The Utilization of Moringa Oleifera (Malunggay)

Rising energy prices and environmental problems led to the increase in alcohol demands in many aspects, like in making fuels. Many people are doing researches about making their own product so as to lessen their everyday expenses. Right now, Filipino scientists are in think of the search for alternative fuels, with the experts from the University of the Philippines in both Diliman and Los Banos campuses searching all over the archipelago for energy sources from the forests to the bottom of the sea, from enzymes to fungi and other microorganisms. So, the researcher came up of using the malunggay leaves extract as source of ethanol since based on the study done by Senator Loren Legarda, the extracts obtained from the leaves of malunggay plant is 80% ethanol, which is used for fuels. This study knew the possibility of ethanol from malunggay leaves extract. First, the researcher gathered the needed the raw material, the malunggay leaves. It weighted . 75 kilogram. Then, through the process of grinding and filtration, 700mL of malunggay leaves extract was produced. The extract was fermented after with the aid of live yeast for a period of six weeks. The fermented extracts was then distilled using the simple distilling apparatus and the researcher obtained 60 mL ethanol. The ethanol was then brought to the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC) to know its ethanol content. Based on the testing done, only . 5% of the volume of the product is ethanol. After the testing, the intrinsic properties were computed. Using the formula for density, D=mass/volume, 47. 4 g/ml was obtained. For the specific gravity, the formula SG=density of the liquid/density of water, and . 79 was obtained.