With Jack Mulligan, Kian Namiranian, and Pranav Pannala
Intro
The goal of this project was to create an interactive display that showed our knowledge of the chemistry of drinking water. We would present our project to a panel of experts in order to get the chance to showcase what we have created at a science fair. To begin the project, our group first had to brainstorm some ideas as to what exactly we would make. Eventually, our group decided to create a comprehensive survival kit that would help anyone in an emergency get safe, clean water. The next step was researching everything we would need in the kit. We decided to include iodine purification tablets, a mini-filter, a plastic bag, a collapsible bucket, a portable bladder of water inside the backpack, and a pamphlet to explain how to use everything in the kit. We then put everything together in a backpack which I supplied in order to keep everything organized and to be able to carry everything around easily.
Our project
In our presentation, we outlined everything that we included in the survival kit and how to use it. We also explained the tests we did an the chemistry behind our water purification strategies.
The Tablets:
The active ingredient in the tablets, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (C3Cl2N3NaO3), is a cleansing agent and disinfectant. It slowly releases small amounts of chlorine that kills off bacteria and viruses.
The Filter:
The filter contains a high number of tiny ‘U’ shaped hollow fiber micro-tubes that trap contaminants while allowing decontaminated water to freely pass through at a high flow rate. It uses a 0.1 micron filtration system, meaning even bacteria can't pass through.
The Tests:
We took tests of dirty water before and after using the tablets and filter using kits supplied by our science department. our purification passed all of the tests we did with flying colors.
PH:
The pH of the water before purification was 7.5, and after the tablets and filter were used, it dropped to 7. The safe range in pH to drink water is 6-8.5. This shows that the tablets made the water slightly more acidic.
Ammonia:
The ammonia levels of the water before purification were 0.1 parts per million, and after purification that level dropped to 0.0 ppm. No amount of ammonia is great for you, so it is good that our purification removed the small amount that was present.
Nitrate:
The nitrate levels of the water before purification were 1.0 parts per million, and after purification that level dropped to 0.0 ppm. Anything below 10 ppm is safe to drink, but our tablets and filter made it even safer.
Nitrite:
The nitrite levels of the water before purification were 0.1 parts per million, and after purification that level dropped to 0.0 ppm. The safe range of nitrite is anything below 1.0 ppm, so our water after purification is very safe to drink.
The active ingredient in the tablets, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (C3Cl2N3NaO3), is a cleansing agent and disinfectant. It slowly releases small amounts of chlorine that kills off bacteria and viruses.
The Filter:
The filter contains a high number of tiny ‘U’ shaped hollow fiber micro-tubes that trap contaminants while allowing decontaminated water to freely pass through at a high flow rate. It uses a 0.1 micron filtration system, meaning even bacteria can't pass through.
The Tests:
We took tests of dirty water before and after using the tablets and filter using kits supplied by our science department. our purification passed all of the tests we did with flying colors.
PH:
The pH of the water before purification was 7.5, and after the tablets and filter were used, it dropped to 7. The safe range in pH to drink water is 6-8.5. This shows that the tablets made the water slightly more acidic.
Ammonia:
The ammonia levels of the water before purification were 0.1 parts per million, and after purification that level dropped to 0.0 ppm. No amount of ammonia is great for you, so it is good that our purification removed the small amount that was present.
Nitrate:
The nitrate levels of the water before purification were 1.0 parts per million, and after purification that level dropped to 0.0 ppm. Anything below 10 ppm is safe to drink, but our tablets and filter made it even safer.
Nitrite:
The nitrite levels of the water before purification were 0.1 parts per million, and after purification that level dropped to 0.0 ppm. The safe range of nitrite is anything below 1.0 ppm, so our water after purification is very safe to drink.
The Pamphlet:
As explained before, this pamphlet explains how to use each of the items in the kit, as well as additional information about how to collect water.
As explained before, this pamphlet explains how to use each of the items in the kit, as well as additional information about how to collect water.
Additional Content
Solution: A liquid mixture where the solute is dissolved into the solvent
Solute: The part that dissolves in the solvent
Solvent: The liquid in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution
Ionic vs. Molecular: The ionic component of our project was the Iodine Tablets. When the iodine tablets dissolved into our water, the chemical sodium dichloroisocyanurate is released which purifies the water and kills bacteria and disease. The molecular component to this project was the Portable Water Filter. The portable filter has 0.1 micron filtration that filters out 99.99999% of bacteria and protozoa and 100% of micro-plastics. It contains a high number of tiny ‘U’ shaped hollow fiber micro-tubes that trap contaminants while allowing decontaminated water to freely pass through at a high flow rate.
Solubility: The ability of something to be dissolved
Dissolving ions in solution: We dissolved ions with the iodine tablets.
Bacteria /Virus: The main disease we got rid of in our water is the disease giardia, which is the most common water borne-disease
pH: A scale used to verify how basic or acidic a water based solution is
Drink-ability range: A range in which water is safe to drink
Solute: The part that dissolves in the solvent
Solvent: The liquid in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution
Ionic vs. Molecular: The ionic component of our project was the Iodine Tablets. When the iodine tablets dissolved into our water, the chemical sodium dichloroisocyanurate is released which purifies the water and kills bacteria and disease. The molecular component to this project was the Portable Water Filter. The portable filter has 0.1 micron filtration that filters out 99.99999% of bacteria and protozoa and 100% of micro-plastics. It contains a high number of tiny ‘U’ shaped hollow fiber micro-tubes that trap contaminants while allowing decontaminated water to freely pass through at a high flow rate.
Solubility: The ability of something to be dissolved
Dissolving ions in solution: We dissolved ions with the iodine tablets.
Bacteria /Virus: The main disease we got rid of in our water is the disease giardia, which is the most common water borne-disease
pH: A scale used to verify how basic or acidic a water based solution is
Drink-ability range: A range in which water is safe to drink
Reflection
This project was a unique experience. Being able to create something that would actually make a difference in the world was an exciting prospect.
I feel that I was an effective leader to my group by contributing ideas while also listening to the ideas of others. I also feel that as a group we all managed our time well during the course of this project.
With that being said, there are always ways that I can improve. One of those ways is by focusing more of my time outside of school to the project. With a week off school in the middle of the project, I had the perfect opportunity to improve and perfect our final product. I also feel like I could have contributed more in the research phase of the project.
Overall I had a good time working on this project and I learned a lot about drinking water and the chemistry behind its safety.
I feel that I was an effective leader to my group by contributing ideas while also listening to the ideas of others. I also feel that as a group we all managed our time well during the course of this project.
With that being said, there are always ways that I can improve. One of those ways is by focusing more of my time outside of school to the project. With a week off school in the middle of the project, I had the perfect opportunity to improve and perfect our final product. I also feel like I could have contributed more in the research phase of the project.
Overall I had a good time working on this project and I learned a lot about drinking water and the chemistry behind its safety.