Wastewater Filtration of Alocasia California

School Name

Chapin High School

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Wastewater treatment is the process in which domestic wastewater is filtered and processed to reduce the excess amounts of nutrients that are present from organic waste residue. The current systems generally employ the use of an electric oxidation tank, which facilitates the growth of bacteria in order to digest the nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate. Recent studies have revealed that water plants can be used to uptake nutrients through their roots and therefore filter and treat the water in a more sustainable way. This experiment follows the ability of Alocasia California to filter two 10 gallon tubs of wastewater in 1 month. To measure this, water quality probes took the levels of nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, and pH of two control tubs with no plants and two tubs with plants suspended in the water. After the systems were placed in a greenhouse and allowed to cycle, the water quality standards were measured again. Analysis of these differences revealed that although the plants were successful in lowering the amount of nutrients that roots can uptake, the p-values are not significant enough to claim that the plants can completely take over as a source of wastewater treatment. However, a larger number of trials to draw results from or an improved system could result in more significant results.

Location

Founders Hall 213 A

Start Date

3-30-2019 11:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 11:00 AM

Wastewater Filtration of Alocasia California

Founders Hall 213 A

Wastewater treatment is the process in which domestic wastewater is filtered and processed to reduce the excess amounts of nutrients that are present from organic waste residue. The current systems generally employ the use of an electric oxidation tank, which facilitates the growth of bacteria in order to digest the nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate. Recent studies have revealed that water plants can be used to uptake nutrients through their roots and therefore filter and treat the water in a more sustainable way. This experiment follows the ability of Alocasia California to filter two 10 gallon tubs of wastewater in 1 month. To measure this, water quality probes took the levels of nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, and pH of two control tubs with no plants and two tubs with plants suspended in the water. After the systems were placed in a greenhouse and allowed to cycle, the water quality standards were measured again. Analysis of these differences revealed that although the plants were successful in lowering the amount of nutrients that roots can uptake, the p-values are not significant enough to claim that the plants can completely take over as a source of wastewater treatment. However, a larger number of trials to draw results from or an improved system could result in more significant results.