Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

08 Jul 2026

Using eucalyptus oil to modify a renewable carbon paste electrode creates an effective tool for detecting toxic lead ions

Heavy metals are one of the most serious environmental pollutants and contaminants due to their toxicity. They are nonbiodegradable and...

Read More

07 Jul 2026

To afford medicine, families in a low-income municipality often turn to alternative or cheaper treatments, borrow money, or use their savings

The World Health Organization identifies non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—also referred to as chronic diseases—as the leading cause of global mortality, accounting...

Read More

06 Jul 2026

Pigmented rice holds strong potential to improve the technological, nutritional, and sensory properties of bakery products and snacks

Rice is a vital global crop, supplying 60–70% of the daily caloric intake for more than two billion people across...

Read More

03 Jul 2026

At the turn of the twenty-first century, labor history declined as the indigenization movement, specifically Pantayong Pananaw, shifted academic focus to Philippine language and culture

Between 1959 and 1985, only seven studies on the Philippine labor movement were made due to security risks under the...

Read More

02 Jul 2026

Researchers have discovered four new fault zones beneath the sea west of Luzon, branching out from the main Philippine Fault Zone

The Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) is a major fault system linked to earthquakes and crustal movement across the Philippines. Understanding...

Read More

01 Jul 2026

Believing others expect perfection increases Filipino students’ vulnerability to poor well-being and unhealthy coping

Perfectionism is an important characteristic among university students, given its associations with their well-being and coping. One approach to studying...

Read More

30 Jun 2026

Resident dropouts and fellow resignations are often driven by mental health issues, unmet expectations, specialty changes, and illness

Attrition in the medical training programs not only affects the specialty but also the hospital, the trainee’s career path, and...

Read More

26 Jun 2026

A new “virtual forest” simulation models how changing forest management impacts ecosystems, economies, and communities

The Philippines has lost much of its natural forest due to decades of logging and land conversion, creating a shortage...

Read More

25 Jun 2026

Measuring the Goos-Hänchen shift distinguishes silicon from gallium arsenide

An immediate analogy for our study can be found in a familiar sight: a straw in a glass of water...

Read More

24 Jun 2026

Using higher-resolution sea surface temperature data enhances typhoon rainfall simulations

The most extreme rainfall that we experience in the Philippines are that from tropical cyclones. The more intense a tropical...

Read More

23 Jun 2026

Study examines barriers to identifying human remains in the Philippines and explores forensic odontology as a solution

An effective strategy for human remains identification with a high success rate and low cost is vital for low to...

Read More

22 Jun 2026

Mindoro was already a vibrant center for human movement and early innovation 35,000 years ago

In a bold reimagining of Southeast Asia’s prehistory, this research reveals that the Philippine island of Mindoro was a hub...

Read More

Research

Heavy metals are one of the most serious environmental pollutants and contaminants due to their toxicity. They are nonbiodegradable and has a capacity to accumulate in the human body thru bioaccumulation. They pose a significant risk to human health and to the ecosystems. Hazardous heavy metals are often found in industrial activities. Among them is lead (II) which is mostly present in the environment, particularly in bodies of water, because of its widespread industrial use. Its metal ion, Pb2+, is recognized as a very hazardous and non-biodegradable.

Various analytical techniques have been developed in response to the determination of Pb2+. Most of these analytical methods that are used in the determination of Pb2+ are laborious, need sample preparation, and demand costly equipment and skilled personnel. Electrochemical methods have been developed and are generally acknowledged as an alternative technique for determining heavy metal ions.

Carbon electrodes are among the most used electrodes in this method. A carbon paste electrode modified with eucalyptus’s essential oil was used in this study, and the results have established the ability of the eucalyptus’s essential oil to detect Pb2+.

Researchers also determined the optimal conditions for detecting Pb2+ with the modified carbon paste electrode by analyzing various electrochemical factors, including the proportion of the modifier, composition of the stripping solution, accumulation time, pH, and deposition time and potential. The study also showed that the electrode can be successfully regenerated using a multiple stripping method. While the findings validate the ability of eucalyptus essential oil to detect Pb2+, they show that it is not highly selective toward Pb2+.

Using eucalyptus oil as a modifier is both a sustainable and cost-effective method for the initial detection of Pb2+ ions. Furthermore, the modified carbon paste electrode is renewable, has low background current, low cost, is easy to prepare, and has a large surface area for modification, enhanced sensitivity, and selectivity.

Authors: Mylene Ilagan (Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Kim Wilmer M. Balagot (Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Los Baños | Forest Products Research and Development Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Laguna), Jose Rene L. Micor (Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Los Baños), and Elmer-Rico E. Mojica (Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Los Baños | Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Pace University, New York City)

Read the full paper: https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/essential-oil-of-eucalyptus-as-modifier-of-carbon-paste-electrode-for-voltammetric-determination-of-lead-ions/