UP COE Technical Bulletin 2021: PCA and TRA Book of Abstracts

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 133

KARLO LEANDRO D. BALADAD
Prof. Emer. Dr. Meliton U. Ordillas, Jr.
Professorial Chair for Metallurgical Engineering

Assistant Professor Karlo Leandro D. Baladad has been serving as a full-time faculty member from the Department of Mining,
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering since 2013. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering in the
College of Engineering of the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2012. He was also able to obtain his Master of Science in the
Degree in the National Graduate School of Engineering of University of the Philippines Diliman in 2018. His MS thesis focused on
the effect of electrostatic interactions on the separation of magnetite and silica using falcon gravity concentration.
To advance his learning, he took part in a short study program in Hokkaido University in Japan at the Laboratory of Mineral
Processing and Resource Recycling. He was also a university delegate to short study program held in Akita University also in Japan.
These trainings has increased his knowledge on research practices relating to the recovery of metals from electronic wastes. It has
also enabled him to mentor several undergraduate thesis projects in the department with projects relating to metal recovery from
electronic wastes.
Engr. Baladad also served as a study leader in the DOST-UP MinERS Project A which studied Non-Hazardous Methods of Gold
Extraction for Small Scale Mining Applications. Through this project, he was able to research on alternative methods to extract gold
aside from using traditional lixiviants such as cyanide. The output of the project was included in the plant design of a subsequent
project that aimed to roll-out this technology to different parts of the country.
Currently, he is serving as the Assistant Chairperson of the Department

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UTILIZATION OF TAILINGS AND SILT IN MARINDUQUE
Mining operations are a critical element of economic and growth and of human development in general.
Although its value is undeniable, the wastes generated by mining pose significant environmental risks. If
protocols are not followed to the letter, mining disasters can have a serious effect on the ecological and
human condition in the areas surrounding the mines. One of the most noteworthy mining disasters in the
Philippines has been the Marcopper mining disaster in Marinduque. Although the effects of the disaster in
Marinduque have long been scrutinized and documented in various studies, the continued presence of these
tailings, poses an ever-increasing threat to the environment and to the communities in the surrounding area.
Research on how these tailings can be utilized safely and economically should be explored to further justify its
removal in areas that vulnerable to their effects. The project aims to provide a technology solution that will
develop a cemeintitious material containg tailings and silt in Marinduque for 3D printing applications. The
project can potentially help in the infrastructure development initiative of the national government and provide
alternative raw materials which are safer and more environmentally friendly to produce. The utilization of
waste material will also mitigate the risk associated with the accumulation of mine tailings and silt along the
rivers in Marinduque. Lastly, the project will help uplift the lives of locals in Marinduque who have long been
impacted by the mining disaster that occurred in their area.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

134 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

MARY DONNABELLE L. BALELA
Robert Cheng/Uratex Professorial Chair

Dr. Mary Donnabelle Balela is a Full Professor at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
(DMMME), University of the Philippines-Diliman. She is a graduate of BS Metallurgical Engineering from UP in 2004, MS
Materials Engineering from the Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2008, and Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering from
Kyoto University in 2011. She leads the Sustainable Electronic Materials Group, which aims to develop low-cost
synthesis processes for metal and oxide nanomaterials for various electronic, environmental, and energy applications.
She recently received the Encouragement Award from the 2020 Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award for
her work on the development of customizable sorbents based on kapok fibers. She is the runner-up in the 2019 ASEAN-
US Science Prize for Women, 2019 Department of Science and Technology National Science and Technology Week
Outstanding Research and Development Awardee for Applied Research, 2021 and 2018 University of the Philippines
Outstanding Engineering Researcher, 2017-2019 University of the Philippines Scientist, 2016 National Academy of
Science and Technology-Outstanding Young Scientist for Materials Science and Engineering, and Royal Academy of
Engineering Leader in Innovations Fellow (Batch 3). She is a member of Global Young Academy and a co-leader of the
Science Education for the Youth.

CHEMICAL SINTERING OF Ag NANOPARTICLE CONDUCTIVE INKS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
FOR PRINTABLE ELECTRONICS

Silver (Ag) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of about 24.3 nm were synthesized by electroless deposition
in an aqueous solution using PAA-Na and ascorbic acid as protective and reducing agents, respectively. The
Ag nanoparticles were utilized as conductive ink and sintered at room temperature using different halide
solutions (NaCl, NaBr, NaI, LiCl, KCl) at varying concentrations. A significant increase in particle size of about
174–990% was observed after sintering depending on the type of halide solution used. This also led to an
increase in the electrical conductivity of the printed Ag pattern. Halide solutions with smaller ionic sizes
generally promote the fusing of Ag nanoparticles, which results in larger Ag particles (NaCl[NaBr[NaI) and
higher electrical conductivity. The use of an ionic stabilizer (PAA-Na salt) is more effective as a capping agent
for Ag nanoparticles. Sintering is also more significant in samples stabilized by PAA-Na compared to those
with PAA only.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 135

JAN LOWELL P. BUQUIZ
Marithe Girbaud Professorial Chair

Jan Lowell Buquiz finished his bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 2013 from UP. He is a licensed
Metallurgical Engineer and has been a faculty member since 2015. He usually handles Physical Metallurgy and
Adaptive Metallurgy related courses.
He had undergone a two-month research internship at the Division of Sustainable Resources Engineering of the
Hokkaido University in 2016. Under the supervision of Prof. Toshifumi Igarashi, he conducted a comparative study on
various adsorbents that could remove the heavy metals in leachates derived from mine tailings.
He obtained his master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering also from UP in 2019 under the tutelage of Dr. Manolo
Mena. His thesis focused on understanding the corrosion behavior of lead alloys used in automotive batteries in sulfuric
acid. His other research interests include microstructure development, metalworking, and failure analysis.

BIOSORPTION OF IRON IONS FROM SYNTHETIC WASTEWATER SOLUTIONS
USING IPIL-IPIL SEEDS

The oxidation of the sulfide minerals from the reactive mine wastes may release sulfuric acid and heavy
metals such as arsenic, iron, and copper leading to soil and water contamination. High concentrations of
heavy metals in the soil and water are dangerous to the human health. In this study, treated Ipil-ipil seeds
were used to remove Fe (II) ions from synthetic wastewaters. Batch adsorption tests were conducted at
varying initial ion concentrations and contact time, and at constant pH, agitation rate, sorbent dosage, and
temperature. Kinetic and isotherm models were used to understand the adsorption mechanism. Results
showed that both increasing the contact time increases both the adsorption capacity and % Fe (II) removal.
On the other hand, increasing the initial Fe (II) concentration increases adsorption capacity but decreases the
% Fe (II) removal. The highest adsorption capacity of 12.43 mg/g was found at 125 ppm while the highest %
Fe (II) removal of 35.37% was determined at 50 ppm. Kinetic modeling showed that the biosorption of Fe (II)
ions on Ipil-ipil seeds follow a pseudo-second order reaction. The adsorption rate also increased when the
initial ion concentrations were increased. Isotherm modeling determined that the Fe (II) ions form a monoloyer
on the adsorbent surface based on the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity was also
determined to be 13.8504 mg/g based on the Langmuir model. Moreover, the separation factor values
indicated that the sorption process was favorable at all initial ion concentrations.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

136 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

RINLEE BUTCH M. CERVERA, PhD.
Cleantech Global Renewable Inc. Professorial
Chair in Renewable Energy

Dr. Cervera is a full professor, a UP Scientist, and lab head of the Energy Storage & Conversion Materials Research
Laboratory at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and the current program
coordinator of the Energy Engineering Program, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman.
He received his BS degree in Materials Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman (Cum Laude), MS degree
in Materials Engineering at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Ph.D. Degree in Materials Engineering at the University of
Tokyo, Japan. He also did a postdoctoral study at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan
and at the University of Tokyo.
Dr. Cervera returned in the Philippines as a Balik-Scientist Awardee of DOST in 2012 where he has fostered a research
laboratory in energy related materials and devices. He is the founding President of the Institute of Materials Engineers
of the Philippines (IMEP) Inc. Among his notable awards are Outstanding Young Scientist of 2018 by the National
Academy of Science & Technology, 2018 UP Alumni Engineers Professional Degree Awardee for Materials Engineering,
2019 Outstanding Engineering Researcher and 2021 Outstanding Engineering Professor of CoE, UPD. He is also the
current Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Engineering Journal (PEJ) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Young
Affiliate.

FABRICATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFORMANCE OF LiFePO4/Ga-LLZO/Li ALL-SOLID-
STATE LITHIUM BUTTON CELL

An all-solid-state Lithium button cell with Ga-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (Ga-LLZO) as solid electrolyte, LiFePO4-
based as cathode, and Li metal as anode has been successfully fabricated and characterized. The solid
electrolyte was first optimized to obtain a high total conductivity. Different compositions of Li7-3xGaxLa3Zr2O12,
where x =0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3. Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) were synthesized using solid-state reaction and were
characterized for its structural, morphological, electrical conductivity properties. XRD patterns of all sintered
samples showed that all of the major peaks can be indexed to a cubic-phased garnet LLZO. SEM images
revealed a densified sintered samples with relative densities of about 90% for all samples. Among the different
studied compositions, the Ga-doped LLZO with x = 0.1 achieved the highest total conductivity of about 2.03 x
10-4 Scm-1 at 25oC, with an activation energy of 0.31 eV. From this solid electrolyte, an all-solid-state Lithium
battery, 2032 button cell, was fabricated using LiFePO4-based cathode and Lithium metal as the anode.
Charging and discharging characteristics were performed at 1C, 0.5C, and 0.2C rates. The results showed a
good retention of coloumbic efficiency even after 50 cycles of charge and discharge. The capacity retention is
about 15-20% after 50 cycles. The best performance of the coin cell battery revealed an initial specific
discharging capacity of about 140 mAh/g using C/5 rate.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 137

ELIGIA D. CLEMENTE, PhD.
Semirara Professorial Chair in Longwall Mining

Dr. Eligia D. Clemente, or Doc Bebeng is a professor at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials
Engineering and an affiliate of the Environmental and Energy Engineering Programs. She is currently active in the
environmental engineering field, focusing on environmental problems in the mining and mineral processing industry.
Her active involvement in projects on policy development with government agencies such as the Philippine Institute for
Development Studies and the Development Academy of the Philippines has provided her with trainings on Regulatory
Impact Assessments and policy development and have led her to focus on research involving the improvement of socio-
cultural and economic factors in mining. The current curriculum for the 4-yr course n Mining Engineering has integrated
these subject matters into their courses.

Doc Bebeng finished her undergraduate and graduate course in Metallurgical Engineering in UP and has been teaching
MetE, MatE, EM and EnE courses since she started teaching in the Year 2000 after having been employed as a
University Research Assistant. Her background in materials characterization was founded on her experience with
Ostrea Mineral Laboratories, Inc. under the mentorship of Dr. Antonio M. Ostrea, a renowned MetE practitioner in the
Philippines.

ASSESSING THE PHILIPPINE MINING ACT IN TERMS OF REGULATORY IMPACT

In the Philippines, the current regime started its term with a focus on environmental issues facing the country
and the mining industry proved to be a good target. Mines were closed or suspended though the audits which
were never publicly released. Although the Philippine Mining Act was in full force at the time, the
implementing rules and regulations gave MGB the mandate to grant mineral agreements, the application for
which was meant be completed in 135 to150 days as expressed in the Citizens Charter. Some companies
declare that it took them 3 to 10 years to be approved. The bottleneck was identified as the process of
securing the free prior and informed consent of the affected communities or the LGU itself. The MGB has
absolutely no control over this process which is exploited by some entities and used as a profit-making
scheme.
The current regulation shows that the balance between the mining operations and the welfare of the
concerned communities are being handled collectively by the bureaus under the DENR through schemes
such as the social development management programs and the environmental protection programs and
others. The communities, however, are unhappy with the slow trickle of the funds to their coffers. Royalties
and taxes collected this year takes 2 or more before it is released to the LGU. It takes a prospective mining
contractor millions of pesos before even applying for the MPSA and foreign partners invest billions prior to
securing an FTAA to start up the production. The corresponding cost benefits analysis in this project shows
that the streamlining of the process through digital transformation will greatly benefit both the government and
the industry through the increase in GDP. Pushing the move for digitalization will be economically beneficial to
the government, the LGU and the company and will minimize or eliminate the windows for graft in the current
process

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

138 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

JOHN KENNETH A. CRUZ
Crisostomo A. Ortigas Professorial Chair

John Kenneth Cruz is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering,
University of the Philippines Diliman.
His research interests include materials for biomedical applications, water quality and remediation, and material
applications to product design. Currently, he is part of the SIBOL Facemask Project that aims to produce reusable
biodegradable facemasks.
Asst. Prof. Cruz graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering and a Master of
Science in Materials Science and Engineering from UP Diliman. He received the Outstanding Engineering Instructor
award from the College of Engineering, UP Diliman in 2015.

IN VITRO STUDY OF FLUORIDE RELEASE OF CALCIUM FLUORIDE–PORCINE BONE–DERIVED
HYDROXYAPATITE COMPOSITE

Fluoride-releasing materials are helpful in the remineralization of enamel in teeth that erodes due to caries.
These materials range from glass ionomers, composites, and amalgams that are usually incorporated with
filler materials. In this study, a composite that has the potential to be a fluoride-releasing component in dental
materials was synthesized using two biocompatible components: calcium fluoride (CaF2) and porcine bone–
derived hydroxyapatite (HA). The synthesized material was characterized based on its fluoride release in
water. The HA were obtained from porcine bones via calcination and were mixed with CaF2 through manual
grinding. The resulting powder mixture was pelletized and sintered at 900 °C to forma disc-shaped green
compact. FTIR analysis of the resulting pellet showed that the HA and CaF2 formed fluorapatite (FA), given the
absence of OH peaks. The XRD pattern confirmed that a proportion of HA transformed into FA and that there
are three phases (HA, FA, and CaF2) present in the pellet. Results of immersion experiments showed that the
line of the best-fit model to describe the amount of fluoride released over time is a linear relationship. It was
also found that there is an initial high release of fluoride caused by surface wash-off. Furthermore, the
synthesized pellets were found to be hydrolytically stable due to the very small mass loss observed even after
16 days of immersion. With the capability to release fluoride and its stability, the synthesized material has the
potential to be a cheap alternative material in dental applications.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 139

MARK JEFFRY D. DE LEON
Benguet Management Corporation Professorial
Chair

Materials engineer by training, educator by profession.
He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in the
University of the Philippines-Diliman.
His primary research interest is in the design and fabrication of low-cost atmospheric pressure plasma systems for use
in materials surface modification.

DEVELOPMENT OF DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE REACTOR FOR SURFACE TREATMENT
APPLICATION

In this study, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device using a neon transformer as its power source was
developed and its electrical, and optical characteristics were investigated. The device developed was a based
on a coaxial DBD design. The dielectric used was a commercially available test tube which also served as the
reactor, the inner electrode was an aluminum rod, and the outer electrode is a coil of copper wire. The
electrodes were then connected to a 15 kV, 30mA, 60 Hz commercially available neon transformer. The
developed device was successfully able to create a discharge inside the reactor under atmospheric pressure
conditions and air atmosphere. The breakdown voltage for the device was observed to be around 6 kV.
Emission spectra showed that nitrogen and oxygen species are found in the plasma discharge.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

140 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

EDEN MAY B. DELA PEÑA, PhD
Antonio and Lourdes Tanchuling Mining
Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair

Dr. Eden May B. Dela Peña finished her bachelor’s degree in Materials
Engineering and a master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon
City. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, the United Kingdom, with a degree in
Chemical and Process Engineering (Materials Track). She is currently a tenured faculty in the Department of Mining,
Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering, UP Diliman and the current Associate Dean for Public Service of the UP
College of Engineering.

Dr. Dela Peña established her laboratory called the Sustainable Electrochemical Technologies Laboratory (SETLab).
SETLAb is now a training ground for both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Dela Pena has excelled in
electroplating, particularly in the field of fast-kinetics plating and plating additives. Some of her research interests
include surface coating technologies, electrochemistry, biomaterials, nanotechnology, corrosion studies, and green and
sustainable technologies.

AN ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY ELECTROLYTE FOR CHROMIUM ELECTRODEPOSITION
This research investigated chromium plating using a deep eutectic solvent ionic liquid mixture of choline
chloride, ethylene glycol and hydrated trivalent chromium salt, containing varying amounts of added water
(i.e. 3, 6, 9 and 12 moles). Linear scan voltammetry (LSV) revealed that chromium deposition involves a two-
step reduction for the Cr+3 ion. Physicochemical analysis showed that the addition of water improved the
conductivity and reduced the viscosity of the ionic liquid bath. A black chromium deposit with a nodular
microstructure was observed. Additionally, it was observed that as the water content increased, the diameter
of the nodule particle size increases. Preliminary experiments show that hardness of the deposit can be
increased by the addition of water. The inverse relationship between hardness and particle size is well-known
as the Hall-Petch relationship. Smaller grain size would equate to more grain boundaries. The chromium
coatings possessed an average hardness of ca. 616 HK, which approximates the properties of industrial hard
chrome.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 141

LESLIE JOY L. DIAZ, DR. ENG.
Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI)
Professorial Chair

Leslie Diaz is a professor at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering of the University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon City, particularly teaching subjects undergraduate subjects in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering; and
graduate-level subjects in Materials Science and Engineering and Environmental Engineering. She has been recently recognized by
the UP College of Engineering as the Outstanding Engineering Professor for 2020.
Her field of specialization covers materials science, materials processing; composite materials design and fabrication; materials
characterization and testing; as well as material failure investigation and analysis. These specialization are applied into research
and technical services that could contribute to upgrading locally available resources for various applications, especially in synthesis
of green materials and applications for environmental remediation and treatment, as well as in synthesis of biomaterials and
applications in biomedical devices.
Dr. Diaz graduated with a doctor of engineering in Materials Science and Engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology. She
obtained her master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University
of the Philippines.

CURE CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RUBBER COMPOUND
REINFORCED WITH ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT HUSKS AS ALTERNATIVE TO

CARBON BLACK
Selection of raw materials for rubber products is an important aspect of rubber engineering. One of the
components often investigated is the filler material, wherein among the considerations include reinforcing
capability, cost, and environmental impact. In this study, a greener alternative to carbon black (CB) was
explored using activated carbon (AC) from coconut husk. Results showed that AC has lower fixed carbon
content (33.64 wt%C) than CB (96.92 wt%C) due to the retained volatile organic components. AC also has a
larger particle size distribution (< 150μm) in terms of 80% passing than CB (which is 28-36 nm for technically
specified particle size of commercial N330). However, AC exhibits larger BET surface area (423.66 m2/g) due
to natural porosity of activated carbon materials as compared to CB (58.109 m2/g). Moreover, AC was found
to be basic while CB has a neutral pH. Consequently, the tensile strength and complex modulus G* of the AC-
compound (4.3 MPa and 75.36 kPa, respectively) are inferior to CB-compound (20.3 MPa and 87.41 kPa,
respectively). This is thought to be mainly due to the larger particle size and porous structure of the activated
carbon. Yet, the % elongation and hardness values are comparable. Processability may also be a concern in
using activated carbon as a filler due to higher Mooney viscosity (45.8 M). Nonetheless, the scorch time and
cure index of the two compounds were found to be comparable. Hence, the potential of complete
replacement of carbon black with activated carbon is viable for rubber products with low tensile strength
requirements, such as protective matting.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

142 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

STAN KRISTAN G. EJERA
Domingo T. Toledo Professorial Chair

Engr. Stan Kristian Ejera is an assistant professor of the UP Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials
Engineering (DMMME). He has been actively part of the faculty roster since 2013. He attained both his bachelor’s and
master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from UP Diliman. His research works and interests are predominantly
centered around physical and adaptive metallurgy. He has also had numerous involvements in failure analysis, quality
management, and industry standards. He currently manages the Adaptive Metallurgy Laboratory and Computational
Laboratory of UP-DMMME.

STRAIN HARDENING BEHAVIOR OF HEAT-TREATED AUSTENITIC MANGANESE STEEL
Hadfield steels, also known as austenitic manganese steels (AMS), is a class of alloy steel known for its
excellent toughness, ductility, wear resistance, and work hardening capability. This study explores the strain
hardening behavior of AMS. The effects of both casting pouring temperature (1370, 1410 and 1450 °C) and
microalloying (0.1% Ti and 0.06% Ce) were investigated. The samples were melted in an induction furnace,
sand-cast at varying pouring temperatures, and then heat treated at 1090°C for 2 hours. The heat-treated
samples were then subjected to tensile testing — raw data of which were used in mathematical analysis to
find the strain hardening exponents (n1 and n2), instantaneous strain hardening exponent (n*), and strain
hardening rate (dσ/dε). Results show that coarser grain size results in higher n-values with sharp transitions
from a plastic to a brittle state. Conversely, finer grain sizes resulted in smaller n-values with a gradual decline
in its formability/plasticity as opposed to a sudden drop. Introduction of alloying elements lower the n-value
due to their secondary strengthening effects (e.g. 2nd phase and solid solution strengthening) and may offset
any positive grain size effect in the low to intermediate strain range. These secondary effects, however, are
less prominent at advanced strain levels. Lastly, smaller grain sizes and secondary strengthening effects
markedly increase the calculated strain hardening rate over the plastic region.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 143

RICHARD D.V. ESPIRITU
M.E. Sicat Professorial Chair

Dr. Richard Espiritu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and
has obtained his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials from Newcastle University in the United
Kingdom with research focusing on polymer membrane fabrication and characterization for fuel cell and electrolyzer
application. Upon return to the Philippines as a recipient of ERDT Doctorate Scholarship, Dr. Espiritu has established his
own research group, the Polymer Materials for Energy Research Laboratory – Poly(MER) Lab. He has handled several
UP-funded projects and joint collaborations involving experimental and computational research on sustainable polymer
materials for hydrogen production and electrochemical energy systems. Dr. Espiritu has honed his expertise in anion
exchange membrane fabrication via radiation grafting technique and synthesis of carbon capture adsorbents through
additive manufacturing technology.

A MOLECULAR DYNAMICS STUDY ON THE INTERPLAY OF HYDROPHYSICAL PROPERTIES
WITH IONIC CONDUCTIVITY OF RADIATION-GRAFTED ANION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) have been gaining interest for their potential in removing the
need for noble metal catalysts when compared to the more common proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
AEMFCs, however, face the challenge of excessive swelling due to constant water exposure; thus, the need to
further study the hydrophysical behavior of AEMs to balance the increased swelling which accompanies
increasing ionic conductivity. Molecular dynamics simulations using Forcite module in Materials Studio
software were performed to investigate the hydrophysical properties of trimethylamine-functionalized
cellulose acetate (CA)-based AEM and low density polyethylene (LDPE)-based AEM, specifically the degree of
swelling (DS) and water uptake (WU), and the resulting ionic conductivity. Results showed that both WU and
DS generally increased as hydration (λ) is increased. This was attributed to the hydrophilic character of the
membrane, allowing water to diffuse easily into the polymer. Ionic conductivity essentially increased with
temperature for most of the systems as expected. A decrease in ionic conductivity however, was observed for
LDPE systems at higher temperatures attributed to membrane dehydration. Moreover, it was observed that
the computational results deviate more from the experimental data with larger systems having higher DPs or
λ. Lastly, MD showed that the C15-60 system exhibited the balanced attributes of hydrophysical properties
and ionic conductivity suggesting the best system that represents CA-based AEMs.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

144 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

EDUARDO R. MAGDALUYO JR.
Dean Oscar P. Baguio Professorial Chair

Prof. Magdaluyo is an Associate Professor of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering of the
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
His field of specialization covers materials synthesis, product design and fabrication of engineering materials for energy,
biomedical, construction and environmental applications.
Prof. Magdaluyo obtained his masters in Materials Science and Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Materials
Engineering from the University of the Philippines.

OPTIMAL MATERIAL SELECTION STUDY OF PROSTHETIC SOCKET AND PYLON TUBE IN
TRANSTIBIAL PROSTHESIS FABRICATION

The selection for the fabrication of transtibial prosthesis in developing countries is favoring what materials can
be readily available. Given numerous options, a multi-criteria decision-making process can be effectively
implemented to choose the optimal materials based on design requirement without compromising the target
mechanical properties and comfort for the patient. In this study, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), technique
for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and preference ranking organization method for
enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE) methods were used as a decision-making tool for materials selection
of prosthetic socket and pylon tube. The criteria for the candidate materials such as flexural strength, tensile
strength, modulus of elasticity, yield strength and impact strength were evaluated and each criterion was
given a weight using AHP, while the materials selection calculation was done using TOPSIS and
PROMETHEE. For the prosthetic socket, same ranking was observed for both TOPSIS and PROMETHEE. The
carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRC) was ranked first and closely followed by pineapple fiber reinforced
composite (PFRC). TOPSIS ranked PFRC highest for the pylon tube material, followed by titanium alloy while
this ranking was interchanged in PROMETHEE, putting first preference for the use of pineapple fiber
reinforced composite then followed by titanium alloy. Therefore, the pineapple fiber reinforced composite can
be an ideal alternative for the standard carbon fiber socket and titanium pylon tubes in fabricating a transtibial
prosthesis.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 145

JOY MIRASOL F. MANIAUL
SR Metals Professorial Chair

Asst. Prof. Joy Marisol F. Maniaul is a full-time faculty at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials
Engineering. She graduated cum laude in her BS Degree in Metallurgical Engineering and finished her MS Degree in
MetE at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She started teaching since the Academic Year of 2016 – 2017. She
serves as the current Metallurgical Pilot Plant Faculty in Charge, BS Metallurgical Engineering Program Coordinator and
she is part of the professional organization, Society of Metallurgical Engineers of the Philippines as the ex-officio
member of the department. Her research interests include metal recovery, electrometallurgy, mineral processing. She
has been involved in projects such as DOST Project MinERs A, Prime Composites Prosthesis and Development of a
standard electrochemical procedure. Her current research interests include precious metals recovery, hydrometallurgy
and electrometallurgy, mineral processing, green extraction technology and engineering design.

SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SURFACE FABRICATION ON MILD CARBON STEEL GEOMETRIES VIA
ZINC ELECTRODEPOSITION

Superhydrophobic surfaces are a subject of research mainly due to its wide range of applications. The
fabrication process of superhydrophobic surfaces is a challenge due to its costly requirements, complex
procedure, and risky implications to the environment. Facile techniques, such as electrodeposition, are being
investigated to improve accessibility on the experimental approach of studies focused on superhydrophobic
surfaces. This study focuses on the use of zinc electrodeposition using stearic acid treatment on different mild
carbon steel geometries. Results shows that the highest measured contact angle is 158.62° after 30 minutes
of electrodeposition at 200 mA/cm2. The rough substrate surface due to the formation of micro and
nanostructure after electrodeposition, combined with the lowering of surface energy through the stearic acid
treatment is attributed to the development of superhydrophobic surfaces. Comparison of the geometries of
the steel samples showed that the zinc electrodeposition produces superhydrophobic surface on a rod
substrate but not on a wire mesh.
This study recommends further development to establish a fabrication template for mild carbon steel at any
geometry that is generally simple, low-cost, and environment friendly.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

146 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

TERENCE LUCERO F. MENOR
Willy Lim Bon Teck Engineering Mining
Centennial Professorial Chair

Prof. Menor is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering of the
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
His field of specialization covers extractive metallurgy and metallurgical kinetics. The research areas that are of interest
are green hydrometallurgical processes, solvometallurgy, reaction kinetics of heterogeneous systems and surface
science.
Prof. Menor earned his Master of Science in Metallurgical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical
Engineering from the University of the Philippines.

LEACHING KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF GOETHITIC LATERITE IN SULFURIC ACID
The expected increase in demand for nickel in the electric vehicle industry has resulted in an increase in
research focusing on the development of extraction processes for nickel sulfate from laterite ores.
Atmospheric leaching of laterite has gained attention as an alternative to smelting and high-pressure leaching
because of its low capital and operating costs. However, the main disadvantage of this process is its poor
kinetics. In this paper, leaching kinetics of Philippine goethitic laterite ore in sulfuric acid was studied.
Correlation on the recovery of iron, nickel, chromium, and manganese was observed in the experiment. Thus,
it is expected that the kinetic behavior of the metals is the same. Due to the low recovery of nickel at low
temperature and low reaction time, the dissolution behavior of iron was used in the kinetic analysis. Model-
fitting showed that the rate-determining step for the dissolution is temperature-dependent, with product layer
diffusion as the slowest step at low and high temperatures, and chemical reaction at intermediate
temperature.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 147

CANDY C. MERCADO, PhD.
PHINMA Foundation Professorial Chair

Dr. Mercado is an Associate Professor and the chairperson of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials
Engineering of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. Her field of specialization covers materials
science, physical metallurgy, photovoltaics, photoelectrochemistry, and optical spectroscopy. The research areas that
are of interest are active nanomaterials, solar water splitting, photoactive materials, nanostructures, charge transport,
renewable energy, and materials simulation.
Dr. Mercado graduated with a doctor of philosophy in Materials Science from Washington State University. She
obtained her masters in Materials Science and Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from
the University of the Philippines.

SUBSTITUTION OF CA2+ IN CALCITE BY SN2+ AND SR2+ CATIONS THROUGH ION EXCHANGE
CHARACTERIZED BY X-RAY ABSORPTION AND PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIES

Tin (Sn2+) and strontium (Sr2+), two potential alternatives to lead (Pb2+) in perovskite formation, were explored
in transforming calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into a leaving group in a cation exchange reaction. This is the first
part of a sequential ion exchange process in transforming calcite into a Pb-free perovskite material for
perovskite solar cell applications. Calcite, a polymorph of CaCO3, was successfully transformed into
strontianite (SrCO3) through a cation exchange reaction. In the Sn substitution reaction on the other hand, no
SnCO3 formation was noted. Instead, oxides of Sn were formed. The wider spaces in between Ca2+ cations in
(100) orientation account for the higher atomic Sn2+ and Sr2+ concentrations as compared to (001) orientation,
where the cation movement is restricted. X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopies were used to
investigate the ion-exchange transformation of calcite towards the formation of an intermediate carbonate
material.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

148 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

IVY ANN C. RAZONADO
Semirara Mining & Power Corporation
Professorial Chair

Ivy Ann C. Razonado is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering of
the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
Her field of specialization covers materials characterization and testing, materials science, and fabrication of
engineering materials. Her research areas of interest are nanomaterials, composites and bioplastics.
Asst. Prof. Razonado obtained her MS degree in Materials Science and Engineering and her Bachelor of Science in
Materials Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

PROPERTY ENHANCEMENT IN POLYMER-CLAY NANOCOMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH
NANOCLAY

Semiconductor industries addressed the thermal management challenge by using thermal interface material
(TIM). TIMs have relatively high thermal conductivity and good pliability with its interface. This study focused
on the effect of filler distribution and morphology on the mechanical behavior of nanocomposites under
compressive loading. Polymer-clay nanocomposites at various filler loadings were prepared via solution
intercalation method. Organo-modified montmorillonite (MMT) fillers were dispersed into nanometer length
scales using a high frequency homogenizer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction
(XRD) suggested polymer intercalation with an increase in the d-spacing of MMT. Polymer-clay
nanocomposites have a higher propensity of sustaining larger elastic strain under low loadings as seen in the
stress-strain plot from the ultimate tensile machine (UTM). This behavior showed the enhanced capacity to
undergo elastomeric deformation.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 149

MAGDALENO R. VASQUEZ JR., PhD.
Filminera Professorial Chair in Mining
Engineering

Dr. Vasquez earned his BS ChE and MS MSE degrees from the UP Diliman and his Doctor of Engineering degree from
Doshisha University. His research interests include plasma science, ion sources, and charged particle-material
interactions. His current focus is on the development of affordable plasma and ion source systems for material
synthesis and modification especially those with practical and industrial relevance. After returning to UP Diliman, he
established the Plasma-Material Interactions Laboratory. He is currently the Director of the Technology Transfer and
Business Development Office of UP Diliman. He is the former Chairperson of DMMME, the past President of the
Vacuum Society of the Philippines, Councilor of the International Union of Vacuum Science, Technique, and
Applications, and delegate to the Asian African Association for Plasma Training. In 2018, he was conferred the title
Scientist by the university. In 2019, he was appointed as a University Innovation Fellow.

FABRICATION OF PVA/Ag-TiO2 NANOFIBER MATS FOR VISIBLE-LIGHT-ACTIVE
PHOTOCATALYSIS

Visible-light-active nanomaterials for the photodegradation of organic compound in water were fabricated
using facile techniques. In this work, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were coupled with
plasma-reduced silver (Ag) to shift its sensitivity to visible light. The NPs were subsequently immobilized in
electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The PVA/Ag-TiO2 nanofiber mats (NFMs) were subjected to plasma
etching to partially expose the embedded NPs and improve photosensitivity. The NFM sample exposed to
oxygen plasma exhibited 51% removal of methylene blue in water under visible light irradiation. Compared to
the untreated NFM sample, plasma treatment resulted to a 20% increase in dye removal efficiency. In
addition, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis of fishpond wastewater using the NFMs under visible-light
irradiation was conducted. With the NFMs, there was a 32% decrease in TOC concentration while in the
absence of the catalyst, a 142% increase was measured. The results showed the effectivity of the catalysts to
counter the biochemical reactions that took place in the actual wastewater samples. Moreover, the
immobilization of visible-light-active Ag-TiO2 NPs in PVA would extend its service life as well as minimize its
environmental risk, making the NFMs ideal for removing organic compounds in wastewater.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

150 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

MANOLO G. MENA
Benito Yao Professorial Chair

Dr. Mena is a Professor Emeritus and the Director, National Graduate School of Engineering of the University of the
Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
His field of specialization includes thermodynamics and kinetics of metals and materials, extractive metallurgy,
electrometallurgy and corrosion, as well as semiconductor electronic materials and packaging.
Dr. Mena graduated with a doctor of philosophy in Metallurgy from the University of Utah, USA. He obtained his
Masters in Metallurgical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the
Philippines. He is also a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology.

RUNAWAY OXIDE GROWTH OF ELECTROPLATED TIN DEPOSITS
Pure tin is used as a replacement of Pb-Sn eutectic alloy as finish and solder material in view of the
prohibition against lead in electronic devices. Tin, however, has the known reliability concerns of whiskers
leading to electrical shorting and runaway oxide growth resulting into board soldering problems. This study
aims to characterize the electroplated Sn crystal and the native oxide formed. A protocol that consistently
causes runaway oxidation in electroplated Sn is also developed and the mechanism for this phenomenon
identified. Pure tin was electroplated on an Al sheet in a Hull cell using a commercial plating solution. Current
densities of 15, 8 and 3 A/dm2 were considered. The thickest oxide layer was formed on samples that were
subjected to a 48-hour bake at 85°C and 85% relative humidity followed by two passes of reflow at 260°C.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy scans show the presence of adsorbed oxygen at the oxide-
electrolyte interface because of the ease with which electrons can move from the metal to the oxide surface
to ionize oxygen atoms. A model of oxide growth for the p type SnO2 film is presented.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL, AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING 151

MITCH-IRENE KATE G. OYALES
Research Presentation

Mitch-Irene Kate G. Oyales is Assistant Professor of BS Materials Engineering program at the Department of Mining,
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, and the current
Faculty-in-Charge of the Materials R&D and Consulting Facility of DMMME.

She received her BS degree in Materials Engineering and M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering at the
University of the Philippines Diliman. She’s currently a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at the
University of the Philippines Diliman.

Her field of specialization covers materials science, rubber engineering, nanocomposites, biomaterials, valorization of
locally-sourced materials, materials testing and characterizations, and materials degradation and failure analysis.

CURE CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RUBBER COMPOUND
REINFORCED WITH ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT HUSKS AS ALTERNATIVE TO

CARBON BLACK
Selection of raw materials for rubber products is an important aspect of rubber engineering. One of the
components often investigated is the filler material, wherein among the considerations include reinforcing
capability, cost, and environmental impact. In this study, a greener alternative to carbon black (CB) was
explored using activated carbon (AC) from coconut husk. Results showed that AC has lower fixed carbon
content (33.64 wt%C) than CB (96.92 wt%C) due to the retained volatile organic components. AC also has a
larger particle size distribution (< 150μm) in terms of 80% passing than CB (which is 28-36 nm for technically
specified particle size of commercial N330). However, AC exhibits larger BET surface area (423.66 m2/g) due
to natural porosity of activated carbon materials as compared to CB (58.109 m2/g). Moreover, AC was found
to be basic while CB has a neutral pH. Consequently, the tensile strength and complex modulus G* of the AC-
compound (4.3 MPa and 75.36 kPa, respectively) are inferior to CBcompound (20.3 MPa and 87.41 kPa,
respectively). This is thought to be mainly due to the larger particle size and porous structure of the activated
carbon. Yet, the % elongation and hardness values are comparable. Processability may also be a concern in
using activated carbon as a filler due to higher Mooney viscosity (45.8 M). Nonetheless, the scorch time and
cure index of the two compounds were found to be comparable. Hence, the potential of complete
replacement of carbon black with activated carbon is viable for rubber products with low tensile strength
requirements, such as protective matting.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

152 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

HERMAN D. MENDOZA
Philex Mining Corporation UP Centennial
Professorial Chair II

Dr. Mendoza is a full professor in the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering of the University
of the Philippines Diliman.
He obtained his doctorate degree in Mineral Engineering and Materials Processing from the Tohoku University, and his
post-doctorate degree from Waseda University. He graduated with two bachelor’s degree –in Mining Engineering from
Saint Louis University and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman. This was followed
up by a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, also from UP Diliman.
With over decades worth of experience as an educator and engineer, Dr. Mendoza is known as a specialist in materials
processing and minerals engineering. He has led government-funded research projects in the past, especially on
alternative technologies in the extraction of gold.

CLINN-GEM TECHNOLOGY VS. TRADITIONAL (CYANIDATION-AMALGAMATION) GOLD
EXTRACTION

The objective of parallel testing was to evaluate and compare the performances of the UP-DOST CLINN-GEM
Technology and the Traditional Gold Extraction Process used in Itogon, Benguet. The CLINN-GEM
Technology, developed by UP-DOST, uses Enhanced–Gravity/Flotation Concentration and Hypochlorite
Leaching/Stage Precipitation, while the Traditional process, used by the Benguet Federation of Small- Scale
Mining Association Inc. (BFSSMAI), is a combination of Gravitational and Cyanidation (Carbon-In-Pulp)
Process. The BFSSMAI and UP-DOST parties agreed to evaluate the Traditional and CLINN-GEM processes
based on the following criteria, a) overall gold recovery; b) operating time; c) cost of operation; and, 4)
environmental cost.
The result of the parallel testing are summarized as follows: a) The CLINN-GEM Process was able to recover
79% gold in the gravitational concentration stage whereas the traditional gravity concentration method using
sluicing recovered around 58% only. The traditional gold extraction method had to use leaching by
cyanidation to cover the difference in recoveries. When the hypochlorite leaching in the CLINN-GEM
technology was utilized, the overall gold recovery increased to 86.11%; b) Only seven (7) hours were needed
to recover 79% gold using the CLINN-GEM’s gravity concentration stage. To recover up to 86.11% gold using
the CLINN-GEM method, it took only 1.2 days. As for the traditional method using sluicing and leaching by
cyanidation, it took almost six (6) days to recover 82.8%gold; c) The operating expenses (OPEX) of the CLINN
-GEM technology and that of the traditional methods are comparable, at Php 2,851.59 and Php 2,802.92 per
MT, respectively; and, 4) In the event that the waste effluent from both processes are treated, the CLINN-GEM
process is less expensive than performing cyanide detoxification. CLINN-GEM effluent was just neutralized to
pH 7 prior to discharge to the settling pond.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS



154 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

MATTHEW TRAVIS M. ALCANTARA

PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION OF A MODIFIED RAMBERG-OSGOOD POWER LAW FOR
STRAIN SOFTENING SOILS

A proposed method to determine the parameters of a four-parameter Modified Ramberg-Osgood power law
for strain softening soils was presented. The process of the parameter identification was posed as a nonlinear
least squares problem which allows for the MRO model to be directly fitted into stress-strain data points from
laboratory strength tests. The proposed method implemented the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm in a
computer program to output the MRO parameters and goodness-of-fit measures. Two numerical examples
were presented which include consolidated-drained triaxial compression test results for LNDV silt and
unconfined compression test results for geopolymerized clay. For both examples, results show a close
agreement between the predicted stress-strain behavior and the experimental data as signified by values
close to unity and low RMSE values.

CHRISTIAN G. ARRANZ

STRENGTH AND DURABILITY PERFORMANCE OF MINE TAILING-REINFORCED
COMPRESSED STABILIZED EARTH BLOCK

Mine waste has been a problem in countries with growing mining industries, such as the Philippines. The
common practice is storing mine wastes such as mine tailings in Tailings Storage Facilities (TSF) to mitigate
the harm it may cause to the environment and community when improperly stored. To address this, the
potential of mine tailings as a partial replacement for soil in producing Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks
(CSEB) was investigated. Studies regarding CSEB focusing on enhancing the characteristic strength and
minimizing deterioration were analyzed. The compressive strength, water absorption rate, abrasion, and
flexural strength of CSEB were mainly affected by the percentage and type of stabilizer. The optimum amount
of stabilizer, preferably cement, was observed to be between 6-10%, which allowed the compressive strength
to reach the recommended value of 1.3 MPa (NZS 4298 1998). The same observation was evident in the
flexural strength of the blocks with a maximum value of 1.12 MPa.
Similarly, the stabilized blocks exhibited superior resistance to abrasion that resulted in an average abraded
particle of 0.02%. Finally, using 5%, 10%, and 15% cement showed a notable improvement in water
absorption, resulting in 13.29%, 11.37%, and 9.63%, respectively, all of which fall under the recommended
value of less than 15%. The factors that make an excellent CSEB lie in properly selecting soil with grain size
distribution that would complement the stabilizer. Considering these factors on mine tailings can serve as a
viable replacement in producing Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 155

JULIUS REY D. BANIQUED

PROGRESSIVE BUILDING DAMAGE PREDICTION OF LOW RISE REINFORCED CONCRETE
FRAME STRUCTURES USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

The prediction of the damage to buildings from an earthquake event is critical in disaster mitigation and
management. This is usually done by rapid visual assessment and structural analysis. In low-rise reinforced
concrete structures, the capacity spectrum method is one of the methods used to determine the damage
state of a given building given an earthquake demand. This involves generating the capacity curve which is
compared to the demand curve to evaluate the damage state. However, this method of analysis is
computationally expensive and requires a lot of time. In this study, the capability of artificial neural networks to
predict the progressive damage of the one- and two-story concrete structures is explored using a synthetic
dataset used in a previous risk analysis study. It was found out that an artificial neural network trained for
about one day increased the speed of producing a capacity curve by 1200 times compared to traditional
structural analysis with high accuracy.

DOMINIC M. BAUTISTA

SIMULATIVE ANALYSIS OF WAVE PENETRATION AND ASSESSMENT OF VESSEL SAFETY IN
THE PORT OF NASUGBU, BATANGAS

Interisland and short sea shipping are important levers for fishing, freight transport, and passenger travel
movement in archipelagic countries such as the Philippines. Ports, therefore, serve as vital links for economic
development and must be studied thoroughly to achieve safe and optimum operational capacity. In this study,
SWAN (Simulating Waves Nearshore), a third-generation spectral wave model, was used to simulate the wave
penetration inside the Port of Nasugbu, Batangas under prevailing wind and wave conditions. A one-year
simulation period was conducted to characterize and examine the intra-annual variability of the wave climate.
Model performance was validated using statistical parameters to compare the simulation results with a global
ocean wave model which is assimilated with historical altimetry missions. An analysis of 1D wave energy and
directional spectra in frequency space was made to identify wave systems present at two different locations in
the port. In addition, recurring patterns of wave height distribution within the port were characterized and the
monthly averaged sea state was categorized according to the Douglas Sea Scale. Finally, vessel safety
assessment at different locations in the port was done by computing the probabilities of wave heights
exceeding the limiting wave height criteria for different types of vessels. Results showed that the southwest
monsoon winds intensify the propagating waves and the location of the docking and berthing points at the
port entrance must be considered as it is susceptible to high waves 90% to 100% of the time from June to
September.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

156 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

JOHN IAN V. BAYTAMO

2D PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF VERTICAL-AXIS TIDAL TURBINE USING DIFFERENT
AIRFOILS

The power coefficient (Cp) of a turbine is an important variable on VATT design. It depends on several
variables such as flow conditions and the airfoils used in a VATT. Unfortunately, data on Cp-TSR curves of
VATTs using different airfoils are limited. In this study, the primary objective is to generate the Cp-TSR curves
of VATTs using different NACA airfoils at various flow conditions. Theoretical power outputs and power
coefficients of 3-m diameter, two-dimensional VATTs were calculated across three different airfoils and four
TSRs (2, 3, 4, and 6). ANSYS FLUENT was used to run all twelve trials. NACA 0025, 2420, and 4418 were
used in this study, each having a chord length of 0.15 m. SST k-ω was used as the turbulence model and the
y+ values near the airfoil walls were maintained below 1. Cp-TSR curves of each VATT was then determined.
In all VATTs, the optimal TSR was between 3 and 4. The resulting Cp-TSR curve showed that the maximum
power coefficients of each 2D VATT were around 0.55 (NACA 2420), 0.54 (NACA 4418), and 0.47 (NACA
0025). All in all, NACA 2420 performed the best, very closely followed by NACA 4418, and finally NACA 0025.
Flow visualization using z-vorticity was performed to explain low power coefficients at low TSRs. Plotting the z-
vorticity showed that severe vortex shedding near the leading edges of the airfoils were observed making
drag forces dominant, rendering operations at low TSRs undesirable.

FRANCESCA VALERIE CABANLIG

A REVIEW OF THE POTENTIAL UTILIZATION OF COPPER MINE TAILINGS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF POROUS GEOPOLYMER BRICKS

Mine tailings still represent considerable issues in the research community in terms of promoting circular
economy and waste minimization due to the increasing volume in question. Geopolymerization technique can
be very useful in addressing these problems, which converts industrial solid wastes into valuable construction
materials through dissolution and reaction of a solid aluminosilicate source with an alkali-activating solution.
Research shows that geopolymer bricks can have several applications and specialized characteristics with low
environmental impact compared to traditional bricks. In this review paper, the potential use of copper mine
tailings (CMT) and rice husk ash (RHA) were explored as the main precursor materials in the
geopolymerization process. Different parameters involved in geopolymerization were discussed, prompting to
determine the suitable mix proportions and conditions to achieve the optimum properties for the development
of CMT-RHA-based porous geopolymer bricks. A proposed methodology based on the collected and
reviewed information was also presented for possible adaption to produce this type of material.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 157

KARLO DANIEL Q. COLEGIO

ANALYSIS OF STEEL BEAM COLUMNS UNDER COMBINED COMPRESSION AND BI-AXIAL
BENDING USING A DEVELOPED 3D-FINITE ELEMENT METHOD TOOL

This research project aims to develop a three-dimensional finite element method tool for analyzing steel beam
-columns under various combinations of compressive load and bi-axial bending. A properly verified and
validated 3D FEM tool will be useful in research especially in studies that requires parametric studies for the
generation of data points. The tool’s behavior in approximating displacements and stresses was successfully
verified through a series of tests. Similarly, the tool was validated against experimental results from literature.
However, accurate results were only observed for cases with eccentricities less than 20mm and for a specific
material only (S235 Steel). A parametric study was then conducted considering the observed limitations of the
tool from the validation test in order to exhibit the capabilities of the tool in analyzing steel beam-columns.

MICHAEL SEAN P. DEANG

PRODUCTION OF BIOETHANOL FROM COCONUT BIOMASS
Ethanol is an important component of fuel. In the Philippines, most of the ethanol used is imported from
various countries. However, the country is a large producer of coconut biomass, which could be used for the
production bioethanol. This journal seeks to study the profitability and feasibility of a coconuts husk bioethanol
plant to be erected in Buhangin, Davao. Alkaline, acid pre-treatment, and enzymatic hydrolysis were done in
order to liberate fermentable sugars from the lignocellulose of the biomass. Fermentation with
Saccharomyces cerevisiae was employed for the conversion of the sugars to ethanol. To purify, two
distillation columns and two molecular sieves were used. Using this, an IRR of 7.30% was obtained with an
NPV of $18,777,223.59. A straight and discounted payback period of 12.89 and 17.99 years, respectively,
were obtained. The design was deemed not feasible due to the long payback period and the low IRR value.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

158 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DALE JOSHUA R. DEL CARMEN

BASELINE EVALUATION OF VISION-BASEDVEHICLE COUNTING SYSTEMS
Vehicle count is a typical metric measured by traffic monitoring systems for other Intelligent Transport
Systems (ITS) applications. One such way to extract vehicle count is through vision-based vehicle counting
systems. Systems which output a total cumulative count can be categorized into two: time-spatial image (TSI)
based approaches, vehicle detection-based approaches. The time-spatial based approaches are low
computational complexity but are prone to occlusion. Meanwhile, the more recent vehicle detection-based
approaches are more robust to occlusion with the drawback of significantly higher computational complexity.
This paper evaluates two baseline vehicle counting systems: one using a TSI-based approach, and one using
a detection-based approach. The results show that the TSI-based approach has an average count accuracy of
90.2% while the detection-based approach has an average count accuracy of 93.3%.

ERICA ERIN E. ELAZEGUI

BUILDING FOOTPRINT EXTRACTION USING HIGH-RESOLUTION DSM AND FREE AND OPEN-
SOURCE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

Building footprint extraction is a crucial part of several geospatial analyses such as environmental
assessments and land development and planning. Manual digitization, semiautomatic, and automatic
processes have been recommended and researched in combination of high-resolution satellite and aerial
imageries. This research presents another methodology for building footprint extraction which exclusively
uses the Digital Elevation Models of the area derived from LiDAR points. The extraction utilized three
thresholding parameters to extract the buildings – roughness, height, and area. These parameters were
finalized through iterations from an initial set of five parameters. The methodology was implemented in QGIS
3.18.1 which was also used to model the building extraction tool via the QGIS graphical modeler. The tool
takes the DEMs and user-input values of the parameters and generates the building polygons. As compared
to the reference buildings manually digitized, the completeness, correctness, and quality of the extracted
buildings (based on counts) are 83.87%, 96.30%, and 81.25%, respectively. The same metrics for area-based
measure were computed at 80.25%, 64.32%, and 54.79%, respectively. Improvements to the methodology
were recommended to simplify the building outlines. The tool created is intuitive and comprehensive for
editing and thresholding which enables serviceability for other study areas and ease for improvement.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 159

LIZABETH ANN FRANCO

FACULTY COURSE ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH PRE-ASSIGNED NON-INTEGER COURSES:
A CASE STUDY

The teacher assignment problem is an example of a general assignment problem wherein many tasks
(courses) can be assigned to one agent (teacher). In the studied department of a university, this is currently
done manually. The courses are assigned to faculty based on their declared preferences, with the goal of
maximizing the fulfillment of preferences for all the faculty members. A characteristic of this department is that
some courses must be shared among faculty for different practical reasons. This makes the use of integer
linear programming models for assignment problems insufficient. To address this, a mixed integer linear
programming model was formulated. A comparison of the fulfillment of preferences of the manual assignment
and the assignment produced by the model showed an improvement of 10% while decreasing the time to
produce the assignment from 3-4 days when done manually to 1.12 seconds using the linear programming
Python package PuLP 2.5.0

TRISHIA C. GUEVARA

IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE SOCIALIZED HOUSING AND RESETTLEMENT SITES IN
MARIKINA CITY USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM AND ANALYTIC HIERARCHY

PROCESS
With the rapid urbanization that we are experiencing today, problems - especially if planning efforts are not
sufficient to cope with the influx of new inhabitants - will arise such as lack of affordable housing and high
exposure to natural. This research aims to identify possible socialized housing and resettlement sites within
Marikina City where residents, mostly ISFs but not necessarily all, living near waterways can retreat or
evacuate during typhoons which causes severe flooding. Due to the ongoing pandemic and prevailing
community quarantine, the data used in this research is limited only to the collected data from previous
studies and existing online resources. Flood risk assessment was done using the formula R = P x E x V. A
projected flood risk map of the city was used to have a visualization of the areas that are not suitable or unsafe
to the destructive impacts of flooding. Using Google Street View, a walk-through of the area was done and a
possible project site was determined.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

160 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

HANNA CZARISE E. REGIDOR

OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION AND DISSOLUTION OF REFRACTORY
BENGUET GOLD CONCENTRATE IN HYPOCHLORITE SOLUTIONS

With the decreasing availability of free milling gold ores today, the development of processes that can treat
refractory ores are important. Alternative lixiviants have then been studied, and the most promising is
chlorination. The process is capable of both dissolving the gold and oxidizing the ore, which removes the
“refractory” nature of the ore. In this study, optimization of a chlorination has been conducted. The first stage
consists of oxidation using hypochlorite-bearing reagents at alkaline conditions for 3 hours. Solution pH is
then lowered for the second stage and fixed amounts of calcium hypochlorite and sodium chloride is added
every 10 minutes for 4 hours. X-ray diffraction patterns of the residue from the first stage leaching and second
stage leaching showed that the second stage process achieved higher oxidation. A one stage leaching
process using the second stage process was also conducted for comparison, and results show that the two-
stage leaching process was more effective, achieving 87.15% gold recovery while the one stage leaching
process only achieved 68% gold recovery.
Based on the results, optimization of the first stage oxidation process is important in leaching refractory gold
concentrates. Screening tests were done to determine the significant factors, and it was found that the factors
hypochlorite concentration, percent solids, and oxidation time were significant. Three level parameters of
these factors were considered in the optimization tests, and the solution obtained showed that a gold recovery
of 83% can be obtained at 258 minutes of oxidation, 0.6 moles of hypochlorite and 28% percent solids. SEM-
EDS image of the residue from the runs suggests a product layer diffusion-controlled oxidation process, and
powder XRD patterns validated that oxidation took place.

JAYSON SIME JEREMIAS

DETERMINATION OF THE ENTHALPY OF VAPORIZATION OF WATER USING THE CLAUSIUS-
CLAPEYRON EQUATION

The latent heat or enthalpy of vaporization (ΔHvap) is an intrinsic property of any chemical substance. It is the
finite amount of heat needed to transition the said chemical species from its liquid to its gaseous phase, and
vice versa. The experiment’s objective is to determine the latent heat of vaporization of water using the
temperature and volume data gathered from a setup where water is made to vaporize and condensed as the
temperature was increased and decreased. The Clausius-Clapeyron equation was used to get by generating
pressure data from the volume and temperature using three equations of state. The average latent heat of
vaporization from the Van der Waals equation of state was calculated to be 53.0798 kJ/mol with a deviation of
30.58 % from literature. Sources of error include non-uniform temperature distribution, unstable positioning of
the graduated cylinder in the setup, and possible hydrostatic pressure effects. It is recommended to secure
the graduated cylinder throughout the procedure, introduce agitation to even temperature distributions, and
possibly investigate the applicability of the experimental procedure on other liquids.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 161

RICHELLE ANN B. JUAYONG

DESIGNING AN IMMERSIVE VR APPLICATION USING COLLECTIVE MEMORY
FOR DEMENTIA THERAPY

There is currently a lack of research, facilities, services, and work- force that specifically cater to dementia in
the Philippines. We are currently limited to drug medication and home care, with little development towards
other potential ways of treatment and reha-bilitation. The possible use of VR technology for dementia therapy
is also not yet explored in the Philippine context. In this paper, we present an application design for an
immersive virtual reality software. This software is intended as a supplementary therapy to help elderly
patients with dementia. To incorporate a form of reminiscence therapy, we use the concept of collective
memory as a scheme for personalization and an effective concept to help patients with dementia.

JESSICA M. JUNIO

DEVELOPMENT OF A SUITABLE MIXING WATER-TO-CEMENT-TO-BASALT SILT RATIO FOR
GROUT MIXTURES IN REINFORCEMENT AND INFILLING APPLICATIONS

Rock powder is a waste material from the crushing process in quarries. Basalt silt, or locally known as banlik,
is abundantly produced at 17,457MT in 2018 in a quarry in Antipolo. To utilize the heaping amount of
unprofitable basalt silt, the properties of cement grout mixed with basalt as fine aggregate was studied. The
mixing water-cement (mw/c) ratio and the basalt-cement ratio (b/c) was varied in the different treatments and
grout parameters such as shrinkage, flowability, bleeding and compressive strength were observed to provide
a basis for determining the suitable cement basalt grout mixture for filling and reinforcement applications.
Petrographic analysis of the raw sample obtained from the quarry confirmed a predominant composition of
basalt fragments on the lithic greywacke silt and XRF results also showed traces of basalt-related elements.
Through statistical analysis, it showed that both the mw/c ratio, b/c ratio, and their interaction, had significant
effects on the grout parameters that were essential for filling and reinforcement applications. The study was
able to provide a method to find suitable grout mixtures given the grout requirements for a specific grouting
case (specifications required in the program are: maximum efflux time (in seconds), maximum bleeding rate
(in %), minimum compressive strength (in MPa), and maximum shrinkage (in %).

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

162 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

LUIS CARLOS S. MABAQUIAO

SURFACE DEFORMATION MONITORING OF CAMANAVA REGION IN METRO MANILA USING
INTERFEROMETRIC SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (InSAR)

The city of Metro Manila has been constantly battered by several hazards on an annual basis. This being
primarily due to the location of the Philippines in the middle of the pacific ring of fire. One of the most
common hazards that Metro Manila is experiencing on a regular basis is typhoons which bring massive
amounts of rainfall. The neighboring cities of Caloocan, Marikina, Navotas and Valenzuela (CaMaNaVa) act as
the catch basin of these rainfall due to the topography of the area. Determination of land uplift or subsidence
is crucial in planning and mitigating the effects of flooding in the area. The study aims to determine whether
an uplift or subsidence occurs in the area using a pair of L1 SLC Sentinel 1 Images. Radar Interferometry is
used to generate Interferograms and Satellite Line of Sight (LOS) deformation was determined between the 2
dates of image acquisition. It was found that the CaMaNaVa area experienced an uplift between the 2 dates
which may have been due to the Taal volcano eruption recorded during the timeframe of the study.

JOHN KENNETH B. MUSICO

ASSESSMENT OF THE WATER QUALITY ALONG THE COAST OFF LINGAYEN AND DAGUPAN
CITIES AND ITS RELATION TO AQUACULTURE

Because of the abundance of structures for aquaculture in the coast off Lingayen and Dagupan cities coupled
with the increasing concern for the continuing deterioration of the quality of the coastal waters in Lingayen
Gulf because of its potential economic and social costs in the region, the study aims to examine the status of
the water quality in the area and its relation to aquaculture. Water quality data were collected from bathing
stations within the study area and from monitoring stations along the major rivers – Agno River and Dagupan
River – those discharge onto the Gulf. The hydrodynamics of the coastal area and hydrology of the tributary
rivers were also inspected in order to identify the possible sources of pollution in the study area. Data
regarding the status of aquaculture in the area were also acquired. It was found out that pollution is most likely
not due to the transport of material inside the gulf but rather from the discharges from the rivers flowing into
the study area. The main sources of pollution in the river basin were organic industries such as agricultural
areas that dump off nutrients and coliform onto the river systems. The stations with the greatest amount of
coliforms were from the locations near the farms. With the increasing number of registered aquaculture farms
and decreasing amount of production of fish in the region, overfeeding is a major issue to be considered as
exemplified by the eutrophication in Bolinao area in 2010. Appropriate changes and improvements in policies
should be implemented especially with regards to the identified sources of water quality deterioration in the
area.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 163

MITCH-IRENE KATE G. OYALES

COMPARATIVE RHEOLOGICAL AND SIMULATED THERMAL AGING STUDY OF STANDARD
PHILIPPINE RUBBER (SPR) 20

Local rubber manufacturers in the Philippines commented that SPR 20 rubber have significantly varying
processability characteristics despite being similarly graded using standard criteria recently adapted from the
international standard. This study compared two SPR 20 samples sourced from a local producer and a local
trader in terms of Mooney viscosity, as well as in terms of its response to a thermal aging test to simulate
storage aging. The Mooney viscosity of the two unaged SPR 20 samples showed a significant difference of
25.7 ML(1+4), indicating a difference in processability despite having similar rubber grade. Simulated thermal
aging test showed an inverse trend in gel content with increasing aging temperature, which is attributed to
breakdown of gels from either bond breakage or protein structure deterioration. Rheological measurements
using the Mooney viscometer and the rubber process analyzer suggests a reduction in molecular weight via
chain scission with increasing aging temperature, as indicated by the decreasing trend in Mooney viscosity
and the measured crossover frequency through a frequency sweep test, as well as an increasing trend in the
loss factor, with increasing aging temperature. A decrease in crossover moduli for the SPR 20 samples was
observed after aging, indicating an increase in polydispersity – a result attributed both to the breakdown of gel
phases and rubber chain scission.

JIHAN S. PACER

DEVELOPMENT OF VULNERABILITY CURVES FOR W5 BUILDING TYPE
USING ONSET DAMAGE ANALYSIS

This study aims to update the building typologies identified in the GMMA RAP project and develop its
correspon ding enhanced vulnerability/fragility curves. The W5 building typology which is identified as a new
classification of building will be considered and development of its vulnerability/ curves using component
based structural reliability model is the main objective of this study. In deriving the computational vulnerability
curves, the representative building archetype for W5 will be subjected to wind environment parameters that
simulate typhoon conditions both for steady state state flows, then failure assessment of the structure will be
done by identifying the critical building components against severe winds and evaluating their resistance
capacities versus the wind pressure/forces that will act on these building components on the event of a
typhoon. Failure occurs when the resistance capacities of the critical building components are exceeded.
After failure assessment, the aggregated building damage will be translated as a fraction of the building cost.
This will now serve as the dat apoint for the vulnerability curve, which is a plot of the damage index, in this
case, the building damage ratio versus wind spe ed. From the vulnerability curves, at a wind speed of 360 kph
(100 m/s), an average of about 60% , a maximum of about 90% and a minimum of about 30% of the building
is expected to be damaged

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

164 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

JASON PECHARDO

MATERIAL MODELLING AND BALLISTIC-RESISTANCE ANALYSIS OF TIALN DISRUPTER ON
ALUMINUM ABSORBER: A FINITE ELEMENT APPROACH

Aluminum is a highly versatile metal used in various industrial, commercial, and even military applications. For
armor materials, aluminum’s lightweight nature allows for portability and maneuverability in the battlefield. In
such an extreme environment, movement can be a matter of life and death. However, aluminum by itself does
not possess exemplary ballistic performance worthy of combat. In order to address this problem, layering the
softer material with another harder material could greatly improve its overall ballistic performance. This
process is called composite armoring. In this study, the ballistic performance of aluminum layered with a TiAlN
ceramic was evaluated using simulation and modelling. The TiAlN was first synthesized in the laboratory and
characterized to create a basis for its AUTODYN model. The final Al-TiAlN model was then tested with a
simulation of a projectile impact. The results showed that at a certain thickness of the TiAlN, a projectile
speeding at 710 m/s could be successfully prevented from penetrating the Al-TiAlN armor.

MATHEW HARVEY T. PERALTA

ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ADDRESSES OF UP DILIMAN
STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF FOR TRANSPORT PLANNING

The University of the Philippines Diliman is one of the largest universities in the country with more than 20,000
students and 3,000 employees. Since more than 80% of this population live off-campus, the university
regularly generates a significant number of trips. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of the addresses
of UPD students, faculty, and staff to be used in future planning studies of transport options for the university.
Data from UP HRDO and OUR were used for this purpose, together with that from a survey of almost 1000
UPD constituents. The results show that 40% of the UPD population live more than 5 kms from campus, with
17% living more than 10 kms away. Most off-campus UPD constituents live in adjacent barangays such as
Krus na Ligas and Loyola Heights. Barangays within the 5-10 km radius of the campus with significant UPD
populations include Batasan Hills, Tandang Sora, and Fairview in Quezon City, as well as Concepcion and
Barangka in Marikina. There are also a sizeable number of people coming from the adjacent municipalities of
Metro Manila such as Cainta and Antipolo in Rizal. These areas or concentration were identified as possible
stops/terminals for a transport service dedicated for the university. Based on the results of the survey, it was
found that the average trip time of off-campus UPD constituents is about 70 mins with faculty respondents
averaging the lowest at 62 mins and graduate students averaging the highest at almost 74 mins.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 165

DEAN ASHTON D. PLAMENCO

DEVELOPMENT OF A FEATURE-BASED EARLY COST ESTIMATION MODEL FOR
STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS OF LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

In this study, an estimation model for the early costs of structural systems of low-rise residential buildings was
developed using neural network approach. Significant input features related to the structural system which
are available in the early stages of a construction project were identified using linear data models. The
feedforward network architecture is defined with the input layer corresponding to six identified structural
features and one hidden layer using rectified linear activation function (ReLU) as the transfer function. The
model is able to predict actual completed projects with maximum deviation of 14.27% while the average
relative error is 9.16%. Meanwhile, the model tends to slightly overestimate structural costs for single-storey
structure. Additional analysis reveal that the prediction ability of the model is most sensitive to the number of
rooms and floors. Application of the model can be extended to estimation of cost of allied services as well as
integration to cost databases. Overall, the model is able to give a reliable estimate considering cost
contingency in early stages of construction projects.

MARIA PATRICIA ROUELLI G. SABINO

EFFECTS OF VARYING EXCHANGE BIAS ON VCMA-ASSISTED SOT-MRAM SWITCHING
Spin-orbit torque (SOT) and voltage-controlled magnetic anistotropy (VCMA) have been utilized to reduce the
critical current required to switch magnetic random access mem-ory (MRAM). However, a symmetry-breaking
mechanism such as an external field is still required for switching to be deterministic. Recently,
antiferromagnetic (AFM) layers have been employed in SOT-MRAM to enable deterministic switching via an
exchange bias Hex instead of an external field. In this work, we investigate via simulation the effects of varying
exchange bias on SOT-MRAM with VCMA assist on its switching error rate (SER) and switching latency. We
find that a 10Oe-increase in exchange bias can improve latency by 15% and that higher values of exchange
bias generally expand the range of VCMA pulse amplitudes and duration that enable reliable switching. In
addition, we find that VCMA-assisted SOT switching is robust against variations in amplitude and timing
parameters for a given Hex.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

166 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

KARL ADRIAN P. VERGARA

POPULATION ESTIMATION FROM 3D CITY MODEL
Population census is designed to keep records of demographic and socioeconomic information of the human
population in a country. In the Philippines, population census is conducted every 5 years to record de jure
population with decennial censuses acquiring more comprehensive information. These published population
counts are aggregated into administrative units with barangay as the smallest unit. However, analyses
involving these data assume the homogeneity of the characteristics of these aggregated population and may
overgeneralize results. With the availability of population data on a microlevel (i.e. building population count),
various microspatial analyses can be performed that may provide better insights. In this study, existing
mathematical and allocation models were implemented to estimate population residential building populations
based on 3D information of buildings in Quezon City. Building information were derived from elevation
models, building footprints, local rules and regulations, and land use types. The models produced promising
results with a normalized total absolute error of 0.133 and 0.138 with underestimation predominantly seen on
high-density areas while overestimation observed in low-density barangays. This study provided insights on
the influence of availability of 3D information to breakdown population into smaller spatial units for finer
analysis.

JAKE NALZARO

MULTICOMPONENT DISTILLATION COLUMN DESIGN FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE
COMPONENTS OF RICE BRAN OIL

Rice bran oil is composed of a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with the following compositions: 0.2 vol%
lauric acid, 0.8% myristic acid, 17.7% palmitic acid, 0.2% arachidic acid, 0.3% behenic acid, 2.2% stearic acid, 0.23%
palmitoleic acid, 40.6% oleic acid, 35.6% linoleic acid, and 1.8% linolenic acid. This design project proposes a simple
distillation column that achieves the desired separation discussing the different design considerations and identifying
recommended operating conditions and configurations. The actual number of stages was calculated to be 232 stages
through the Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland method, with the optimal feed stage location at the 57th stage. This result was
obtained after setting a reflux ratio that is 1.3 times the minimum, and assuming a 37.70% stage efficiency. The high
number of stages appears realistic, given that the relative volatility of the light key component is relatively low, and the
feed viscosity is relatively high. However, these calculations may be slightly inaccurate due to the assumptions of
constant molal overflow and constant relative volatilities. The Kirkbride equation also often yields results that are
unsatisfactory. Additionally, most distillation columns have multiple feed entry locations which are suitable for different
types of feed.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 167

RAMUEL JOHN I. TAMARGO

LEVOGLUCOSENONE AS A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE MEDIUM FOR THE CLEAN MULTI-
COMPONENT SYNTHESIS OF PYRIDINE-BASED POLYAROMATICS

Solvents account for the majority of contribution to the mass of chemicals used in most chemical processes and thus, the
development of safer and green alternative solvents is one of the key principles of Green Chemistry. Particularly, dipolar
aprotic solvents, is an important class of solvents that critically requires green alternatives due to the danger imposed to
humans and environment in addition to their unsustainability. In this regard, these solvents are under increased
regulatory pressures that limit their industrial applications. Recently, the promising use of the bio-available solvent
Cyrene™ (also known as, dihydrolevoglucosenone or 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanone) has been regarded by
environmental and synthetic researchers as solution to this problem. Recent literature has proven the use of Cyrene™ as
a dipolar aprotic solvent in various reactions and applications. In organic synthesis, Cyrene™ has been used to
synthesize complex aromatics through nucleophilic substitution and cross-coupling reactions. In polymer synthesis,
Cyrene™ has been valuable in finding more environmentally friendly synthesis routes for bioderived polymers. This
project will explore bio-renewable solvent dihydrolevoglucosenone as an eco-friendly candidate for this class of solvent.
Herein, efficient and sustainable protocol to access diverse interesting organic molecules, which includes but not limited
to aromatics and heteroaromatics, from commercially available substrates using Cyrene™ as bio-renewable solvent
media will be developed. The developed protocol will be an efficient and sustainable catalyst- and additive-free protocol
to access diverse and multi-substituted bipyridine analogues from commercially available various amines, 3-
formylchromones and 2-(pyridinyl)acetonitriles using bio-renewable solvent Cyrene™ with water as the sole by-product
has been developed. In this transformation, amines serve both as substrate and mild-base promoter. This novel protocol
provides polysubstituted 2,3'-bipyridines, 3,3'-bipyridines, and 3,4'-bipyridines in good to excellent yield. The features of
this microwave-assisted synthesis include excellent atom economy, fast reaction time, simplicity, and readily available
substrates.

JOHN NIKKO V. SALVILLA

SYNERGISTIC CO-PYROLYSIS OF POLYOLEFIN PLASTICS WITH WOOD AND AGRICULTURAL
WASTES FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

Renewable lignocellulosic biomass is a promising energy resource since its co-pyrolysis with hydrogen-rich plastics can
produce high-yield and high-quality bio-oil. In this study, co-pyrolysis of agricultural wastes (i.e., corn stover) and wood
wastes (i.e., narra, and ipil) with polyolefin plastics (i.e., polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, and high-density
polyethylene) were examined via thermogravimetric analyses. Unlike previous co-pyrolysis studies which had focused on
the improvement of product yield or cumulative weight loss, herein, we present the synergistic effects on the mass
decomposition rate or rate of generation of products during co-pyrolysis. The main objective of this study is to evaluate
the effects of temperature, and biomass-to-plastic ratio on rate synergy during co-pyrolysis. Rate synergy values up to
10% per min were obtained for biomass and plastic blends. Activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the reactions
in the co-pyrolysis process were evaluated using the Coats-Redfern method. Activation energies for agricultural waste
and plastics blends ranged from 45 to 82 kJ mol-1 while that for wood wastes and plastic blends ranged from 53 to 112 kJ
mol-1. Interestingly, the activation energy of the thermal decomposition of plastic was found to be lower during co-
pyrolysis with biomass than in pure form. Moreover, biomass-plastic co-pyrolysis followed a two-stage degradation:
biomass degradation from 200 to 400 °C and thereafter plastic degradation from 400 to 500 °C. Overall, the use of
lignocellulosic biomass and waste plastics for biofuel production can also minimize the volume of solid wastes for
landfills.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

168 UP DILIMAN - COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

JHOIRENE B. CLEMENTE

REOPTIMIZATION OF THE CONSENSUS PATTERN PROBLEM UNDER PATTERN LENGTH
MODIFICATION

In Bioinformatics, finding conserved regions in genomic sequences remains to be a challenge not just
because of the increasing size of genomic data collected but because of the hardness of the combinatorial
model of the problem. One problem formulation is called the Consensus Pattern Problem (CPP). Given a set
of t n-length strings S = {S1,..., St} defined over some constant size alphabet Σ and an integer l, where l ≤ n,
the objective of CPP is to find an l-length string v and a set of l-length substrings si of each Si in S such that
the total sum of d(si, v) is minimized for all 1 ≤ i ≤ t. Here d(x, y) denotes the Hamming distance between the
two strings x and y. It is known that CPP is NP-hard i.e., unless P = NP, there is no polynomial-time algorithm
that produces an optimal solution for CPP. In this study, we investigate a combinatorial setting called
reoptimization in finding an approximate solution for this problem. We seek to identify whether a specific
additional information can help in solving CPP. Specifically, we deal with the following reoptimization scenario.
Suppose we have an optimal l-length consensus substring of a given set of sequences S. How can this
information be beneficial in obtaining an (l + k)-length and (l – k)-length consensus for S? In this paper, we
show that the reoptimization variant of the problem is still computationally hard even with k = 1. In response,
we present four algorithms that make use of the given optimal solution – we prove that the first three
algorithms produce solutions with quality that is bounded from above by an additive error that grows as the
parameter k increases, while the fourth algorithm achieves a guaranteed approximation ratio. It has been
shown that there is no efficient polynomial-time approximation scheme for CPP (Boucher 2015). In this paper,
we show that we can save t(n—(l + k) + 1) ( ) steps in computation from the original running time of the
known polynomial-time approximation scheme for CPP.

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

TEACHING AND RESEARCH GRANT 169

UP Diliman College of Engineering Officials

Prof. Ferdinand G. Manegdeg Dean
Prof. Eligia D. Clemente, Ph.D. College Secretary
Asst. Prof. Riza Rae A. Pineda Asst. College Secretary
Inst. Karl Adrian P. Vergara Asst. College Secretary
Prof. Carl Michael F. Odulio, Ph.D. Associate Dean For Administration
Prof. Florencio C. Ballesteros Jr., Ph.D. Associate Dean For Instruction
Prof. Gerald Jo C. Denoga, Ph.D. Associate Dean For Research and ERDT Project Leader
Assoc. Prof. Juvy A. Balbarona, Ph.D. Associate Dean For Student Affairs
Assoc. Prof. Eden May B. Dela Pena, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Public Service
Prof. Manolo G. Mena, Ph.D. NGSE Program Director

Prof. Michael Angelo A. Pedrasa, Ph.D. Director, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute

Prof. Maria Antonia N. Tanchuling, Ph.D. Director, Institute of Civil Engineering Director
Assoc. Prof. Julie Ann D. del Rosario, Ph.D. Chair, Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Assoc. Prof. Jaymar C, Soriano, Ph.D. Chair, Dept. of Computer Science
Assoc. Prof. Czar Jakiri S. Sarmiento, Ph.D. Chair, Dept. of Geodetic Engineering
Asst. Prof. Erickson L. Llaguno Chair, Dept. of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
Assoc. Prof. Juvy A. Balbarona, Ph.D. Chair, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Assoc. Prof. Candy C. Mercado, Ph.D. Chair, Dept. of Mining, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
Prof. Rinlee Butch M. Cervera, Ph.D. Coordinator, Energy Engineering Graduate Program
Prof. Analiza P. Rollon, Ph.D. Coordinator, Environmental Engineering Graduate Program

Contact Information

UPCOE Administrative Office UP NEC - Engineering Information Division
Rm. 201, 2/F Melchor Hall Rm. 207 Juino Hall, UP NEC
College of Engineering
University of the Philippines Diliman
University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1101
Quezon City 1101
Tel. No.: (632) 89818500 loc. 3006 & 3008
Tel. No.: (632) 89818500 loc. 3101
Website: http://coee.upd.edu.ph

UPERDFI
Room 218 Juinio Hall, National Engineering Center

University of the Philippines Diliman
Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (632) 89265487

2021 PROFESSORIAL CHAIR AND TEACHING &RESEARCH AWARD - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS