Here’s how you can create a wastewater purification working model using cardboard pipes and paper cups to demonstrate different purification stages, such as gravel, coal, sand, and tissue paper filtration.
Materials Required:
- Cardboard Pipe (acts as the main structure to hold the cups at height).
- Paper Cups (for each stage of purification).
- Gravel (for the coarse filtration stage).
- Activated Charcoal (Coal) (for removing impurities and odors).
- Sand (for fine filtration).
- Tissue Paper (for the final stage of filtration to remove very fine particles).
- Dirty Water (to show the purification process).
- Scissors and Glue (for assembly).
- Plastic Tray or Container (to collect the purified water).
- Small Tap or Hole (for controlled water flow between each filtration stage).
Video Step-by-Step Construction:
1. Create the Frame Using the Cardboard Pipe
- Take a sturdy cardboard pipe and cut it to an appropriate height. This will be the backbone of your model to hold the paper cups at different levels.
- Cut small circular openings into the pipe to hold the paper cups securely at different stages, each representing a stage in the purification process. Ensure these openings are large enough for water to flow from one cup to the next.
2. Prepare the Filtration Stages in Paper Cups
You will need four paper cups, each representing a different filtration stage.
- Cup 1: Gravel Stage
- Fill the first cup with gravel. This stage will remove large debris and particles.
- Poke a small hole at the bottom of the cup to allow water to pass through to the next stage.
- Cup 2: Coal (Activated Charcoal) Stage
- Fill the second cup with activated charcoal. This will help absorb impurities, chemicals, and odors from the water.
- Like the first cup, poke a hole at the bottom to let the water flow to the next cup.
- Cup 3: Sand Stage
- Fill the third cup with fine sand. This will filter smaller particles and debris.
- Poke a hole at the bottom for water to move to the next cup.
- Cup 4: Tissue Paper Stage
- Line the fourth cup with a layer of tissue paper. This stage will filter out the finest particles, leaving cleaner water.
- Make a hole in the bottom to allow the final filtered water to flow out.
3. Assemble the Cups on the Cardboard Pipe
- Insert each paper cup into the corresponding hole in the cardboard pipe, starting from the top (gravel) and going down to the bottom (tissue paper).
- Ensure that the holes in the bottom of each cup are aligned so that water can flow from one cup to the next.
4. Collection Container
- Place a plastic tray or container at the bottom of the model to collect the purified water.
- You can also attach a small tap to the final cup or use a hole in the final cup that drips the filtered water into the collection container.
Demonstration:
- Pour Dirty Water: Begin by pouring dirty water (you can mix water with soil, small leaves, or food coloring for effect) into the top cup containing gravel.
- Observe the Purification Process:
- The gravel will trap large debris.
- The water will then pass through the coal (charcoal) to remove smaller impurities and odors.
- Next, the sand will filter out fine particles.
- Finally, the tissue paper will filter out any remaining tiny particles or impurities.
- Collect the Purified Water: Clean water will drip into the collection container at the bottom.
Explanation:
- Gravel Layer: Removes larger debris like leaves, sticks, and large particles.
- Coal Layer (Activated Charcoal): Absorbs chemical impurities and odors, removing harmful substances.
- Sand Layer: Filters out smaller dirt particles.
- Tissue Paper Layer: Acts as a final filter, removing any fine particles left in the water.
Benefits of This Model:
- Visual Demonstration: Each stage is clearly visible, showing how different materials filter out progressively smaller particles.
- Simple and Effective: This model demonstrates a basic but effective method of filtering water using easily available materials.
- Educational: Helps students understand the basic principles of filtration and water purification.
This project can be an interactive way to learn about water treatment and the natural process of filtering dirty water to make it cleaner for use!