The Oil-B-Gone Challenge: Which Household Item Reigns Supreme?

Im trying to findd the best way to get oil/gas out of water
Sierra Kathol
Grade 6

Hypothesis

I think the sponge will work best because it is very absorbent and I think the paper towel will not work as well because it is thin and not as absorbent

 

Research

Oil spills can be controlled by chemical dispersion, skimming, bioremediation and/or absorptions.

Bioremediation: bioremediation works to either increase the numbers of naturally occurring microorganisms or add pollutant-specific microbes to the area.

Absorbents:Oil absorbents are products that take oil into the body of the material. 

Chemical dispersion:chemicals used to break up oil into smaller particles.

Skimming: Oil skimming is removing floating waste oil, fat or grease from above water.

 

Variables

Independent Variable: The type of sample being tested (e.g., Mat, Sponge, Cloth, Diaper, Paper Towel).

Dependent Variable: The amount of oil absorbed by each sample, as measured by the difference in weight before and after the absorption test.

 

Procedure

  1. Weigh the sample
  2. Put the sample in the oil for 10 seconds
  3. Let the sample drip for 5 seconds
  4. Weigh the sample again
  5. Repeat 2x for each sample
  6. Subtract the difference

Observations

I observed that when i took the paper towel out of the oil it was translusent.  Also the cloth was dripping a lot when i took it out.

Analysis

SAMPLE

TRY #1

TRY #2

TRY #3

AVERAGE

Mat     Before

8

8

8

8

After

59

64

61

61.333

Difference 

51

56

53

53.333

Sponge  Before

22

25

21

22.6

After

53

48

47

49.333

Difference

31

23

26

26.667

Cloth    Before 

44

45

44

44.333

After

173

179

183

178.333

Difference

129

134

139

134

Diaper  Before

36

38

36

36.667

After

78

88

92

86

Difference

42

50

56

49.333

Paper towel   Before

2

2

2

2

After

41

46

42

43

Difference

39

44

40

41

All in grams

6 out of the 15 averages had .333

the paper towels were all 2 grams

 

Conclusion

In conclusion the cloth demonstrated a significantly higher capacity for oil absorption compared to the samples but accounting for the paper towels weight it soaked up more multiples of itself.

 

Application

you can use this when cleaning up oil spills outside or household spills

Sources Of Error

The scale acurracy and timer accuracy

Citations

  • inovation filter system
  • center for biological diversity
  • ACME environment
  • Springer 

Acknowledgement

I would like to acknowledge my parents for helping me  for their support and help and I would also like to acknowledge my sister for her help with researching