Introduction
Filtration is the process of separating suspended solid matter from a liquid, by causing the latter to pass through the pores of some substance, called a filter. Filtration is the separating of substances based on their different physical and chemical qualities. The liquid which has passed through the filter is called the filtrate. Typically, we think of it as the removal of solid particles from a mixture containing both solids and liquids. Different materials are used for the purpose of filtration, including paper, sand, and cloth, etc.
Task
Make a water filter at your home. This activity includes Plastic soda or juice bottle, Vase or tall drinking glass, Gravel or small stones, Clean Sand, Activated Charcoal , Cotton balls, small cloth or coffee filter, Gardening dirt, Water, Scissors or knife.
Process
- Cut off the bottom of an old plastic soda or juice bottle using scissors or a knife.
- Place the bottle upside down into the vase or tall drinking glass.
- Place cotton balls, cloth, or a coffee filter inside the bottle as the first layer. The first layer should be about one to two inches thick.
- Add an inch of activated charcoal as the second layer on top of the cotton layer.
- Over the charcoal, add about two inches of gravel or small stones as the third layer.
- Add about three to four inches of clean sand on top of the gravel.
- Add gravel to the bottle as the final layer. Leave about a half inch of space from the top of the upside down bottle.
- Add dirt to a glass of water to create muddy water. Alternatively, get creative and add other things like glitter, beads, cooking oil or other materials to make dirty water.
- Pour the glass of muddy water on top of the homemade water filter and watch the water drip clean into the glass below.
Evaluation
It is best to test the water before and after the filtration. Take two glasses of water-(dirty and clean) . Pour each glass of water through the homemade water filter. Collect the filtered water in a glass. Test both water samples.
Conclusion
Due to filtration, the water quality is increased and is therefore safer to drink. We learned about waste water treatment.
We learned that dirt can be removed from water by filters.