Pollution Extraction

When water gets polluted, or has a compound in it that shouldn’t be there, environmental engineers help develop processes and tools that can be used to remove that specific compound. There are various reasons to remove certain compounds from water, the most important being that some compounds affect the health and safety of all those who come into contact with the contaminated water. One of the ways environmental engineers get compounds out of the water is called extraction.
Nano-silver is a compound that is currently under investigation. It is used in athletic wear and bandages as an anti-microbial agent; that is, it stops germs from growing where we don’t want them to. In the athletic wear and bandages, the compound is safe; however, very little research has been done into what happens when those clothes are washed, or those bandages are thrown away. The concern is that nano-silver may become toxic to the environment once it comes into contact with other compounds in a river or lake system. If this is the case, we need to be able to get it out of the water so people, animals, and plant health won’t be compromised.
Students will develop a tool that will successfully extract all of the “nano-silver” particles.
A box of different colored balls

This Guide provides the instructor information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.

Pollution Extraction Video

The video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students. The video also  leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints.