shells. They can customize the design of their tiles and

make them more beautiful. Further, this study may also be beneficial to the

following:

Researchers, may develop additional studies on the effectiveness of

alternative products for tile production that may serve as a springboard for

understanding their current subject.

Government/Non-Government Organizations, including DPWH

(Government) and Habitat for Humanity Philippines (NGO), the result of this

study may be used as the basis while promoting programs/projects to be

extended to the communities within the university’s service area.

Community, this study may contribute to informing people about the

cheapest way of producing wall tile.

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Scope and Limitation

This study only focuses on coconut shells, other parts of the coconut are

not included nor applied. The study can determine if an exocarp of a coconut is a

compatible replacement for making architectural material beneficial to those tile

manufacturers and other researchers. This experimental research will be made

to promote the use of cheap, recyclable natural products.

This study will not cover other problems unrelated to making ceramic tiles.

The results of this study will apply only to the respondents of this study. The

estimated time duration of the experiment, from collecting to drying coconut

shells, is one day. At the same time, the crushing and weighing of the Coconut

Shell is one day. Moreover, mixing powdered coconut shell, Portland cement,

and water, and molding and drying the product will consume an estimated 2-3

days.
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Definition of Terms

To gain more understanding about the study, the following terms are

operationally defined:

Coconut Shell - The most rigid component covered in coconut fruit, it

consists of solid fibers that contain high levels of lignin content—the primary use

to substitute marble rocks in making wall tiles.

Wall tiles - Tiles that can be used for the wall. Wall tiles are mostly glazed

tiles with a thin body used as a decorative material for building wall surfaces.

Marble - A hard crystalline metamorphic form of limestone, typically white

with mottlings or streaks of color, that can take a polish and is used in sculpture

and architecture to make tile as a building material.

Lignin - A substance related to cellulose that occurs in the woody cell

walls of plants and the cementing material between them and is present in a

coconut shell.

Portland cement – This is composed of clay and limestone that hardens

under water and will be used in the study as one of the ingredients in the

solution.

Exocarp - the outer layer of a ripened ovary or fruit, as the skin of a plum.

A coconut shell is an example of an exocarp.

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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter deals with the review and related literature and foreign and

local studies, which were considered significant and relevant and provide

foundations for the present study.

Coconut shell

Coconut shells were considered agricultural wastes used in open

burning, harming the environment. The Philippines is ranked second among the

top 5 coconut-producing countries in the world and produces approximately

14.7 million metric tons of coconut (Armando et al., 2021).

Coconut shell is one of the solid disposal wastes from agricultural

activities. The use of coconut shells as one of the composite materials in the

production of concrete was driven by the problem caused by the disposal of

solid waste. Gunasekaran et al. (2013) state coconut shells represent more

than 60% of domestic waste volume. Coconut shells present serious disposal

problems for local environments. However, these wastes can be used as

potential or replacements in the construction industry.

As studied by M. A. Kho et al. (2013), coconut shells are produced in

large quantities; thus, these are the wastes most commonly found in landfills.

This situation greatly threatens the environment because landfills contribute to

global warming by emitting harmful gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
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T. M. Somashekhar (2018) stated that coconut shell is a high-potential

material due to its high strength and modulus properties. Coconut shell powder

exhibits admirable properties compared to other materials, such as low cost,

renewable, high specific strength to weight ratio, low density, less abrasion to

machine, and environmentally friendly.

Composition of Wall Tiles

Wall tiles and floor tiles have the same composition; wall tiles are thinner

than floor tiles but durable, absolutely strong, and easy to maintain since

installation. All tile has a long lifespan, endures heavy use, and is resistant to

moisture and foot traffic. According to Advameg (2023), the raw materials used

to form tile consist of clay minerals mined from the earth’s crust, natural

minerals such as feldspar that are used to lower the firing temperature, and

chemical additives required for the shaping process. The raw materials must be

pulverized and classified according to particle size.

Coconut Shell’s Durability and Capacity to be Compressed/Compacted

The impact resistance of coconut shell aggregate concrete is higher than

conventional concrete. The moisture-retaining and water-absorbing capacity of

coconut shells is comparable with that of conventional aggregate. Nadir, Y.,

Sujatha, A. (2018) in their study stated that since the coconut shell is durable

on being an alternative aggregate concrete, then it has the potential to become

an alternative material or ingredient in making wall tiles which helps people and
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the environment to have a sustainable development, where it maintains the

earth’s geographical state.

Marble rocks

According to J. Lewitin (2022), marble is a prevalent natural stone

quarried and cut into slabs and tiles for various residential and commercial

building applications, including countertops, floors, and wall tiles.

Marble occurs in large deposits that can be hundreds of feet thick and

geographically extensive. This allows it to be economically mined on a large

scale, with some mines and quarries producing millions of tons annually. Being

composed of calcite, marble has three hardness on the Mohs hardness scale.

As a result, marble is easy to carve, making it useful for producing sculptures

and ornamental objects. The translucence of marble makes it especially

attractive for many types of sculptures (King, 2017).

The extraction of marble does not only threaten the mountains. It also

pollutes water reserves. Marble dust is one of the many causes of river pollution

in this area. When it rains, the rivers turn entirely white, like milk, because

marble dust is carried along by the currents (Cornet, 2018).

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CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods, design, setting, subject, research

instruments, procedures, and statistical treatment of data employed to ascertain

the theory of the investigation.

Research Design

Pre-experimental research design, the simplest experimental design, has

many different manifestations. Using a pre-experiment, some factor or

treatment that is expected to cause change is implemented for a research

subject, and the subject is observed over a period of time.

The pre-experimental research design is appropriate for the study since

the focus is to provide observations and experiences that allow researchers to

demonstrate the potential of coconut shells as an alternative material in making

wall tiles.

In summary, a pre-experimental study is a research design that collects

data before and after an intervention or treatment to explore potential changes

or differences. While it is not as rigorous as experimental designs, it can still

provide valuable insights and serve as a basis for further investigation.

Researchers must be mindful of the limitations and strive to enhance the

validity of the findings through careful design and analysis.

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Setting of the Study

The experiment takes place at Banez’s Residence, 4-1260 Manila East

Road Barangay 4 Quinale Paete, Laguna, Philippines. Moreover, the

researchers conducted the experimental research to observe and test the

coconut shell as an alternative ingredient in making wall tiles.

Subject of the Study

The subject of the study will be the researchers themselves since this is

pre-experimental research. The researchers will construct, produce and

observe their proposed outcome, including the trial testing (quality and

durability).

Research Instrument

This research used an observation checklist to gather data and

information. An observation checklist is a tool researchers use to systematically

record observations of specific behaviors or events during an experiment. It

involves predefined categories or items that are checked off or rated based on

the presence or absence of certain behaviors or conditions.

The checklist typically consists of a series of items or criteria that the

observer will observe and mark as present or absent or rate on a scale,

depending on the nature of the observation. The items on the checklist will be

derived from the research objectives or assessment goals and will be designed

to capture the relevant information accurately and objectively.

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Research Procedure

As a requirement for the subject of Experimental Research, as a Grade

12 student of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, the

researchers were suggested to conduct experimental research. The

researchers found that using coconut shells can be an alternative ingredient for

marble rock in making wall tiles.

The researchers formulated a conventional way of producing wall tiles

from coconut shells, a cheap, recyclable natural product.

Time Frame

Table 1. Time Frame in Making coconut (cocos nucifera) Shell as an

alternative ingredient for marble rock in making wall tiles.

DAYS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Planning

Buying Materials

Assembly

Testing

Evaluation
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Cost of Production

Table 2. Cost of Production in making coconut (cocos nucifera) shell as an

alternative for marble rock-making in wall tiles.

Materials Size/Quantity Obtained Cost

Coconut Shells 6pcs.(3 cups) 1½ cups (10oz a

(10oz a cup) cup)

Ordinary Portland 3kg 1½ cups (10oz a

cement/any cup)

Water 1 cup 1 cup (10oz a cup)

Molder 2pcs 2pcs

(30.48cm by (30.48cm by
30.48cm) 30.48cm)

Materials Used for the Preparation of Making Wall Tiles

Coconut Shells - alternative ingredient for marble rocks

Ordinary Portland Cement - material combined with powdered coconut shell

in making wall tiles.

Molder - gives edges and shapes to create a tile. (Include nails and plywood)

Grater - used to powder the coconut shell.

Knife - used to remove excess (on coconut shell)

Container - used to store ingredients.

Hammer – used to crash coconut shells into pieces.

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STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE IN MAKING COCONUT SHELL AS AN

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENT FOR MARBLE ROCK IN MAKING WALL

TILES

Ingredients Measurements

Coconut Shells 1½ cups (10oz a cup)

Ordinary Portland cement/any 1½ cups (10oz a cup)

Water 1 cup (10oz a cup)

Collecting and cleaning Coconut shells, making the molder, and making

the coconut shells powdered/pulverized:

The first thing to do is find and collect coconut shells. The researchers

negotiated with the coconut milk vendors at the Public Market of Paete Laguna,

where they only use the meat of the coconut and dispose of the coconut shell (by

this, the researchers had a supplier of coconut shell). After the researchers

collected the coconut shells, the researchers continued to remove excess

coconut fruit attached to the coconut shells. Then the researchers grated the

coconut shells and created the molder for about 1 to 2 hours.

Measuring, mixing, and drying of the ingredients:

The researchers measured the amount of ingredients (water, cement,

and powdered coconut shells) needed in cups (10oz). Then the researchers

mix the ingredients in a container and put the mixture in the molder. After the

mixed solution is transferred in the molder, let the solution sit overnight or more

to see results.
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Literature Cited

Advameg, Inc. (2023).―How Products are Made‖

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Ceramic-Tile.html

Armando, J., Fiedacan , G., Olmedo, P. J., Sevilleno, J., et al. (2021). ―Eco-
Friendly Concrete Roof Tiles Reinforced by Coconut Shell Powder and Coir‖
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9731959

Cornet, Laurence (2018). The Danger of Extraction of Marble

https://phmuseum.com/news/the-danger-of-marble-extraction

Gunasekaran, K., Annadurai, R., and P. S. Kumar, (2013). ―Long term study on
compressive and bond strength of coconut shell aggregate concrete,‖ Constr.
Build. Mater
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257388866_Long_term_study_o
n_compressive_and_bond_strength_of_coconut_shell_aggregate_concret
e

Joseph Lewitin (2022). ―Marble Flooring Review: Pros and Cons‖

https://www.thespruce.com/marble-flooring-pros-and-cons-1314701

Kambli, Parag S., Mathapati, Sandhya R. (2014). Application of Coconut Shell as

Coarse Aggregate in Concrete: A Technical Review
https://www.ijera.com/papers/Vol4_issue3/Version%201/CK4301498501.p
df

King, Hobart M. (2017). ―Marble‖

https://geology.com/rocks/marble.shtml

Nadir, Yashida, Sujutha A. (2018). ―Durability Properties of Coconut Shell

Aggregate Concrete‖
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12205-017-0063-6

Reddy, N., & Yang, Y. (2015). ―Coconut Husk Fibers. Innovative Biofibers from
Renewable Resources‖
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-45136-6

T. M. Somashekhar; Naik, Premkumar; Nayak, Vighnesha; Mallikappa; Rahul, S.

(2018). ―Study of Mechanical Properties of Coconut Shell Powder and Tamarind
Shell Powder Reinforced with Epoxy Composites‖
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018MS%26E..376a2105S/abstract
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Tomas U. Ganiron Jr, Nieves Ucol-Ganiron, Tommy U. Ganiron III (2017).

―Recycling of Waste Coconut Shells as Substitute for Aggregates in Mix
Proportioning of Concrete Hollow Blocks‖
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257099368_Recycling_of_Waste
_Coconut_Shells_as_Substitute_for_Aggregates_in_Mix_Proportioning_of
_Concrete_Hollow_Blocks