Spectrophotometry

Overview

As a result of Cu-based agrochemicals and industrialization, the concentration of Cu2+ in aquatic circulation is predicted to increase by more than 50% by 2100, leading to detrimental impacts on the health of both terrestrial and marine organisms. However, current methods of heavy metal pollution treatment are restricted to chemical coagulation, or the use of iron and aluminum salts to adsorb ions to their surfaces; problematically, the salts used are environmentally toxic, perform at an inconsistent rate, and adversely impact disadvantaged populations. In contrast, natural coagulation relies on the same adsorption processes but uses naturally occurring biomass to remove contaminants. Therefore, it was hypothesized that natural coagulation through the independent variables of Aloidendron barberae and activated charcoal Bambusa dolichomerithalla held potential as naturally-occuring, beneficial alternatives to chemical salts through four parameters: improved accessibility, environmental friendliness, consistency, and reduction efficacy of heavy metal concentration. Thus, the dependent variable was molar concentration of Cu2+. T o quantify results, spectrophotometry and the Beer-Lambert law were applied in which the molar concentration of a Cu2+ sample was calculated from absorption of light as defined by a calibration curve specific to Cu2+. Different masses of both independent variables were tested in 5.0 mL 0.033M CuSO4 for two hours, within which a standardized procedure of testing samples via transferring a small volume into a clean, dry cuvette at thirty-minute intervals with a spectrophotometer was followed. T o replicate real-world water treatment conditions, the jar testing method recommended by the American Water Works Association was used for the total. 97

Competition history

• JSHS 2023 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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