Lucas Tang (1O1) Brandon Hoong (1O1) Marcus Neo (1O1) Ho Kai Lun(1O1) Projects Day- Finals 2010 Category 1 Experimental Research Finals Round Version (26)

Introduction Purify different types of water using activated carbon Test if activated carbon is effective in reducing the amount of bacteria, heavy metals and turbidity in water Activated Carbon

What is Activated Carbon? Activated Carbon is made up of: bituminous coal Lignite Wood Coconut shell Facts about Activated Carbon Processed to become extremely porous Has Large surface area for adsorption 1 gram of activated carbon has a surface area of 500 m 2 for adsorption Activated Carbon

Mechanisms of Filtration Adsorption The attractive forces between the carbon surface (non- polar) and the pollutants (non-polar) are stronger than the forces keeping the pollutants dissolved in water (polar). Adsorption cannot occur unless the pollutants are close to the activated carbon's surface.

Purpose To find out how activated carbon will be able to reduce the amount of impurities in both stagnant and flowing water.

Hypothesis Activated carbon will reduce the amount of impurities in both flowing and stagnant water.

Variables IndependentConstantDependent Types of impurities: Lead (II) Nitrate Copper (II) Solution Calcium Carbonate Bacteria (E. Coli) Temperature of WaterAmount of Bacteria left Mass of Activated Carbon Turbidity Duration of ExperimentHeavy metals Volume of Water Type of Activated Carbon

Materials Activated Carbon Lead(II) Nitrate Copper(II) Solution Calcium Carbonate Bacteria (E. Coli)

Materials: For set-ups Stagnant WaterFlowing Water 1 spatula 24g Activated Carbon 1 electronic mass balance 1 litre lead nitrate (Pb 2+ ) (50 ppm) 1 litre Copper(II) solution (50 ppm) 4g Calcium Carbonate (CaCo 3 ) 5 200ml beakers1 pump 1 globe valve 1 transparent plastic tube 5 200ml beakers

Materials: For set-ups Stagnant WaterFlowing Water 12 filter papers16 filter papers 3 filter funnels 4 sieves1 sieves

Materials-For Analysis Stagnant and Flowing Water 1 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer 1 Turbidimeter 1 Agar Plate 1 Colorimeter Dropper

Apparatus for Analysis Atomic Absorption Spectrometer Turbidimeter Colorimeter and Copper Reagent Agar Plates

Types Of Water 200 ml H 2 O+Cu ml H 2 O+E.coli 200ml H 2 O+CaCO 3 200ml H 2 O+Pb 2+

Methodology (stagnant water)

Methodology (flowing water)

Removal Of Activated Carbon Sieve For Cu 2+, Pb 2+ and Bacteria experimentFor CaCO 3 experiment Filter Funnel Activated Carbon

Analysis – Lead

Analysis – Copper (II) solution

Analysis - Turbidity

Analysis – Bacteria

Results Pollutant Lead (ppm) Copper (ppm) Turbidity (NTU) Bacteria Count (Colonies) Stagnant Water Flowing Water Stagnant Water Flowing Water Stagnant Water Flowing Water Stagnant Water Flowing Water Test Test Test Mean Original Reduction -18%-94%-90%-92%-23% -36%-45%

Results

Conclusion Activated carbon is effective in removing pollutants in water. Heavy metals (lead and copper) in water were reduced by >90% esp. in flowing water condition. Turbidity from suspended solids (CaCO₃) and bacteria in water were reduced by 23% - 45%.

Applications Activated carbon can be used to remove pollutants in water esp. in remote areas where treated water supply is not available. The purified water can then be boiled to kill the remaining bacteria before it is used for drinking or cooking. Activated carbon can be packaged in filter cartridges.

References DoultonUSA ‘Activated Carbon For Drinking Water Filtration’ March tion.htm tion.htm Robin Walker 2009 ‘Question Mark’ k_3d.png March k_3d.png Wikimedia 2009 ‘Activated Carbon’ on.jpg March on.jpg Michael Crowley ‘Hypothesis’ March 26, 2010www.getreligion.org/%3Fp%3D1873 Wikipedia ‘Activated Carbon’ March 30,

Article Alley ‘Activated Carbon Adsorption and How it Works’ January 05, Envco-Environmental Equipment ‘MiniRAE 3000 Photoionization Detector’ detectors/minirae-3000-photoionization-detector.html April 2, 2010http:// detectors/minirae-3000-photoionization-detector.html April 2 MediaWave Communications Corp. ‘Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Carbon Block Filters’ filters.com/carbon-water-filter.php April 2, 2010http:// filters.com/carbon-water-filter.php April 2 Flikr ‘Copper(II) solution’ N 00/ /, October http:// N 00/ / Chemistry comes alive Reactions in aqeous solutions ‘Lead(II) nitrate’ NONACL/1.JPG, NONACL/1.JPG References

Finals Round Version (26)

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