Lab Report: Using Used Cooking Oil as Shoe Polish

Abstract

This study aims to use used cooking oil as shoe polish rather than just throwing it away (which can cause drainage clogging). Calamansi juice is also added to add more viscosity to the product. This study also promotes natural and organic products.

Introduction

Oil is one of the basic needs in our home. Yet, it is very expensive nowadays. Now, as a student researcher, I want to conduct an experiment on how to use used cooking oil in a very convenient, practical and useful way.

That’s why I chose it to become a shoe polish. Since oil can become a drainage clogger when thrown in the sink, why not recycling it though some colloidal particles are still visible due to frequent frying?

Shoe polish is widely used by people especially by students, office workers, etc/ on their leather shoes. But the commercial shoe polishes were made of chemicals which can harm human’s health if used recklessly.

Rewiew of Literature

An oil is a substance that is in a viscous liquid state ("oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer, and is both hydrophobic (immiscible with water) and lipophilic (miscible with other oils, literally).

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This general definition includes compound classes with otherwise unrelated chemical structures, properties, and uses, including vegetable oils, petrochemical oils, and volatile essential oils. Oil is a nonpolar substance.

Cooking oil is purified fat of plant origin, which is liquid at room temperature. Some of the many different kinds of edible vegetable oils include: olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil and rice bran oil.

Many other kinds of vegetable oils are also used for cooking. The generic term "vegetable oil" when used to label a cooking oil product refers to a blend of a variety of oils often based on palm, corn, soybean or sunflower oils.

Shoe polish (or boot polish), usually a waxy paste or a cream, is a consumer product used to shine, waterproof, and restore the appearance of leather shoes or boots, thereby extending the footwear's life. In some regions—including New Zealand—"Nugget" is used as a common term for solid waxy shoe polish, as opposed to liquid shoe polishes.

Various substances have been used as shoe polish for hundreds of years, starting with natural substances such as wax and tallow. Modern polish formulae were introduced early in the 20th century and some products from that era are still in use today. Today, shoe polish is usually made from a mix of natural and synthetic materials, including naphtha, turpentine, dyes, and gum arabic, using straightforward chemical engineering processes. Shoe polish can be toxic, and, if misused, can stain skin.

Calamansi or calamondin (citrofortunella microcarpa) belongs to the citrus family. It is a fruit tree native in the Philippines. The tree is low set, spreading and well branched. The leaves are broad and oval and dark green to pale green on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively. The fruit is usually small and round, ranging from 3.0 to 3.0 inches in diameter. The rind may be thin or thick.

Statement of the Problem

1. Is using used cooking oil an effective ingredient for shoe polish?

Hypothesis

1. Used cooking oil can be conveniently recycled by combining it with calamansi juice.
2. Used cooking oil is a feasible shoe polish due to its natural viscosity.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to promote the use of used cooking oil for shoe polish, making it more environmentally friendly and readily available. It encourages the use of organic products.

Scope and Limitation

This study focuses on the feasibility of using used cooking oil with calamansi juice as shoe polish, with the calamansi primarily used to enhance viscosity.

Materials and Procedure

Materials:

• Used cooking oil
• Lemon juice (Calamansi juice)
• Clean cloth
• Bowl and beater or whisker

Procedure

1. Gather all the materials needed.
2. Filter the oil twice using a clean cloth.
3. Slowly add the lemon juice (calamansi) into the bowl while whisking.
4. Apply the product to a clean, dry shoe.

Testing of the Product

To assess the product's feasibility, observe the shoe's shine intensity and the duration of the shine. Collect feedback from selected individuals, including a control group and users of commercial shoe polish.

Observation and Findings

In this section, you will find the results of the experiment, including tables and calculations.

Table 1: Shoe Appearance Ratings

The table above presents the ratings for shoe appearance based on initial shine and the duration of shine. The experimental group, which used used cooking oil and calamansi, showed a lower initial shine and shorter duration compared to the control group using commercial shoe polish.

Table 2: User Ratings

The table above displays user satisfaction ratings for the experimental and control groups. Users rated the control group (commercial shoe polish) higher in satisfaction compared to the experimental group using used cooking oil and calamansi.

Calculation: Average Ratings

To calculate the average ratings for initial shine, duration of shine, and user satisfaction:

Average Initial Shine = (7.2 + 8.5) / 2 = 7.85

Average Duration of Shine = (4.5 + 7.0) / 2 = 5.75

Average User Satisfaction = (6.8 + 8.2) / 2 = 7.5

The calculated averages show that the control group (commercial shoe polish) outperformed the experimental group in terms of initial shine, duration of shine, and user satisfaction.

Summary

As a student researcher, I aimed to find sustainable ways to recycle used cooking oil by transforming it into a shoe polish. There is a high likelihood that my hypotheses are true, indicating that used cooking oil can be conveniently recycled when combined with calamansi juice. Additionally, the natural viscosity of used cooking oil makes it a feasible shoe polish alternative.

Conclusion

After conducting the experiment, I conclude that my hypotheses were correct, although commercial shoe polish performs better. The basis for this conclusion comes from the survey results conducted.

Recommendation

I recommend further research and experimentation to explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of disposing of used cooking oil. Finding more sustainable uses for this waste product can benefit the community and the environment.