The Project
The goal of this project was to research ways to apply water and chemistry into a real world setting. My group chose to evaluate the effectiveness of the life straw. The life straw is a small portable water filtration device that uses the dynamics of a straw to filter water. The user puts one end of the straw into non potable water which gets filtered through the straw and immediately consumed by the user at the other end.
During this project we tested how well the life straw worked by conducting trials in the classroom. We used the soluble substances to test the life straw starting with hot chocolate powder. We used the the life straw in the mixture testing taste and clarity of the water filtered by the straw.
After testing the life straw, we took a closer look at how it worked by dissecting it. We used a heated blade to get through the outer plastic shell and to the water filtering materials in the straw. Below is a picture of the materials that we found inside of the straw:
During this project we tested how well the life straw worked by conducting trials in the classroom. We used the soluble substances to test the life straw starting with hot chocolate powder. We used the the life straw in the mixture testing taste and clarity of the water filtered by the straw.
After testing the life straw, we took a closer look at how it worked by dissecting it. We used a heated blade to get through the outer plastic shell and to the water filtering materials in the straw. Below is a picture of the materials that we found inside of the straw:
Concepts
While working on this project, there were terms that we found unfamiliar and needed to define which can be find below to better understand the project as a whole.
Hollow fibers mesh - a class of artificial membranes containing a semi-permeable barrier in the form of a hollow fiber.
Micro fibers - synthetic fiber finer than one denier or decitex/thread, having a diameter of less than ten micrometres.
High poly-iodine - Iodine is used to kill the bacteria in water by replacing the chemicals necessary for a bacteria with the iodide, killing it as a whole.
Activated carbon - a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.
Hollow fibers mesh - a class of artificial membranes containing a semi-permeable barrier in the form of a hollow fiber.
Micro fibers - synthetic fiber finer than one denier or decitex/thread, having a diameter of less than ten micrometres.
High poly-iodine - Iodine is used to kill the bacteria in water by replacing the chemicals necessary for a bacteria with the iodide, killing it as a whole.
Activated carbon - a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.
Reflection
Overall this project was a great way to learn about the concepts involved with water and chemistry. During the project there were many things that went well and helped our group as well as a few things that did not go as well. Our group worked very well together creating an environment where we could all contribute to the end goal of the project. With working well together however, there were at times a lack of communication that led to confusion in the project.
Over the course of the project, the group was very efficient in getting the work done in the time that we were given. This helped us do a more thorough job on the project because we could get more done quicker. Although we were efficient in the time that we had, absences in our group did effect how much we could get done. Even though this was a factor, those group members that were present still got the work done that was needed.
Overall the project was a good learning experience for myself and for my group members.
Over the course of the project, the group was very efficient in getting the work done in the time that we were given. This helped us do a more thorough job on the project because we could get more done quicker. Although we were efficient in the time that we had, absences in our group did effect how much we could get done. Even though this was a factor, those group members that were present still got the work done that was needed.
Overall the project was a good learning experience for myself and for my group members.