Making Grape as an ink free essay sample

Grape is a fruiting berry of the deciduous woody vines of the botanical genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar, and grape seed oil. Grapes are a non-climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The combination of unique texture and sweet, tart flavor has made grapes an ever popular between-meal snack as well as a refreshing addition to both fruit and vegetable salads. Grapes are a type of fruit that grow in clusters of 15 to 300, and can be crimson, black, dark blue, yellow, green, orange and pink. White grapes are actually green in color, and are evolutionarily derived from the purple grape. Mutations in two regulatory genes of white grapes turn off production of anthocyanins, which are responsible for the color of purple grapes. [6] Anthocyanins and other pigment chemicals of the larger family of polyphenols in purple grapes are responsible for the varying shades of purple in red wines. [7][8] Grapes are typically an ellipsoid shape resembling a prolate spheroid. Most grapes come from cultivars of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia. The potential of black grape, as an ink, is the anthocyanins in its content. Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink can be a complex medium, composed of solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescers, and other materials. The components of inks serve many purposes; the ink’s carrier, colorants, and other additives affect the flow and thickness of the ink and its appearance when dry. B. Statement of the Problem Inks today have many artificial chemicals that could harm one’s health. Some commercials would say that their ink is non-toxic but it doesn’t mean that it can’t harm our environments. Because of these, an alternative for this problems is by using black grape’s juice as ink. C. Objectives of the Study General Objectives: †¢This investigatory project aims to find out if black grape juice can be used to create an ink.. Specific Objectives: †¢To determine if vinegar can strengthen the color of the product. †¢To determine if cornstarch can contribute to achieving the right consistency of the black grape ink. D. Significance of the Study This investigatory project will benefit people by producing alternative ink. Even though grapes are expensive, it is harmless compared to commercially produced inks that have dangerous chemicals. Black grapes are less expensive when it comes to health compared to commercially produced ink because when swallowed, it needs medical attention because of its possible side effects. E. Scope and Limitations of the Study The researchers will not discuss any far-off topics that will confuse the readers. The researchers will not cover further research like health benefits of grapes like astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic agent, anti-tumor agent other species of grapes, and other products related to ink, uses in printers, copiers and ball pens. The research is only limited in producing ink from black grapes. F. Definition of Terms Ink Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Anthocyanins – are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue depending on the pH. Cornstarch or maize starch is the starch derived from the corn (maize) grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel. Vinegar is a liquid that is produced from the fermentation of ethanol into acetic acid. The fermentation is carried out by bacteria. Chapter II Review of Related Literature Grape(Vitis vinifera) Grapes are said to be the oldest cultivated fruit. Grapes were found in Egyptian tombs and in the tombs of pre-Christ era as well. This proves the popularity of this fruit. Grapes are natives of Western Asia and Central Europe. From there, grapes have made a long journey to reach all across the globe. South America and North Eastern America are the places of origin for other species, known as the New World species. (Source: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Grape) Several recent studies on grape extract intake by animals, as well as grape juice intake by humans, suggest that grapes may provide us with some important cognitive benefits. Grapes have shown to contain hormone and antioxidant melatonin as well as unique oligopeptides (small protein-like molecules) that have anti-bacterial and other properties. With their overwhelming number of health-supportive phytonutrients, it is not surprising that grapes have been shown to provide many of our body systems with predictable benefits. Areas of benefit in grape include the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, immune system, inflammatory system, blood sugar regulating system, and nervous system. Another area of special benefit is cancer prevention, with risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancer emerging as the most likely areas of grape anti-cancer benefits. ( Source: http://www. whfoods. com/genpage. php? tname=foodspicedbid=40#healthbenefits) Anthocyanins Anthocyanins are found in the cell vacuole, mostly in flowers and fruits but also in leaves, stems, and roots. In these parts, they are found predominantly in outer cell layers such as the epidermis and peripheral mesophyll cells. Anthocyanins are considered secondary metabolites as a food additive with E number E163 (INS number 163); they are approved for use as a food additive in the EU, Australia and New Zealand. Although anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants in vitro, this antioxidant property is unlikely to be conserved after the plant is consumed. As interpreted by the Linus Pauling Institute and European Food Safety Authority, dietary anthocyanins and other flavonoids have little or no direct antioxidant food value following digestion. Unlike controlled test-tube conditions, the fate of anthocyanins in vivo shows they are poorly conserved (less than 5%), with most of what is absorbed existing as chemically modified metabolites that are rapidly excreted. (Source: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Anthocyanin) Cornstarch Corn starch is used as a thickening agent in liquid-based foods (e. g. , soup, sauces, gravies, custard); it is mixed-in with a lower-temperature liquid to form a paste or a slurry. This white powdery substance is used for many culinary, household, and industrial purposes. Corn starch is comprised of long chains of starch molecules, which when heated in the presence of moisture, will unravel and swell. This swelling action, or gelatinization, is what causes the thickening to occur. Corn starch is mainly composed of the amylase and amylopectine molecules. When mixed with water, starch readily becomes a suspension. Depending on the amount of starch that is added into the water, the suspension can either have the same texture as honey or glue. (Sources: http://www. ask. com/question/properties-of-cornstarch, http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Corn_starch,http://foodreference. about. com/od/Food-Additives/a/What-Is-Corn-Starch. htm) Vinegar Vinegar consists of acetic acid (CH3COOH), water and trace amounts of other chemicals, which may include flavorings. The concentration of the acetic acid is variable. Distilled vinegar contains 5-8% acetic acid. Spirit of vinegar is a stronger form of vinegar that contains 5-20% acetic acid. Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes. In general, slow methods are used with traditional vinegars, and fermentation proceeds slowly over the course of months or a year. The longer fermentation period allows for the accumulation of a nontoxic slime composed of acetic acid bacteria. (Sources:http://chemistry. about. com/od/chemicalcomposition/f/What-Is-The-Chemical-Composition-Of-Vinegar. htm, http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Vinegar) Chapter III Methodology A. Materials 1/2 of black grapes 6 tbsp of vinegar 6 tbsp of cornstarch Bowl Measuring cups Electric Juicer Sauce Pan B. Procedures 1. Remove the grapes from their stems and wash it. 2. Put the grapes in the electric juicer and fill up the measuring cup up to 300 ml of grape juice. 3. Put the grape juice in a sauce pan and mix with 6 tbsp of cornstarch or desired consistency and mix until the cornstarch is dissolved. Heat the grape juice and stir. 4. When the grape juice boiled, pour 6 tbsp of vinegar while stirring and remove the sauce pan from heat. Pour the grape juice into a bowl and let it cool down. 5. Use paint brush to test if the grape juice is compatible as an ink. Outcome of the ink Chapter IV Results and Discussion, Conclusion, Recommendation A. Results and Discussion The vinegar and cornstarch used in making an ink results to a thick consistency and consistent colour which is good for the usage of the ink. The researcher’s observations prove that adding vinegar to the mixture can be made into an ink because without the vinegar there would be no consistency on the mixture and it will be less seen. The colour of the black grape ink in the paper turned into brown like colour after it dries up. B. Conclusion Black grapes can be used as an ink.. Cornstarch is an efficient additive to have the right consistency of the product. Also vinegar is also efficient, though there is no obvious change in colour, it was seen that it gave the ink a consistent colour. The researchers recommended boiling the black grape juice in medium heat to avoid staining the base inside the sauce pan which affects the colour of the juice. Also, find out how long is the lifespan of the black grape ink to know how many black grapes to buy to avoid wasting too much grapes. C. Recommendation The researchers would want to recommend to the other researchers who would pursue the study to find out the lifespan of black grape ink and compare the differences with other fruit inks to find out which is more suitable to be used as ink. Budget Estimate Print and photocopies Php Folders Php 45. 00 Grapes Php 245. 00 Cornstarch Php 25. 30 Vinegar Php 2. 00 Total Php 317. 30