Particle and Fluoride Pre-Filter for B9 Plastics

1. Particle and Fluoride Pre-Filter for B9 Plastics Customer Specifications Background • B9 Plastics is a nonprofit organization dedicated to social and environmental improvement through the use of plastics around the world, including Haiti, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. • Their Better Water Maker (BWM) filtration system kills harmful bacteria microbes by using UV-light. This device provides clean and safe drinking water where clean it is otherwise not available. • However, the BWM does not work effectively in high Turbidity levels. • Turbidity is the cloudiness/haziness of water, caused by part particles and total suspended solids (TSS) in the water. • Many of these particles absorb and block the UV-light, preventing it from killing the bacteria in the water, making the BWM ineffective at times. • Some regions of the BWM use have an abnormally high Fluoride content in their water supply, which leads to a variety of bone disorders. Fluoride cannot be removed by the UV light. • The main goal of this project is to develop a pre-filtration system to reduce turbidity and fluoride levels of water - before it enters the BWM. • Eliminate particles in water greater than 5 microns • Reduce turbidity levels by 75% • Reduce Fluoride concentration of water by 75% • Total production cost under $20 per unit, ideally under $10 • Unit must have estimated lifespan of 6000 hours • Unit must weigh less than 20 kg, ideally 10 kg • Unit must filter water at a rate of 2 Lpm • No adverse effects to water; taste, color, smell, etc. Concept & Design Testing & Results • The mechanical design of the system was modeled after a “French Press” style coffee filter. Instead of forcing water through a mesh – a mesh was pressed through the water. • A standard 5-gal. bucket from Lowes was used, and the filter mechanism was machined out of ABS plastic. • 2 handles that run the length of the bucket were attached to 2 support rings • In between the support rings were sandwiched 2 rubber gasket rings containing a high-strength stainless steel 5 micron mesh in the middle. BEFORE AFTER Fluoride Removal – Bone Char • Calcium reacts with fluoride by way of adsorption; • Adsorption is the adhesion of ions or molecules to a surface. • Calcium particles will be added to the water, and the fluoride ions will adsorb to the surface of the calcium, allowing it to be filtered out by the normal “pressing” process shown in our design. • Bone Char is a granulated form of charred animal bones with an extremely high calcium content. • The bone char will be added, and stirred to allow for proper adsorption of fluoride, then filtered out. Future Developments • Improve method of fluoride adsorption with better implementation of bone-char • Make mechanical design more robust, easier to machine • Use of a “straight-walled” bucket, instead of a bucket with a tapered wall design: • This will allow for better compatibility of the filter as it travels down the length of the bucket. • Sarah Brownell – Faculty Guide • B9 Plastics Inc. – Customer • www.B9plastics.org • Project P13418 • Special Thanks • Scott Wolcott - RIT • Bob Bechtold– B9 • Kate Chamberlain – B9 • ME Machine Shop