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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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• center for biological diversity

• ACME environment

• Springer

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