Designing A Cost-Effective, Environmentally-Friendly, And Sustainable Water Treatment System
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
3rd Place
Abstract
Recent statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO) state that every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness and that 200 million hours are spent each day globally collecting water, providing a need for effective, sustainable, and efficient water treatment systems. The objective of this study was to design a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable water treatment system to be used in developing countries. It was hypothesized that a sustainable and efficient water treatment system could be developed using clay, bamboo, and eggshells. The antibacterial properties of ground-up bamboo leaves were evaluated. Next, the adsorptive properties of bamboo leaves were evaluated against lead. The adsorption tests were conducted over the course of 60 minutes in which samples were collected every 5 minutes, had their pH measured, and final concentration of heavy metal determined. After noticing no change in concentration over time the powder was tested over 15 minutes along with a composite of bamboo and eggshells against chromium and cadmium. The ratio of bamboo leaves to eggshells was 1:1. Finally, the samples were then utilized in designing a sustainable-water treatment system made from clay and bamboo shoots. The water treatment system was tested against water contaminated by chromium, cadmium, lead, and bacteria derived from sewage water. Results showed that the bamboo did possess antibacterial as well as adsorptive properties and the capacity to be used in sustainable water treatment systems.
Recommended Citation
Arammash, Mohammad, "Designing A Cost-Effective, Environmentally-Friendly, And Sustainable Water Treatment System" (2015). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 164.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2015/all/164
Start Date
4-11-2015 1:45 PM
End Date
4-11-2015 2:00 PM
Designing A Cost-Effective, Environmentally-Friendly, And Sustainable Water Treatment System
Recent statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO) state that every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness and that 200 million hours are spent each day globally collecting water, providing a need for effective, sustainable, and efficient water treatment systems. The objective of this study was to design a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable water treatment system to be used in developing countries. It was hypothesized that a sustainable and efficient water treatment system could be developed using clay, bamboo, and eggshells. The antibacterial properties of ground-up bamboo leaves were evaluated. Next, the adsorptive properties of bamboo leaves were evaluated against lead. The adsorption tests were conducted over the course of 60 minutes in which samples were collected every 5 minutes, had their pH measured, and final concentration of heavy metal determined. After noticing no change in concentration over time the powder was tested over 15 minutes along with a composite of bamboo and eggshells against chromium and cadmium. The ratio of bamboo leaves to eggshells was 1:1. Finally, the samples were then utilized in designing a sustainable-water treatment system made from clay and bamboo shoots. The water treatment system was tested against water contaminated by chromium, cadmium, lead, and bacteria derived from sewage water. Results showed that the bamboo did possess antibacterial as well as adsorptive properties and the capacity to be used in sustainable water treatment systems.
