STEM Biomedical Engineering Research Plan Scientific Research II

Name(s): Charlotte Pearce, Natalie Letts, Ila Langelotti

Project Title: Cost Effective, Readily Available, and Daily Useable Water Filtration Using Activated Charcoal

Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)

A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research
is important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
A common problem that countries around the world deal with is the lack of clean, uncontaminated, disease-
free
drinking water. This is a major issue because water is essential to life, and these countries must be able to
obtain clean water for their people to live and thrive. We are going to engineer a product to solve this
common issue. When we do so, the countries and society will be healthier, and more vigorous. These
countries must
have clean drinking water, therefore, we are going to provide a simple, cost-effective way for them to obtain
it.
Though water filters exist already, we want to make a water filter that is cost effective and can be produced in
mass
production. Therefore, we can rapidly send these filters to third-world countries quickly and inexpensively.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How can we create a small, portable bag that can effectively remove sediment and
bacteria from contaminated water?
Hypothesis(es): How can we create a cost effective, portable device that can effectively remove sediment,
dirt,
bacteria, and disease from contaminated water?
Engineering Goal(s): Engineer a cost-effective bag/sponge device that works and is easy to use, portable, and
available
to countries around the world who are struggling with providing clean water to their people. This device will
be for
everyday use in countries who lack water regularly. It will ease the stress and fear due lacking a necessity to
life of the
people receiving this product.
Expected Outcomes: We expect to produce clean drinking water after the water is finished with the process
that our device will put it through. This water will lack sediment, debris, and bacteria when the process is
over.
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your
project. Do not include work done by mentor or others.
VARIBLES:
I.V~ The design
D.V~ The quality of water(purification)
Controls~ Amount of water tested
MATERIALS:
~4 cups of unfiltered fresh water from a natural source
STEM Biomedical Engineering Research Plan Scientific Research II

Name(s): Charlotte Pearce, Natalie Letts, Ila Langelotti

Project Title: Cost Effective, Readily Available, and Daily Useable Water Filtration Using Activated Charcoal

~4 cups of Publix purified water (Control)

~1 17.5"x 11.8"x 0.4" Aqua papa Activated Carbon Media Pad Cut-to-Fit Sponge Filter Foam Sheet for
Aquarium Fish Tank Pond Reef Canister
~2 Pastry Gear Grip-Pro 21-Inch Anti-Slip Ultra Thick Disposable Pastry / Piping Bags with Dispenser
~2 First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit
~1-hole puncher
~1 stapler
~1 sharpie
~Cheese Cloth 9×9
~16 in of basic twine/string
~1 needle
~3in of crafting wire
~2 beakers
~Gloves
~Lab Apron
~Goggles
PROCEDURE TO BUILD PRODUCT:
1.) Pour 1/2 cup of water into the piping bag. Make a mark with a Permanente marker on the OUTSIDE of
the bag to indicate where 1/2 cup is. Pour another ½ cup in and draw another line to indicate 1 cup. Continue
this up to 4cups of water. Pour the water out and set the bag to the side
2.) Cut a small slit near the bottom of the piping bag, near the tip
3.) Take the carbon sponge and cut out a circle with a diameter of 6in, set to the side
4.) Cut out cheese cloth so it is slightly bigger than the carbon sponge.
5.) Place the cheese cloth on top of the carbon sponge and Staple it into place and along the edge
6.) Take the needle and twine.
7.) Open the piping bag so you are given an idea of the size of the bag. Go down 5in from the top and thread
a small “net” to allow the sponge and teabag to rest on
8.) Place the sponge contraption on top of the thread “net”.
9.) Take a needle and thread again and now create a “net” above where the sponge sits, this is keeping the
sponge and teabag in place.
10.) Punch 2 holes on opposite side of the piping bag at least 1in down from the top.
11.) Take the 16in piece of twine and loop it through each whole and make a knot. This will make the product
hangable.
PROCEDURE TO TEST PRODUCT:
1.) Obtain 4 cups of unfiltered fresh water (Ex: Lake water, pond water, etc.)
2.) Very cautiously and slowly pour 1/2cup of water into the top of the product
3.) Wait for the water to completely pass through the filter
4.) Repeat steps 2&3 with until all the water is poured
4.) Slowly unscrew the spout at the bottom of the product and allow the clean water to pour into a beaker
**be careful the water may spill**
5.) Follow instructions on the Drinking water test kit named above and test both the bought purified water (as
a control) and the resulting test water to test for bacteria, lead, pesticides, nitrates/nitrites, and chlorine.
***The water will be tested for purity and will NOT be consumed***
6) Record the results and compare the 2 samples that were tested
STEM Biomedical Engineering Research Plan Scientific Research II

Name(s): Charlotte Pearce, Natalie Letts, Ila Langelotti

Project Title: Cost Effective, Readily Available, and Daily Useable Water Filtration Using Activated Charcoal

Risk and Safety

Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
If the bag we use to filter the water is not biodegradable, it could potentially cause a significant amount of
waste to
build up in the countries that are using our product. Also, since we are using charcoal and chemicals, we
must beware
and use proper lab safety technique when working with these materials. We cannot use too much or too little
to
where the water would have an unpleasant smell/taste or not be filtered correctly. The water tested using the
chemicals from the Water Test Kit will not be consumed. It will be disposed of under Paulette Allard’s
supervision.
The charcoal will also be disposed of under Ms. Allard’s supervision. To dispose of the materials, we will
follow the
rules listed on the MSDS.
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
We will have a tub full of contaminated water. Then, our bag with the sponge and charcoal will collect
water, squeeze
the water from the bag into a different tub, then calculate the percentage of contamination left in the
water. Our test
kit will test for bacteria, lead, pesticides, nitrates/nitrites, and chlorine. We will write down the data collected
from our tests performed using the Drinking Water Test Kit.
IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your
research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable
populations (minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What
is the frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved,
social, legal, etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email
addresses) be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be
collected. If not anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data
be stored? Who will have access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study,
what they will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary, and they have the right to stop at any time.

Vertebrate animal research:

a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of
vertebrates.
STEM Biomedical Engineering Research Plan Scientific Research II

Name(s): Charlotte Pearce, Natalie Letts, Ila Langelotti

Project Title: Cost Effective, Readily Available, and Daily Useable Water Filtration Using Activated Charcoal

b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.

c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain
and injury to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.

Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:

• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.
We will be testing the final purification water results from our product with an at home Drinking Water Test
kit. If we do not handle the lead, bacteria, pesticide, iron, copper, alkalinity, pH, hardness, chlorine, nitrates,
and nitrites tests correctly, we could be exposing ourselves to unknown chemicals. We will be wearing
gloves, aprons, and goggles AT ALL TIMES, we will follow test directions given, we will handle each test
with care and safety, and Biology teacher will be supervising. Once all the tests have been completed, we will
properly dispose of the products in the sink of the laboratory.