Investigatory Project Essay Example

and water and boiling them for approximately 15 minutes. Once they finished boiling, we proceeded to place the materials into funnel-shaped containers. For the final container, we placed sterilized gauze at the bottom, followed by cotton. In the second container, we repeated the process with gauze, coarse and fine sand, and charcoal placed on top of the sand. The top layer consisted of gauze and then pebbles. The filter is now prepared for liquid filtration.

In the process of collecting filtrate, we placed it in a clean glass or plastic container positioned underneath the filter. We utilized the lower section of a previously used plastic container, which had a similar appearance to this:

Background of the Study

In present times, water pollution is a significant issue that greatly impacts the lives of Filipino citizens, particularly those who are less privileged. To address this problem, the researchers conducted various experiments and improvements based on the previous research conducted by Ms. Vanessa J.

Durango, we revised her research work to produce better and implementable results. The material used for this study consists of pebbles, sand, and charcoal.

Statement of the Problem

One major concern is that less fortunate individuals often resort to washing their clothes, dishes, and even bathing in polluted rivers, which poses significant health risks.

Significance of the Study

This study introduces an alternative method for people to access clean and clear water for their daily chores and personal hygiene. The water filter developed is affordable and of good quality, making it accessible to the majority of Filipinos.

In utilizing raw materials initially deemed useless, we discovered their unexpectedly helpful and practical applications.

Scope and Limitation

This study concentrates on revising and reconstructing an alternative water filter. It further involves evaluating its actual benefits and quality. The assessment of the product against the control was limited to conducting only 3 tests, providing limited qualitative and quantitative data.

Charcoal is versatile in its applications, serving as a filter for air and water purification. It possesses the capability to absorb different organic compounds present in gases and liquids. Its composition makes it ideal for air filtration, while also providing additional benefits when used in water filtration. Conversely, pebbles are efficient at removing larger particles from water.

Similar to sand, charcoal is also capable of straining any other small particles present in the water. In addition to this, cotton not only strains but also absorbs the color and other small particles in the water. Initially, some people believed that the materials used in this study were useless for such a study. However, this belief will now be changed as the researchers will demonstrate that charcoal, pebbles, and sand are not useless but rather significant materials. There is a noticeable variation in the quantity of each material used in the three different setups. However, there is no significant difference in the amount of each material used in every trial across the three setups.

Charcoal is a dark grey residue consisting of carbon and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is typically produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen. It is generally an impure form of carbon due to the presence of ash; however, sugar charcoal is

one of the purest forms of carbon readily available, especially if it is produced through a dehydration reaction with sulphuric acid to minimize the introduction of new impurities. Impurities can be removed from the sugar beforehand. The resulting material is soft, brittle, lightweight, black, and porous, resembling coal. A pebble is a clast of rock with a particle size ranging from 4 to 64 millimetres according to the Krumbein phi scale used in sedimentology. Pebbles are generally considered larger than granules (2 to 4 millimetres in diameter) but smaller than cobbles (64 to 256 millimetres in diameter).

A rock composed mainly of pebbles is called a conglomerate. Pebble tools are among the earliest known artificial objects, dating from the Paleolithic era. Pebbles have various colors and textures, and can contain streaks of quartz and different colored sedimentary rock. Pebbles are usually smooth, but if they frequently come into contact with the ocean, they can have marks from other rocks or pebbles. Pebbles that are left above the high water mark may have organisms like lichen growing on them, indicating that they have not had contact with seawater.

Sand is a natural material made up of small pieces of rock and minerals. Its composition can vary based on the types of rocks and local conditions, but the most common component of sand in inland and non-tropical coastal areas is silica, specifically quartz. Geologists measure sand particle size, which ranges from 0.0625 mm (or 1/16 mm, or 62.5 micrometers).

The range of particle size from 5 ? m) to 2 mm is called sand grain. The size class above sand is gravel, with particles ranging from 2 mm up to 64 mm. The

next smallest size class is silt, which consists of particles smaller than 0.

Over time, the size of sand particles has decreased from 0625 mm to 0.004 mm. The distinction between sand and gravel has generally remained unchanged for more than a century, except in the early 20th century when sand was defined as particles as small as 0.02 mm based on the Albert Atterberg standard. In 1953, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials set a minimum sand size of 0.

The United States Department of Agriculture specified in 1938 that sand has a width of 0.05 mm, and silt has a softer texture resembling flour.

Cotton is a soft and fluffy staple fiber that grows in a protective capsule called a boll around the seeds of cotton plants from the Gossypium genus. This fiber is mainly made up of cellulose and its primary function in the botanical sense is to aid in seed dispersal. The cotton plant is a shrub that originates from tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, and India. Mexico has the largest variety of wild cotton species, with Australia and Africa close behind.

Both the Old and New Worlds independently domesticated cotton. The English name for cotton has its origins in Arabic and it began to be used around 1400 AD. Cotton fiber is often spun into yarn or thread to create a textile that is comfortable and allows for breathability. The use of cotton in fabric can be traced back to ancient times, as remnants of cotton fabric from 5000 BC have been discovered in Mexico and Pakistan.

Despite cotton being cultivated since ancient times, it was the invention of the cotton

gin that greatly reduced production costs. This development led to its widespread use as the most commonly utilized natural fiber for clothing. We want to express our sincere appreciation to the Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for guiding us as researchers. Their guidance allowed us to gather precise information and data for our study while also giving us the wisdom and courage to present our improved work to both our classmates and hopefully all of humanity. Additionally, we would like to thank Miss Shelamar Garrucha, our research adviser, and Mrs. Ramonita F., our research 1b adviser.

Calumpang, thank you for letting us review the previous research works of the higher years and graduates of this institution. We are grateful to our supportive parents and the online library, the internet, for allowing us to perform searches and more. We sincerely appreciate your assistance. To God be the Glory.

Conclusion

Based on the obtained results, the pebbles, sand, charcoal, and cotton filter proved to be a viable option for water purification. The findings indicated that even muddy water experienced some improvements. Furthermore, river water can now be utilized for tasks such as washing clothes, dishes, and maintaining hygiene.

It demonstrated that this improved research endeavor is both successful and beneficial for humanity.

Recommendations

The researchers suggest subjecting the resulting filter to different types of water to accurately assess the product's capability. Ideally, try to test all kinds of water over a sufficient period of time to observe the outcomes.