St.

Mary of the Woods School

Gr. 8-Lourdes SY:2017-2018
Thesis Report
Table of Contents
Page Number
Acknowledgement I
Abstract III
Table of Contents IV
I. Introduction 1
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem
2
Hypothesis 3
Significance of the Study
3
Scope and Limitations of the Study
5
Definition of Terms 5
II. Review of Related Literature
7
Related Literature 7
Related Studies
28
Analysis of the Review of Related Literature
32
III. Methodology
35
Type of Research 35
Research Design of the Study
36

1
 Flowchart of the Methods
39
Materials and Methods of the Study
40
IV. Results and Discussion of the Study
51
V. Summary of Findings, Conclusions and
Recommendations 67
Summary of Findings 67
Conclusions 69
Recommendations 70
VI. Bibliography 71
VII. Appendix 76
Appendix A - Materials and Methods of the Study
76
Appendix B - Raw Data of the Study
83
Appendix C - Certification and Letters
109
Appendix D - Curriculum Vitae
119

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Drinking, cooking, washing, bathing, and farming are some of

the many uses of water, but there are still many water related

problems and complications in the world. A large portion of the

impoverished population take their water out from many unsanitary

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water sources like canals and ditches, often polluted, without

even contemplating on using methods of purification.

Water that is polluted isn't just dirty--it's deadly. 1.8

million people die annually due to diarrheal diseases like

Cholera. Millions of people are dangerously infected by ailments

of water-bornediseases; many of these diseases aren’t easily

treatable. And that's why secure consumable water is crucial to

humans and other life forms.Even though access to safe drinking

water has improved through the last decade, there are still

approximately one billion people who don’t have access to clean

and secure drinking water and over 2.5 billion people lack access

to average sanitization.

In order to resolve this issue, the researchers aimed on a

way on how to use charcoal, stones, and sand as a moderately

effectivealternative to purify unsanitary water, instead of using

overpriced water purifiers. In line with this study,the

researchers aimed to make an effective water purifier using

natural substances.

Statement of the Problem

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 The main problem of this study was to assess if homemade

water filters can effectively purify water. Specifically the

study sought to answer the following problems:

1. Are charcoal, stone, and sand materials that can

effectively purify water?

Hypothesis of the Study

Homemade water filters are not effective water purifiers.

Significance of the Study

Water purification is needed in sustaining life for it is

essential to human life, but sometimes if water is not treated or

purified properly it may lead to extremely harmful diseases. Ways

to purify water include boiling, distillation, purification and

many more. Taste matters as much as cleanliness, similarly when

consuming water from various mediums, water will taste

significantly better therefore leaving you happy and satisfied,

Many water purifiers leave harmful pollutants to our Earth's

biosphere which is a no-no to Mother Nature, In arare occasion in

which water is obtained through a river or any natural water

source where you aren't 100% sure that the water is safe for

human consumption, processes like this are essential if you

aren't planning on getting lethal diseases.

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 The researcher's water filter is extremely affordable with

materials one can gather even at home or times of crisis, this

water filter is also friendly to the environment, it is a green

project which means this project isn't harmful to Mother Nature,

unlike most water filters which are expensive and some materials

are unattainable, sometimes even water filters have harmful

chemicals which yes, may purify the water, but is it worth it for

our beloved Mother Nature.

Scopes and Limitations

The researchers used limited products, like sand, activated

charcoal, and stone. It was conducted that using said materials

created a moderately effective water filter. The researcher's

experiment was conducted in a private residence in Barangay

Magallanes, Makati city. The period of the experiment is one day.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents all the different bases of the study.

It contains Definition of Sand, Composition of Sand, Kinds of

Sand, Different Types of Rocks, Significance of Rocks in Water

Purification, Definition of Water Purification, Common Water

Purification Methods, Common Types of Water Needed for Filtering,

Benefits of Water Purification, Negative Effects of Water

Purification, Materials Needed in Making a Water Filter,

Procedures in making a Water Purifier. This chapter also includes

the researcher’s studies and analysis of the review of related

literature.

Related Literature

Definition Of Sand

According to Alden, A. (2016), sand is everywhere; in fact

sand is the very symbol of ubiquity.Technically, sand is merely a

size category. Sand is particulate matter that's larger than silt

and smaller than gravel. Different specialists set different

limits for sand. In the field, unless you carry a comparator with

you to check against a printed grid, sand is anything big enough

to feel between the fingers and smaller than a match head. From a

geological viewpoint, sand is anything small enough to be carried

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by the wind but big enough that it doesn't stay in the air,

roughly 0.06 to 1.5 millimeters.

In addition to, a general, non-specialized word reference

definition for sand is "free particles of hard broken rock". More

restrictive definitions also exist which depend upon the frame of

reference or academic discipline to which the meaning of sand is

to be applied. A sand sample can be described as far as grain

estimate, shading, creation, morphology (precision and shape) and

surface. Grain estimate is a consequence of a few variables,

including structure, solidness, seriousness of weathering

conditions, transport distance from its site of origin, and

physical sorting by wind or potentially water streams.(Hopen, T.)

Similarly, Castro, J. (2013), stated that sand is a free

granular material covering the shorelines, riverbeds and deserts

of the world. Made out of various materials that vary depending

on location, sand arrives in a variety of hues including white,

dark, green and even pink. The Earth's landmasses are comprised

of rocks and minerals, including quartz, feldspar and mica. Sand

forms when the reef separates, by mechanical forces—, for

example, waves and currents — or from bio-erosion caused by

grazing fish, urchins and other marine life.

Composition Of Sand

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 Most sand is made of quartz or its microcrystalline

cousin chalcedony, because that common mineral is resistant to

weathering. The farther from its source rock sand is, the closer

it is to pure quartz. But many "dirty" sands contain feldspar

grains, tiny bits of rock (lithics), or dark minerals like

ilmenite and magnetite.In a few places, black basalt lava breaks

down into black sand, which is almost pure lithics. In even fewer

places, green olivine is concentrated to form green sand

beaches.The famous White Sands of New Mexico are made of gypsum,

eroded from large deposits in the area.And the white sands of

many tropical islands are a calcite sand formed from coral

fragments or from tiny skeletons of planktonic sea life.The look

of a sand grain under the magnifier can tell you something about

it. Sharp, clear sand grains are freshly broken and have not been

carried far from their rock source. Rounded, frosted grains have

been scrubbed long and gently, or perhaps recycled from older

sandstone. (Alden, A., 2016)

According to Sepp, S. Sand is a residual material of

preexisting rocks. It is therefore composed of minerals that were

already there in the rocks before the disintegration commenced.

However, there is one important aspect — sand occurs in a harsh

environment where only the strongest survive. Meaning, the most

resistant to the weathering processes.Most sand samples consist

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of sand grains which are composed of a single mineral — quartz

grains, feldspar grains, etc. But sand may also contain grains

that are aggregates of crystals. Sometimes sand contains new

minerals or mineral aggregates that were non-existent in the

source rocks.Third major and versatile component of sand are

grains of biogenic origin. Biogenic sand is composed of fragments

of exoskeletons of marine organisms. Such sand is usually known

as coral sand although in many cases it contains no coral

fragments at all. Biogenic sand is light-colored and widespread

in low latitude marine beaches. Sometimes sand contains or is

entirely composed of well-rounded carbonate grains that are not

fragments of dead marine organisms. These grains are ooids that

also require special formation conditions.

Additionally, Carilli, J. (2013), stated that sand is

typically made mostly of varying amounts of material weathered

from inland rocks (or sea cliff material) and transported to the

beach on the wind or in rivers, and/or shells and other hard

parts precipitated out of the ocean water by marine

organisms.Sand therefore records processes at a variety of

timescales. Looking closely at sand under a microscope, we can

determine the mineral composition of the sand and determine where

it originated, and what kind of rocks or organisms created the

sand.

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Kinds Of Sand

In agreement with Pettijohn, F. J. (2011) There are over 20

classifications of sand, such as; Coral sand,coral sand is

generally light-colored sand (or gravel) which is mostly composed

of calcareous fragments of biogenic origin.Volcanic ash, volcanic

ash is a fine mixture of minerals and rock fragments thrown out

of a volcano during explosive volcanic eruption. Glass sand,

Immature sand, Gypsum sand, A rare sand type composed of gypsum

grains.Ooid sand,

Ooids are rounded pellets formed in a shallow wave agitated

water. Silica sand, silica sand is almost pre quarts. Black

sand,black sand is black because many volcanic minerals and rocks

are dark-colored. Common rock types of volcanic islands are

basalt (black when fresh), andesite (usually dark gray) and

volcanic glass (often black in color). Green sand, Desert sand,

Lithic sand,lithic sand is composed of tiny rocks. Mixed

Carbonate-Silicate sand,some sand samples are mixture of organic

and inorganic sand grains. Biogenic sand,sand may be composed

entirely of tiny skeletons — sea shells, corals, forams, etc.

Garnet sand, Olivine sand, Volcanic sand, Heavy Mineral sand,

Sands with hematitic pigment,Hematite is the mineral that gives

reddish color to desert sands and sandstone formations all over

the world. Continental sand, and Quartz sand,quartz is the most

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common sand forming mineral. This sand type consists little else

than this mineral.

Definition Of Rocks

In accordance with Dar Roberts,(2015),stated that rocksmake

up the majority of the Earth's crust, rock is usually defined as

a mixture of common minerals. Rocks can be hard or soft, as small

as a grain or as large as a building. They have been an integral

part of the history of mankind, first being used as tools for

hunting and defense, and as a building materials to construct

shelters and monuments. Combined with the effects of tectonics,

weathering and vegetation, rocks define the natural landscapes we

see around us. The minerals and metals we find in rocks are

essential to the prosperity and cultural splendor of human

civilization.

Rocks are what the crust of the earth is made of. They are

the mountains and the bottom of the ocean. They are everywhere on

earth, but often buried under soil. Rocks are made of minerals,

like quartz, calcite, feldspars, and micas. Most rocks are made

from more than one mineral, but there are quite a few kinds that

are made from only one mineral. Minerals are not rocks, rocks are

made of minerals. (Peck, D., 2001)

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Different Types Of Rocks

In consonance with Mihai Andro, (2017),stated that the three

brief types of rocks consists of; Igneous rocks, Metamorphic

rocks, and Sedimentary rocks. Igneous rocks form from the cooling

of magma deep inside the earth. They often have large crystals

(you can see them with the naked eye). Metamorphic rocks are

formed through the change (metamorphosis) of igneous and

sedimentary rocks. They can form both underground and at the

surface. And Sedimentary rocks are formed through the

solidification of sediment. They can be based off of organic

remains (such as limestone), or just form from the cementing

ofother rocks.

The three main types, or classes, of rock are sedimentary,

metamorphic, and igneous and the differences among them have to

do with how they are formed.Sedimentary rocks are formed from

particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of

material. Together, all these particles are called sediment.

Gradually, the sediment accumulates in layers and over a long

period of time hardens into rock. Generally, sedimentary rock is

fairly soft and may break apart or crumble easily. You can often

see sand, pebbles, or stones in the rock, and it is usually the

only type that contains fossils. Metamorphic rocks are formed

13
under the surface of the earth from the metamorphosis that occurs

due to intense heat and pressure (squeezing). The rocks that

result from these processes often have ribbon like layers and may

have shiny crystals, formed by minerals growing slowly over time,

on their surface. Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools and

hardens. Sometimes the magma cools inside the earth, and other

times it erupts onto the surface from volcanoes. When lava cools

very quickly, no crystals form and the rock looks shiny and

glasslike. Sometimes gas bubbles are trapped in the rock during

the cooling process, leaving tiny holes and spaces in the rock.

(Busch, R.)

Significance of Rocks in Water Purification

According to Ben Crowell, (2015), a water filter basically

has two stages, a series of mechanical filters (coarse rocks,

fine rocks, coarse sand, fine sand) to remove macroscopic

contaminants, like dirt from the water. By using several

different sizes of material, each layer will tend to block

material that would clog the next layer down, with the fine sand

acting to protect the charcoal. The second stage, a chemical

filter (charcoal) to remove chemical contaminants from the water.

This doesn't work by physically blocking them, but by absorption:

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essentially, the chemicals "stick" to the charcoal as the water

moves past it.

Definition of Water Purification

Water purification is the process by which

undesired chemical compounds, organic and inorganic materials,

and biological contaminants are removed from water. That process

also includes distillation (the conversion of a liquid into vapor

to condense it back to liquid form) and deionization. The

purification procedure reduces the concentration of contaminants

such as suspended particles, parasites, bacteria, algae, viruses,

and fungi. Water purification takes place on scales from the

large to small individual households. (Schroth, S., andRafferty,

J., 2014)

Subsequently, Mifflin, M., (2017), discussed that water

filtration is a general term that refers to any type of system or

process that is used to filter out particles and/or pollutants

from water. Anything that removes any amount of particles,

sediment, bacteria and/or just removes the chlorine taste can be

called water filtration. If it has a filter of any type, it's a

filtration system.

Common Water Purification Methods

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 According to Peters, S. (2016), Carbon filtration is the

most common household filtration system and is composed of either

a solid carbon block or carbon granules. A solid carbon block of

1 micron (micrometer) efficiency is your best choice for both

filtration and inhibition of bacterial growth. Be sure to change

your carbon filter regularly (~3-6 months). Weighing both cost

and overall efficiency, these systems seem to be an appropriate

choice. Second are RO water filters which are more efficient at

removing contaminants than carbon due to the small filter holes.

In an RO system, water is pressurized through a small membrane.

Many RO systems include sediment and carbon filters as well to

enhance the level of filtration. Unfortunately, RO systems also

remove all minerals from water, which some believe is detrimental

to one’s health. One further consideration is that RO systems are

rather water-inefficient, meaning they produce unusable waste

water. Lastly, distilled systems essentially involve boiling

water to a high point to remove many contaminants. Distilled

water systems are similar to RO in efficiency and produce much

less wastewater, though they require more energy. Like RO,

minerals are removed.

Common Types of Water Needed For Filtering

Spring water is what you often find in bottled water. It’s

from an underground source and may or may not have been treated

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and purified. Though spring water sounds more appealing (like

many others, I imagine my spring water coming from a rushing

spring at the base of a tall, snow-capped mountain), it’s not

necessarily the best water for drinking if you have other

options. Through studies, they have found contaminants in bottled

water such as coliform, arsenic and phthalates. (Kirschner, C.,

2013)

In addition to, Tamlin, S. stated in 2016 that many may

argue that taste and overall quality of city water is a reason to

not drink straight from your tap. However, you can actually

convert that same source of water into clean, pure tasting water

with each glass. Tap water is supplied from a pipe.

Well water is water that comes from the ground. Literally

called ground water, there is a threshold underground where water

is stored beneath the surface of land. A well is a structure that

is created to tap into, and deliver ground water, to a home or

structure for use. Used for decades, it is a viable way to attain

water for any structure in almost every region. A hole is dug

into the ground and a pump is installed to pump fresh water to a

residence for consumption. (Keating, J. 2014)

Significance of Water Purification

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 First, it removes dirt, we all know that water has to go

through various underground pipes before it reaches to the tap,

and as a result of that, there are high chances of it becoming

harmful from the dirt of pipes. The main function of any water

purifier is to remove adverse and unwanted chemicals, dirt,

contaminants and other harmful deposits from the water. Second,

taste does matter. Something which smells good will also be good

in taste. Similarly, when drinking water is cleansed from various

impurities, then it only contains healthy and nutritious elements

which impart delicious smell and taste to it. Third, good for the

environment, water purifiers do not release any kind of harmful

pollutants to the environment and keeps it fresh. Therefore it is

only good for your health but also better for the environment.

(Richard, D. 2016)

Subsequently, Corleone, J. discussed in 2015 that The

Environmental Protection Agency reports that 90 percent of the

world's water supply is unfit for drinking without some sort of

treatment. Water may contain microorganisms that can cause

diarrhea, vomiting and even death. Water purification systems

kill these microorganisms to make the water safe to drink. In

addition to microorganisms, untreated water is also a source of

minerals, including copper and magnesium. While some minerals

don't necessarily pose a health threat, they react with other

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minerals in the water and cause deposits, which may make the

water unsuitable for drinking. Other minerals sometimes found in

water, such as lead and copper, are dangerous to your health.

Benefits of Water Purification

Corleone, J. in 2015 stated that you need to drink water to

survive. But if water is not treated, or purified, properly, it

can make you very sick. Some of the advantages of water

purification is that it gives protection against harmful

organisms. It removes toxic metals. Which are possible to help

reduce risk and illness.  However, if you're not replacing or

cleaning the filter as recommended, you may be doing more harm

than good. Drinking water filtered through a dirty filter is more

harmful than drinking water straight from the tap.

Similarly, McNair, K., in 2014 stated that Water

purification provides better smelling and better tasting drinking

water by reducing bacterial contaminants and chlorine. One of the

biggest complaints about tap water is its taste and/or smell.

Bottled water may seem like a better option, but when you factor

in the cost and consider that it is essentially the same as tap

water, you will soon realize that this may be the biggest benefit

of water filters. Drinking filtered, clean water protects the

body from disease and can lead to greater health. In addition,

19
water filters provide healthy and clean water for cooking as

well.

Negative Effects of Water Purification

According to McCauley, B. (2012) Water cures, but purified

water destroys anyone who consumes it.  Purified water is

produced by distillation or reverse osmosis and should not be

consumed for three reasons.  It acidifies the body, leaches

alkaline material from the body, including minerals, and because

of the large size and shape of its water molecule clusters it

does not hydrate the body well.  In fact, long-term use can leave

us dehydrated.  Purified water has had all the minerals removed

from it, which is a substance that cannot be found in nature. 

Because of its extreme purity, purified water absorbs carbon

dioxide from the air, which makes it acidic and even more

aggressive at dissolving the alkaline substances it comes in

contact with.  It usually contains little or no dissolved oxygen

and therefore is considered dead water.  Purified water enters

the body pure, but does not come out pure.  It leaches vital

minerals from the body, turning it more acidic.  Even purified

water that has been ionized should be avoided.  Even though

ionization does increase purified water’s hydration properties,

the trade off is not worth it because it will steal minerals from

the body.

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Materials Needed in Making a Water Filter

For a basic yet highly effective version of a water filter,

there are only a few materials necessary. The filter itself will

be created with gravel, sand and activated charcoal. The gravel

catches the big stuff, the sand catches the rest of the

particulate matter, and ultimately the activated charcoal works

out the situation on the micro level. The water won’t be

completely pathogen-free, but it will be clean enough to drink

safely.The rest of the materials are simply the things needed to

contain the water and filtering materials. A homemade water

filter is well within grasp. (Engels, J. 2016)

Procedures in Making a Water Filter

According to Engels, J. (2016) building the filter is simple

enough. Simply, cutting the bottom part of the plastic bottle to

act as the opening. While the bottle’s cap was cut to create a

drain hole. The bottom section should be the activated charcoal,

cover over with a section of sand and then gravel. The remaining

section is for the water. Gravity will handle the filtering when

water is poured into the top bucket.

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 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

In this chapter the systematic methods that were applied in

this study is discussed, to ensure that the problem in the study

will be properly addressed and solved. It includes the kind of

research, research design, flow of the methods and the material

and methods of the study.

Kind of Research

The kind of research used in this study is experimental

research.Experimental Research is a systematic and scientific

approach to research in which the researcher manipulates one or

more variables,in doing this, the researcher attempts to

determine or predict what may occur.The major feature that

distinguishes experimental research from other types of research

is that the researcher manipulates the independent variable.

The researchers studied sand, charcoal, and stone as an

alternative water purifier. The independent variable of the study

would be sand, stones, and charcoal. Which were sources of ground

or to clean some of the water, like an ocean floor. While the

dependent variable would be the rate of water being cleansed. The

extraneous variables of the study would be the quality of sands,

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stones and charcoal to be used in enduring or absorbing the water

that needs cleansing.

Flowchart of the Methods

Preparation of the Purchase of Materials

Experimental Setup Needed for Water Purifier

Assembly of Water Purifier

Testing the Effectiveness

of the Water Purifier

Collection of Experimental Results

Materials and Methods of the Study

Preparation of the Experimental Setup0

The materials needed were a plastic bottle, the researchers

used an old Coca Cola bottle as the container. A clean cloth that

is 2 inches, which served as a straining fabric. 5 tablespoons of

charcoal to remove chlorine, sediment, volatile organic

compounds, taste, and odor from the water. ½ kg of sand that

strains out the flocculated water and the particles trapped

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within it reducing numbers of bacteria and removing most of the

solids.By using several different sizes of material, the

researchers were able to extend the life of the filter: each

layer will tend to block material that would clog the next layer

down, that is why ¼ kg of pebbles is needed to create a water

purifier.

Purchase of Materials Needed for Water Purifier

The plastic bottle needed was recycled, as it was already

about to be thrown. An old cloth which was then washed, was used

as the strainer. The researchers bought locally found sand and

charcoal as the last set of materials needed. The ½ sand was

bought in Magallanes Village. Then, ¼ kg of pebbles were taken

from Magallanes’ garden, with permission from the owners.

Charcoal were bought fromBangkal, Makati.

Assembly of Water Purifier

Assembling the water purifier was held at Magallanes,

Makati. To assemble the water purifier the first step done was by

cutting the bottom part of the plastic bottle to act as the

opening. While the bottle’s cap was cut to create a drain hole.

The researchers had to break up the charcoal, and the pulverized

charcoal was then put inside the plastic bottle. The next layer

which is sand will trap large particles were put on top of the

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charcoal. The pebbles were then put inside the container since it

acts as a filter for common debris found in water such as small

sticks, fallen leaves, and even tiny creatures that are either an

animal or an insect.

Testing the Effectiveness of the Water Purifier

To test the effectiveness of the water purifier the

researchers took a glass of water, and mixed a good amount of

dirt into it to turn it into mud. The researchers also took pond

water, and tap water for comparison. The muddy water, tap water,

and pond water was poured into the water filter, after about 3

minutes results were achieved. It slowly saturated the layers as

it made its way through, and into the glass beneath. To get the

results, the researchers used a TDS Water Tester which gives a

qualitative result of the total dissolved solids in water.

Collection of Experimental Results

Ideally, you’ll have clear water come out the other end even

though it’s not the cleanest water you’ll ever witness. There is

no one-way of doing this and the design is solely at your

disposal, in fact, you can improvise and not just rely on the

materials mentioned, pebbles, sand, and the activated charcoal.

The water wasn't particularly consumable once filtered, even

though the filtered water went through many different layers

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microbes can still exist in the water, it still had to be boiled

to make it secure for consumption.The results gathered will be

put into further analysis to interpret it to determine the result

of the research.

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 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter included the summary of findings and

conclusions for the conducted study of Water Purification using

charcoal, sand and pebbles. It also included the recommendations

of the researchers for the future improvement and development of

the study.

Summary of Findings

1. First Trial is Tap Water which resulted as clean because the

total dissolved solids was 45.

2. Second Trial which is Pond Water resulted as clean because the

total dissolved solids was 82.

3. Third Trial which is Muddy Water resulted as dirty because the

total dissolved solids was 1175.

Conclusions

It was found out that the water used has been

predominantly affected by the filter, it used different types of

unsanitary water, but the end result was generally clean. In

conclusion, the water purifier did what it’s indicated to do.

Sand, Charcoal, and Pebbles as an alternative Water Purifier is a

potential method to refine contaminated water.

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Recommendations

The researchers would like to recommend the following for

the future improvement and development of the study:

1. Use Activated Charcoal because activated charcoal has oxygen

added to it, therefore is used in many filtering systems. If

you’re filtering water for consumption, or for any other uses,

choose activated carbon. It will clean the water more

effectively, and can remove more than traditional charcoal can.

The researchers were not able to use Activated Charcoal because

of it’s difficulty to obtain.

2. Do not use Cotton. Cotton is one of the first methods of

trapping large particles in this experiment, the researchers

firstly used cotton as a way of trapping large particles from the

unsanitary water but as the researchers poured in first few

amounts of water, the cotton didn’t do the desired effect as the

fabric did.

3. Use 2 Different TDS water testers. Using 2 testers will

effectively determine the total-dissolved solids of the mixture,

without leaving any H20 molecules behind, it will provide a more

precise outcome, and an overall more precise research.

4. Add cloth at the opening for it to act as the initial

filtration, and always change the cloth.

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