Halaan shell makes a good material for making toothpaste

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna , Philippines  – A technology that makes use of the ground shell of halaan (arc shell or Anadara) as material in the manufacture of toothpaste is now commerciable.

The technology was developed by researchers of the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC), Concepcion campus.

Results of the research were presented at a science forum held not long ago at the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD).

The study has found that ground halaan shell, which is usually thrown away after its luscious flesh is consumed, is a good ingredient in making toothpaste.

In the research, empty shells of halaan were burned in a furnace until a big amount of powdery substance (lime) was produced. The process was repeated thrice to ensure a high degree of the ground shell’s whiteness and purity.

The materials used in preparing Anadara toothpaste were lime (55 grams), glycerine (20 g), gun tragacanth (1 g), oil of peppermint (five drops), saccharin (five drops), 6 M NaF (medium fluoride) (one milliliter), castile soap (4 g), distilled water (25 ml), and clean beaker.

The glycerine, gum tragacanth, oil of peppermint, saccharin, castile soap, and distilled water were thoroughly mixed in a clean 200-ml beaker. Lime and one milliliter of 6 M NaF were added and stirred well, forming a paste.

The mixture was then transferred into a clean container for subsequent testing an analysis.

A 10-member panel evaluated the samples of Anadara Toothpaste and three commercial toothpastes in terms of cleaning capacity, quality, and general consumer preference.

“The overall results of this study showed that Anadara Toothpaste is the same as the commercially available ones in terms of quality and general consumer preference,” the NIPSC report stated.

One reason is that there is significantly little difference between the ingredients used in preparing Anadara toothpaste and those sold in the market.

Lime extracted from arc shells provides the equally efficient abrasive action of calcium carbonate in most commercial toothpaste. It also contains fluoride in the form of sodium fluoride.

The NIPSC study emphasized that its main thrust is the economic and environmental importance of using recyclable materials.

“Lime and its many uses can be extracted easily and cheaply from ‘already-considered-waste’ materials such as edible mollusk shells,” it concluded.                

– Rudy A. Fernandez