"The Feasibility of Calamansi (Citrofornella microcarpa) Juice as Sink Cleaner"

Introduction:
Calamondin or Kalamansi (Kapampangan: kalamunding, (× Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a fruit tree in the family Rutaceae and a member of citrofortunella that was developed in and is very popular throughout Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, where it is most commonly used for cooking. In the west it is variously known as acid orange, calamondin orange, or Panama orange. It is a shrub or small tree growing to 3-6 m, and bears small citrus fruit used to flavour foods and drinks. Although sometimes described as a nativePhilippines or other areas of Southeast Asia, the tree is in fact the result of a hybrid between species in the genera Citrofortunella and unknown in the wild. Hybrids between Citrus subspecies have been cultivated for so long that the origins of most are obscure. It is generally held that most species in cultivation are ancient apomictic hybrids and selected cultivars of these hybrids, including crosses with other genera such as Fortunella and Poncirus. The kalamansî is usually described as a cross between Citrus reticulata (Tangerine or Mandarin orange) and Fortunella margarita (Kumquat).The researcher wanted to make a cheap liquid sink cleaner in the mean time utilizing the resources around. So the researcher came up with the question: Can a Kalamansi juice be a liquid sink cleaner?
This study attempts to determine the potential of kalamansi juice as liquid sink cleaner. Specifically it will answer the following questions:
a.) How does the sink treated with kalamansi product differ from the sink treated with water and soup:
a.1.) Quality (cleanliness)
of the

a.2.) Smell (odor)
a.3) Price

Significance:
This study aims to help the society in their problems economically. This study will give knowledge to the people and make them realize that kalamansi is not only in the field of foods but also in the field of cleaning. This study aims to replenish the hunger of the people in a cheaper liquid sink cleaner.

If the study will be successful then there will be a useful effect in the economy of the Philippines.

Hypothesis:

The calamansi juice can clean the sink because of its acid contain and it has a better odor than the ordinary cleaning

Review of Related Literature:
A smooth and slightly spiny plant, growing to a height of 3 to 5 meters. Leaflets are elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 4 to 8 cm long. Petioles are narrowly and scarcely winged, about a cm long. Flowers are axillary, solitary, rarely in pairs, white, and short-stalked. Fruit is yellow when ripe, nearly spherical, 2 to 3.5 cm diameter, 6- to 7-celled, and thin-skinned. The skin or peel is green to yellowish green or yellow, loosely adhering to the flesh. The flesh contains a few light orange seeds. Bleaching agent: Cut fruit and apply directly on freckles. http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kalamansi.html
Calamondin, a native citrus plant in the Philippines and China, is cultivated in Southeast Asia and elsewhere as an important crop. In the U.S. and Europe, it is grown mainly as an outstanding ornamental. The tree, which is often trained as a bonsai, will bloom year-round; filling the air with the aroma of citrus blossom. Flower and fruit often will appear at the same time. The tree has upright branches with very few thorns and can grow up to 10 feet high. Its 3-inch evergreen leaves are broadly oval and pale green below like those of the kumquat. Its flowers are white and small. The 1 3/4 inch-wide fruit is small, depressed, globose and deep orange-yellow when ripe, loose-skinned and, segmented. The pulp is very acidic. Mature fruit can be produced year round. It is said that it is an acid citrus, a group that includes lemons and limes. The flesh is orange, juicy and acid, with a fine lime-orange flavor. Because of this, it is usually grouped with the limes. The small seeds are few, with characteristic green cotyledons. One bite of this fruit can pucker your mouth. The fruit, when ripe, is very sour when first tasted. Subsequent tasted fruits make your mouth sweet. If the fruit is picked too soon, it is bitter. http://www.geocities.com/verymad_scientist/

Uses of Calamansi.
1) Juice. Squeeze halved calamansi (4 to 5 pieces, but it depends on the user) to a cup. Strain it. Add honey or sugar. It's a good source of vitamin C.
2) Zinger for ginger tea. Ginger tea + 1 tbsp calamansi juice + honey/sugar.
3) Tequila shots. Others use lemon, but mostly we use calamansi here.
4) Natural Air Freshener. Halved calamansi and put them in a bowl. Their peelings could do the trick, too.
5) Deodorizer. Can be placed in the fridge to eliminate odor. Or say you’ve just finished cleaning some fish (or handling something unpleasant in smell), you may rub some to eliminate the icky odor.
6) Skin whitening Agent. Definitely good for the dark knees and elbows and armpits…
7) Dip. Basic Filipino Dip = soy sauce, calamansi (optional vinegar)
8) Marinade. Soy sauce. Calamansi. Vinegar. Pepper. Garlic.
9) Dandruff Treatment. Cover halved calamansi with a cloth (prevents the pulp from getting stuck in your hair). Rub gently to the scalp.
10) Bleach. Its juice is proven to remove minor stains on clothes.
11) When we - my bros and sisters - were still kids, we would carefully peel and part its segments, and devour them as if they’re the sweetest thing on earth.
12) Hair highlights. In a punk, funky mood? Comb calamansi juice through the hair or into some strands and leave it there. The sun will lighten the strands faster, giving the hair a sun-streaked look. (I have not actually done this, but I have friends who have tried this trick.) http://www.tipsandtricks4me.com/2008/03/13-ways-to-use-calamansi.html

Definition of Terms:

Calamansi fruit juice - Juice that is extracted from the calamansi fruit

Ordinary Cleaning Materials - cleaning materials consist of soap and water

Sink Cleaner - a substance that can clean the sink

METHODOLOGY:

Material and Equipment:

Calamansi fruit (unripe)
Measuring Cup/spoon
Knife
Strainer
Cleaning Materials
Container

Preparation

First, gather all the materials needed and then wash the calamansi fruit. Measure the mass of the calamansicalamansi fruit crosswise then after slicing the calamansi fruit squeeze it in the strainer until the last drop. You may do whatever you want to do with the peelings and seeds. Measure the volume of the juice gathered in the measuring cup. Put the juice in the container. fruit in grams. After that slice the

Application

Look for uncleaned sink.. look for the part of the sink which you consider dirty.. after that divide that part into two parts. The first part will be treated with the calamansi fruit juice and the other part will be treated with the soap.. after cleaning those parts compare them..

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

This chapter tries to discuss about the results of the experimentation presented in a tabular form. In this chapter you can see the evaluation o the product. It tries to tell whether the product is effective or not.

In trial 1 these are the results presented in tabular form.

Legend:

Not Clean = 1 Fair = 3 Clean = 4

Poor = 2 Neat & Clean = 5

The results are quite the same but they just differ in their odor. It answer the question which of the sink smells good. So these results may tell that the calamansi fruit juice is good in cleaning the sink and it has good smell.

Trial 2

The results of the trial 2 differs only in their in terms of odor. The trial tells that the calamansi and ordinary cleaning materials (soap & water) are just the same in terms of cleaning power just differ only in the terms of odor beacause the sink treated with ordinary cleaning materials is just odorless while the sink treated with calamansi fruit juice extract smells calamansi scent.

Conclusion:

The calamansi fruit juice has a cleaning power the same as the cleaning power of ordinary cleaning materials (soap & water) based on the representation of the results and the calamansi fruit juice also has the the good scent while the ordinary has none and in terms of price the ordinary cleaning materials is cheaper and less time consuming than the ordinary materials in terms of preparation.

Weakness:

These study has the weakness of not including or considering many variables and that makes these study weak!.

Strength:

These study has the strength of its background because the calamansi itself can clean the sink for it a pH of 3.5 which is acidic.

Recommendation:

I strongly recommend that if you will add some considerable variables and add more trials.