Hi Diana,
Great! I think you are making progress now by focusing on specific ideas for a project. For the next step, you should read about the details on the science buddies website and also read all of the references attached to learn more information about each topic. This will help you will the final selection process. When you read about each project, try to think of exactly what you would do for an experiment.
For each project, you will do a controlled experiment (to make biodiesel, clean up oil, or whatever the project is) and then you will do another trial using a unique variation that you think will work better, based on your background reading. This process will result in the great discovery that your professor is asking for.
I have included more information for you and considerations to help you make the final project selection. I have also asked one or more questions on each topic that you should answer. Your answer to the questions will help me know if you understand the topic, or if more explanation is needed. It would also be helpful if you could ask questions that you have about each project that you are considering.
1. Biodiesel project. Read the website and all of the references on this one. Here is a recipe for making biodiesel. This project involves heating oil to 100 degrees Centigrade and working with hot methanol and sodium hydroxide. These are toxic chemicals and there are lots of safety precautions, so you should not pick this project unless you have a safe place to do the experiment. However, the chemistry is very interesting and you would learn a lot by doing it.
science buddies websites
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_mike.html
Questions: Can you obtain methanol and sodium hydroxide? Do you have safety equipment available and do you have a safe place to do this experiment? Do you want to do a project that involves working with boiling toxic chemicals? Do you understand the chemistry equations included in the website above?
2. Trash recycling project: Read through the science buddies website on this topic and then visit your local landfill to see if you can think of something specific. Or maybe you could intercept the garbage in your neighborhood before it goes to the landfill? Landfills usually receive plastic, paper, metal, wood, and plant materials. So you might do a composting or building project. Or, maybe you could try to reduce the volume of garbage produced by your family or your neighborhood.
Questions: Would you have access to materials that are headed for a landfill? You need to supply the creativity for this topic, so can you think of specific project that could do?
3. Oil spill clean up. There’s lots of interesting chemistry in this project. You should read the science buddies website and then the following websites, which describe the two major methods for cleaning up oil spills, either by using dispersants or microbes:
http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/oilspill/cleanup.html
http://www.accepta.com/Water_Treatment_ ... rsants.asp
http://www.itopf.com/spill-response/cle ... spersants/
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_ar ... iotech&a=f
Questions: Do you have an idea on how you would set up an experiment for this project? How would you measure your results? Would you use detergents or microbes, or both?
4. Carbon dioxide project. For this project it would probably be best to start with one type of algae and then measure the increase in numbers. You can either use freshly collected sea water, or purchase Instant Ocean.
Here is a website that describes how to count algae. You would need a Sedgewick –Rafter chamber or a hemocytometer, some coverslips, and access to a microscope for this.
http://www.botany.wisc.edu/courses/bota ... ations.pdf
http://www.instantocean.com/InstantOcean.home
Questions. Do you have access to a microscope? If you don’t have access to a counting chamber, how would you measure the growth of the algae? Where would you get algae to start this project? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of working with freshly collected seawater vs. using Instant Ocean?
5. Local wastewater treatment project in your city: For this project, you need to find out what chemical you want to focus on.
Here is information on a wastewater treatment plant in Lebanon.
http://web.worldbank.org/external/proje ... id=P074042
Here is an abstract that includes the composition of typical wastewater.
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/6/2/225
To pursue this project, you might contact the local government agency that is responsible for wastewater treatment and ask what kinds of compounds are in the local wastewater, or what problems there are in wastewater treatment in your local area. Perhaps there is a local industrial plant that discharges wastewater. Then let me know what specific topic (detergent, pesticide, nitrogen, phosphorus, metal) you want to investigate.
Question: What local wastewater project do you want to do?
Hopefully, you will be able to narrow your project selection down to one top choice with a backup project in case it is needed. Please answer the questions on the topics you would like to pursue and let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
When you have made your selections, I’ll explain how to do background reading for your project. This is the process that will make your project absolutely unique and original.
Donna Hardy
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project and the subject is to make a new project , good FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!!any project that u can help me in !
but really I'm afraid to fail! i don't want to redouble my class ! please so i beg you anything i do , but help me !!