Arsenic and Lead Decontamination Level

Identification Through the Toxic Metal

Finalist Names:
Jaico Roman, Maria (School: Santa Ana)
Ponce Bohorquez, Ariana (School: Santa Ana)

Abstract:
The purpose of the research work is to eliminate toxic metals As and Pb from the Tacna
water supply using vegetable residues for the Biosorption process. The biomass used is
composed of olive pits, banana peels and orange peels. The first two have lignin content
while the third has a high pectin content. Additionally, olive peels are sourced as a residue
from this region. The treatment of biosorbents includes: washing, drying and sieving. The
aqueous solutions of Pb(NO3)2 and Na3AsO3 were adjusted to a pH of 4 - 6, in which
the Biosorbents were placed. Then it was subjected to magnetic stirring for 3 hours, finally
the sample was filtered and sent to the analysis of lead and arsenic by Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy. The results obtained portray a better response of the biosorbents with
respect to lead as the charged metal generates electrostatic attraction and/or the
formation of coordinated bonds with the oxygen found within the functional groups present
in the biomass; unlike arsenite ions found in its oxyanion form. These approaches were
reinforced by computational calculations where the lignin-Pb and lignin-AsO2- interaction
was optimized using a B3LYP level of calculation with the LanL2DZ as its basis, where
coordination can be observed between the phenolic group of lignin and lead, unlike
arsenite that only generates a hydrogen bridge interaction. We conclude that, in an
aqueous lead solution, the orange peels have a greater removal capacity (99%); while for
the case of arsenic the banana peels show the best result with 5% arsenic removal.
The SAS Water Purification System: Utilizing
Novel Chemical, Ionizing, Solar and Off Grid
Thermal Induction Techniques for Chemical
and Microbial Purification and Medical
Sterilization of Water in Developing
Communities
Finalist Names:
Butson, Macinley (School: The Illawarra Grammar School)
Moxey, Jade (School: Sapphire Coast Anglican College)

Abstract:
Clean water is vital for human consumption and medical treatment, as well as equipment
sterilization. 80% of illnesses in developing countries relate to poor water quality and 3.4
million people die annually from contaminated water consumption. 1 in 5 people who
undergo surgery in developing countries die from infection. The portable SAS Water
Purification System (Sanitation and Sterilization) provides safe drinking water, power and
medical-grade sterile water for communities in need. Chemical filtration, biological
treatment and disinfection-based storage processes cohesively produce water suitable
for human consumption. WHO recommendations were achieved with removal efficiencies
of >90% barium (representing arsenic) and 78% fluoride. Reductions of >99% turbidity
allowed for successful solar disinfection and copper ionization techniques, targeting
microbiological purification. Faecal coliform enumeration revealed a reduction of 10,000
cfu/100 mL to <1 cfu/100mL. The SAS Solar Disinfection Colorimetry Detector accurately
measures UV exposure during the solar disinfection process. The SAS system produces
50% more power than a standard fixed panel system. The “all in one”, self-contained
sterilization unit utilizes the generated power to pressurize a portion of the treated water,
successfully producing medical-grade sterile water for medical application. A world-first
use of off-grid induction technology makes the SAS Water Purification System nearly four
times more energy efficient than current off-grid sterilization units, which rely on electrical
heating techniques / conventional fixed panels. The presented system fits within a
standard sized car, making it portable, unlike its single 20-foot competitor which requires
semi-trailer transportation.
Organic and Synthetic: Evaluation of
Environmentally Conscious Chemical
Dispersant for Biological Crude Oil
Remediation

Finalist Names:
Kassem, Adham (School: College Park High School)

Abstract:
Chemical Dispersant is primarily used to reduce the size of oil droplets, effectively
preventing oil spills from causing environmental havoc at water-surface level. While
standard chemical dispersants used by modern oil remediation companies is effective in
dispersion, it bears a large burden on marine ecosystems due to its toxic chemical
makeup. In this work. Xanthan Gum (XG) was used as an environmentally friendly
additive in oil dispersant formulation to enhance the stability and remediation of dispersed
crude oil droplets. To determine the ideal concentrations of synthetic dispersant to organic
material necessary for optimal efficiency, tests of stability, interfacial tension, and
rheology were conducted. When XG was synthesized with chemical dispersant 9500A,
the dispersion effectiveness of crude oil in artificial sea water (ASW) and the oil droplet
stability were both greatly enhanced in financial comparison (+50% dispersion
effectiveness, +40% droplet stability). In the presence of XG, lower concentrations of
9500A were needed to achieve effective dispersion and stabilization. When tested in a
bacterial setting (Bacillus cereus S-1), the synthesized solution displayed a 52.8%
biodegradation effectiveness (+41.3%). Because of the low environmental impact of XG,
this would be a potential way to formulate a dispersant with lower toxicity, greater cost-
efficiency, and facilitation of bio-degradation.
Chlorella vulgaris Culturing as a Method of
Bioremediation for Waste Water Treatment to
Control Entropic Eutrophication

Finalist Names:
Vazquez, Ernesto (School: Dr. Pedro Albizu Campus)

Abstract:
Eutrophication is the result of an increment of nutrients in bodies of water. This produces
an explosive growth of natural organic matter (NOM). As a result, the concentration of
oxygen diminishes when the NOM eventually dies and decays. Also, the concentrations
of trihalomethanes increase in potable water, which also increases the risk cancer
development. One of the major causes of eutrophication, is the discharge of wastewaters
with high nutrient concentrations. The culture of Chlorella vulgaris has the potential of
becoming a method of bioremediation since it utilizes phosphates and nitrates to carry
out its growth. A cultivation method in wastewaters is proposed to reduce the
concentration of this nutrients. Three samples of wastewaters were obtained in different
stages of the treatment process. Sample A was the influent stage, sample B was the
sedimentation stage, and sample C was the effluent stage. Each sample was inserted in
a bioreactor that allowed the growth of the microalgae. The culture lasted 12 days and
data was taken using a water quality analysis kit. A 75% reduction of nitrates was
observed in samples A and B, and 88% in sample C. A 75% reduction of phosphates in
sample A, 100% in B, and 50% in C were observed. As a result of the significant decrease
in phosphates and nitrates, it can be concluded that the growth of Chlorella vulgaris is an
efficient method to remove nutrients and therefore control eutrophication. This can be
implemented in wastewaters treatment plants or as an in-situ treatment method.
Development of a Highly Efficient Low-Cost
Filter for Effective Dissolved Heavy-Metal and
Organic Contaminant Removal

Finalist Names:
Chandar, Yatin (School: The Davidson Academy of Nevada)

Abstract:
One of the direst threats to our ecosystems and public health is heavy metal pollution.
The results of ecological bio-magnification and accumulation in animal and human tissues
has led to the WHO establishing strict limits on the concentration of heavy metal ions in
our environment, which, in many locations, are highly exceeded. Current removal
methods that use activated carbon, silica, metal oxides, polymer resins, or biological
treatment lack efficiency and capacity. This work posits a nanomaterial solution that is
low-cost, scalable, highly efficient, reusable, and high-capacity, effectively solving the
problems plaguing previous methods of heavy metal removal. Additionally, this solution
shows strong promise in removing organic pollutants in a highly efficient manner. The
bacterial nanocellulose substrate is easily grown in large quantities, and polydopamine
nanoparticle synthesis is simple. As a result of the high electronic affinity of the active
catecholamine group as well as the pi-pi interactions between PDA and other aromatic
molecules, a small BNC/PDA membrane is able to adsorb >99.8% of Pb2+, Cd2+, and
Cu2+ ions, as well as Rhodamine 6G, Methyl Orange, and Methylene Blue organic dyes
from solutions with many times the WHO limit of pollutant concentration, which was
demonstrated to be 4.5 times the capacity of a similar mass of activated carbon. Most
importantly, this method of pollutant removal is reusable, nonspecific, and
environmentally friendly unlike previous efforts which relied on complex, harmful cleaning
and disposal procedures. This nanoscale solution to one of the world’s most important
problems promises to bring rapid relief to locations plagued with heavy metal pollution,
as well as become a better solution for major water treatment endeavors.