GERMAN EUROPEAN SCHOOLGERMAN EUROPEAN SCHOOL Team membersTeam members

Brian Dahlems Gautham BalayaBrian Dahlems Gautham BalayaLara Juergens Leo HautzingerLara Juergens Leo Hautzinger

RP Staff AdvisorRP Staff Advisor Dr. TAN LAY PHENGDr. TAN LAY PHENG

Teacher in chargeTeacher in charge Mrs. Krishnaveni KumaresanMrs. Krishnaveni Kumaresan

To remove the alkaline battery waste metals- zinc and manganese using Eicchornia crassipes.

To check whether the metal can be better absorbed in the powdered form or in the soluble salt form.

To check its survival in water containing the metals.

Objective

HypothesisHypothesis EicchorniaEicchornia, a free floating plant, could be , a free floating plant, could be

used to remove the heavy metal wastes from used to remove the heavy metal wastes from the metallic waste water due to its efficient the metallic waste water due to its efficient filamentous root system with larger surface filamentous root system with larger surface area of absorption. For this reason , we area of absorption. For this reason , we predicted that the plant would remove the predicted that the plant would remove the zinc and manganese from the metallic waste zinc and manganese from the metallic waste water and battery wastes.water and battery wastes.

Free-floating perennial aquatic plant.Free-floating perennial aquatic plant.

One of the fastest growing plants – with One of the fastest growing plants – with thick thick glossy leaves it may rise over 1 glossy leaves it may rise over 1 meter in meter in height.height.

Ability to grow in polluted or toxic water; can Ability to grow in polluted or toxic water; can withstand extreme pH and temperature withstand extreme pH and temperature

conditions.conditions.

EicchorniaEicchornia

Alkaline battery works through Alkaline battery works through reaction of zinc and manganese reaction of zinc and manganese dioxide.dioxide.

The zinc and manganese left behind The zinc and manganese left behind serve as a pollutant, when released serve as a pollutant, when released into water, heavy metal poisoning can into water, heavy metal poisoning can result leading to bio-magnification.result leading to bio-magnification.

Alkaline Battery WasteAlkaline Battery Waste

MethodologyMethodology

• Collection of Plant samples.Collection of Plant samples.• Acclimatization of the plants. Acclimatization of the plants. • Preparation of the water samples.Preparation of the water samples.• Growing the Growing the Eicchornia Eicchornia in the water samples.in the water samples.• Analyse the plants:Analyse the plants: - FvFm value-every alternate days.- FvFm value-every alternate days.

-Root length- at the initial and final day. -Root length- at the initial and final day. -Relative growth-at the initial and final day.-Relative growth-at the initial and final day.-Estimation of Zinc and Manganese –initial and -Estimation of Zinc and Manganese –initial and final.final.-Estimation of pH of the water sample –initial -Estimation of pH of the water sample –initial and final.and final.

MaterialsMaterials Eicchornia crassipesEicchornia crassipes Four water Four water

containerscontainers Water sources: Tap Water sources: Tap

water water Zinc powderZinc powder Zinc chloride Zinc chloride

solutionsolution Manganese oxideManganese oxide CrucibleCrucible Sterilized glass Sterilized glass

wareswares

Sterilized collection Sterilized collection bottlesbottles

Distillation apparatusDistillation apparatus pH meterpH meter Handy PEA Handy PEA

fluorometerfluorometer RulerRuler Weighing scalesWeighing scales ICP analyserICP analyser

Results and Results and DiscussionDiscussion

Plants grown in Zinc chloride solution W2

Plants grown in tap water – W4

ConclusionConclusion Eicchornia Eicchornia was very effective in clearing was very effective in clearing

and absorbing the soluble form of Zinc and absorbing the soluble form of Zinc and Manganese from the water. and Manganese from the water.

We therefore suggest that the We therefore suggest that the EicchorniaEicchornia can in fact be used as a potential metal can in fact be used as a potential metal clearing agent in polluted water with clearing agent in polluted water with metallic wastes.metallic wastes.