This group assignment involved developing a scientific experiment proposal in which we would compare the effectiveness of powdered and granular activated carbon in water filtration. Working together, we conducted background research, wrote an annotated bibliography, and created a clear plan for conducting the experiment which includes methods, expected results, and potential applications. The goal was to persuade a scientific audience that our project was valid, necessary, and feasible.

Proposal 

Best Filtration of Water 

Aqua Scholars Group 

The City College of New York 

April 07, 2025 – April 19, 2025 

Funding Requested: $70 

Abstract 

Access to clean drinking water is a critical public health concern, and activated carbon is widely employed in filtration systems due to its ability to adsorb contaminants. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of powdered versus granular activated carbon in removing impurities from water, simulated using varying concentrations of black ink. Water samples containing 0, 15, and 30 drops of ink were filtered through three conditions—powdered activated carbon, granular activated carbon, and a control with no carbon—and the results were assessed based on visual color ratings. It is hypothesized that powdered activated carbon will demonstrate superior filtration performance, attributable to its greater surface area-to-volume ratio. The anticipated outcome is that smaller particle size will correlate with increased adsorption efficiency, thereby highlighting the critical role of particle morphology in water purification processes. 

Introduction  

Access to drinking water is a fundamental human need, yet it is not accessible to a significant amount of the population. This is primarily because of ineffective water filtration systems. The process of water filtration is one of the most common and most effective methods of removing contaminants from water. Sand, gravel, cotton, and activated carbon are materials often used in filters that trap particles, remove odors, and improve water clarity. Activated carbon is often used in water filtration due to its highly porous structure that absorbs impurities from water. Activated carbon comes in many different forms, two of those being powder and granular. However, uncertainty persists regarding which of these activated carbon forms provides greater water purification performance. The purpose of this experiment is to address this uncertainty by comparing powdered and granular activated carbon in terms of their ability to purify contaminated water. This study has potential implications for water treatment practices in environments where purification methods are urgently needed. By identifying the optimal filtration material, this experiment could contribute significantly to improving global water quality and public health outcomes. 

Annotated Bibliography: 

Amy, Cowen. “Clean Water and Aquifer Science.” Science Buddies, Science 
Buddies, Jun 2016, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/aquifier-science. 

Science Buddies site has a variety of projects, experiments and ideas for all ages and levels of expertise. The cited blog simply explains the process of water filtration in its passage through underground layers. While this blog discusses the theory of natural water filtration, our experiment tests this theory using artificial methods. 

Jacobsen, Erica. “Water Filtration.” Journal of Chemical Education, Vol 81 No2, Feb 2004, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed081p224A.  

This classroom activity from Journal of Chemical Education guides students in building a multilayer water filtration system using different materials like activated charcoal, gravel and sand to remove particles such as liquids and rust. The activity has the same educational level and goals as our water filtration experiment; however, it provides deeper chemical context like analyzing pH and rust formation.    

Shin, Sangwoo, et al., “Membraneless water filtration using CO2.” Natural Communication, Vol 8, May 2017, https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15181. 

This Nature Communications study uses advanced imaging techniques (X-ray tomography and electron microscopy) to analyze activated carbon filtration at the microscopic level. While our experiment demonstrates carbon filtration effectiveness through observable changes, their research evaluates interactions at microscopic level. 

World Vision. Global Water Crisis: Facts, FAQs, and How to Help. World Vision, Mar. 2024, https://www.worldvision.org/clean-water-news-stories/global-water-crisis-facts.  

World Vision is a globally recognized humanitarian organization with experience in providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in developing countries. This article provides comprehensive insights into the global water crisis, highlighting the urgent need for solutions. It underscores the significance of our experiment in testing and developing affordable water filtration methods to face these challenges. 

Project Narrative 

First, cut the bottom section of two empty plastic water bottles (0.44 cents per bottle). The purpose of the bottle is to act as the main filtration. Also, we will need to add two layers of coffee filters to each bottle and use rubber bands to attach the filters to the cap section of the bottles. The filters will act  Label one cup PC for powdered charcoal and the other GC for granular charcoal. Then, inside the bottle, we will add cotton, followed by soil, sand, and equally measure out 30 grams for both the powdered and the granular carbon to add in their own labeled cups. When the filter is fully complete, we will add our water and set a timer to see how long it will take for the water to pass through the filter. Now, the data we will be looking for is not only how fast either of them will filter, but which one would filter better using a water tester, cup GC (for granular charcoal) or cup PC (for powdered charcoal). Based on the experiment and our question, we will record our answer in our lab notebook. 

Personnel 

For the assignment we had to find a project online and create a proposal for it. The five group members conducting this proposal are students at City College of New York. The members are Afnan, Anesh, Deb, Logan, Jeremias, and we are all taking Writing for Engineering. We were each assigned our own parts. Afnan worked on the annotated bibliography, Anesh worked on the budget and personnel, Deb worked on the title page, and abstract, Logan worked on introduction and time frame, and Jeremias worked on the project narrative.  

Budget and Materials 

Item	Quantity	Price	Description of Use
Empty Plastic Water Bottle	2	$0.88	Two empty bottles will be cut open from the bottom.
Coffee filters	4 (100 ct)	$4.82	Then two layers of coffee filters will be attached to each bottle.
Rubber Bands	2 (64 ct)	$1.68	Rubber bands will be used to secure the filters in place.
Powdered Charcoal	30 grams	$7.50	30 grams will be added into the bottles.
Granular Charcoal	30 grams	$5.00	30 grams will be added into the bottles.
Cotton	4 pieces (100 ct)	$2.45	Cotton will be added into the bottles.
Soil	3 oz	$4.99	Soil will be added into the bottles.
Sand	6 oz	$0	Sand will be added into the bottles.
Marker	1 (12 ct)	$9.26	Used to label the bottles, one is PC and the other is GC.
Tap Water	14 oz	$0	When the filter is complete, add water.
Timer	1	$10.00	Used to see how long it takes for the water to pass through the filter.
Lab Notebook	1	$15.99	Used to record data found in the experiment.
Total Price		$62.77

Timeframe