PROJECT 01 - WATER FILTERS
ABSTRACT
In this project, I have tested the quality and effectiveness of two different faucet mounted water filters. The two brands chosen were Brita and PUR. To conduct the experiment, we used an AM-12 TesTabs Water Investigation Kit by LaMotte. The Investigation Kit allowed us to investigate water pollutants using reagants. The Investigation Kit contains twelve individual test modules that allow testing for the following water pollutants: Alkalinity, Ammonia, Chloride, Chlorine, Chromium, Copper, Dissolved Oxygen/ Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Hardness, Iron, Nitrate, pH, and Phosphate. The water tested was provided by the Springfield Water Treatment Plant.
PROCEDURES AND METHODS
The procedures for this experiment are the instructions that are provided within the Investigation Kit. The instructions provided are as follow:
Alkalinity:
1. Filled the test tube to the 100mL line.
2. Added Alk TesTabs, one at a time, until the color of the solution changes from green to pink and matches the Alkalinity color chart. Made sure to mix until each tablet was totally disintegrated before adding the next tablet.
3. Multiplied the number of tablets used by 40.
4. Record the result as ppm Total Alkalinity.
Chloride:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10mL line.
2. Added one Chloride TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Placed the tube over the left-hand column of black squares on the Freshwater Chloride color chart.
5. Compared the appearance of the squares through the tube to the squares in the right-hand column.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Chloride.
Chromium:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10 mL line.
2. Added one Chromium TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Waited for 3 minutes.
5. Compared the color of the sample to the Chromium color chart.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Chromium.
Dissolved Oxygen/ Biochemical Oxygen Demand:
1.Filled a small test tube to overflowing with sample water.
2. Added two Dissolved Oxygen TesTabs to the test tube.
3. Capped the tube. Made sure no air bubbles are in the sample.
4. Mixed by inverting until the tablets have disintegrated.
5. Waited for 5 minutes.
6. Compared the color of the sample to the Dissolved Oxygen color chart.
7. Recorded the result as ppm Dissolved Oxygen.
Iron:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Total Iron TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Waited for 5 minutes.
5. Compared the color of the sample to the Iron color chart.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Iron.
pH:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10 mL line.
2. Added one pH Wide Rang TesTab.
3. Capped the tube & mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Compared the color of the sample to the pH color chart.
5. Recorded the result as pH.
Ammonia:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Ammonia #1 TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Added one Ammonia #2 TesTab.
5. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
6. Waited for 5 minutes.
7. Compared the color of the sample to the Ammonia color chart.
8. Recorded the result as ppm Ammonia.
Chlorine:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one DPD TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Compared the color of the sample to the Chlorine color chart.
5. Recorded the result as ppm Total chlorine.
Copper:
1. Filled the test tube to the 10 mL line.
2. Added one Copper HR TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Compared the color of the sample to the Copper color chart.
5. Recorded the result as ppm Copper.
Hardness:
1. Filled the test tube to the 50 mL line.
2. Added Hardness T TesTabs, one at a time, until the color of the solution changed from red to blue and matched the Freshwater Hardness color chart.
3. Made sure to mix until each tablet was totally disintegrated before adding the next tablet.
4. Multiplied the number of tablets used by 40.
5. Recorded the result as ppm Total Hardness.
Nitrate:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Nitrate #1 TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Added one Nitrate #2 TesTab. Immediately slide the test tube into the Protective Sleeve.
5. Capped the tube and mixed it for two minutes to disintegrate the tablet.
6. Waited for 5 minutes.
7. Removed the tube from the Protective Sleeve.
8. Compared the color of the sample to the Nitrate color chart.
9. Recorded the result as ppm Nitrate.
Phosphate:
1. Filled the test tube to the 5 mL line.
2. Added one Phosphorus TesTab.
3. Capped the tube and mixed it until the tablet was disintegrated.
4. Waited for 5 minutes.
5. Compared the color of the sample to the Phosphate color chart.
6. Recorded the result as ppm Phosphate.
RESULTS OR DATA
