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The Effect of Detergents on the
Absorbency Rate of Polypropylene Pads |
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 Researched by Breanna D.
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The first purpose of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of polypropylene absorbent pads on oil spills.
The second purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of detergent on the absorbency of polypropylene pads.
The third purpose of this experiment was to compare how various detergents affect the absorbency rate of polypropylene pads.
I became interested in this idea when my family went to the car wash and I noticed the oil on the ground from previous vehicles. I knew that the oil would be washed off by water going through the area, and into the storm drains. I also noticed there also were detergents going through too from the car wash. I knew polypropylene could absorb oil, but would the detergents affect it?
The information gained from this experiment could help society better understand the dangers of oil in the environment. We need to know how to pick up spilled oil. We also need to know if common things like detergents increase the difficulty of filtering oil out of the environment. It would also benefit scientists in finding a detergent that least affects the absorbency rate of polypropylene pads.
My first hypothesis was that the polypropylene would absorb the oil, but not the water.
My second hypothesis was that the detergents would affect the polypropylene pads in a negative way, decreasing its ability to pick up the oil as effectively.
My third hypothesis was that Dawn Dish soup would affect the absorbency rate the most.
I based my first hypothesis on Larence Pringle’s book, Oil Spills: Damage, Recovery, and Prevention on page 38, which states “Straw, sawdust, minerals, and polypropylene absorb oil but not water.”
I based my second hypothesis on what Norm Hepner, an environmental specialist, said. “I would think that the detergents would affect the absorbency of the polypropylene pads. In fact, I’d expect it.”
The constants in this study were:
- The amount of water
- The type of water
- The water source
- The shape of the container
- The type of oil
- The amount of oil
- The order of which the oil, water, and detergents are places in the container
- The amount of liquid detergents
- The size of the polypropylene pads
- The absorbency time
- The amount of time allowed the oil-water-detergent mixture to sit
The manipulated variable was the type of detergent used.
The responding variable was the amount of oil absorbed by the polypropylene pad.
To measure the responding variable I used a triple beam balancer to find the mass of each oil-sealed pad. Then I subtracted the mass of each pad before being used.
| QUANTITY | ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 2.5L | 10w 30 Mobil motor oil |
| 2.5L | Tap water |
| 20ml | Dawn dish soap |
| 20ml | Jet dry |
| 20ml | Wisk |
| 20ml | Tide |
| 1 | Liter container |
| 25 |
20x10cm. piece of
polypropylene absorbent pad |
1. Put 500ml of water into a liter container
2. Put 100ml of 10w-30 Mobil motor oil into the same jar.
3. (For control group, skip this step) Put 5ml of Dawn dish soup into the same jar.
4. Stir until detergent is dissolved into water.
5. Let it set for 15 minutes.
6. Place a 20 x 10 cm. section of a polypropylene pad (consumer product) into the water-oil-detergent mixture.
7. Let it set for 30 minutes.
8. Take the polypropylene out of the water-oil-detergent mixture and let drip for 5 minutes.
9. Find the amount of oil in the polypropylene absorbent pad by determining the mass of the 10w-30 Mobil motor oil absorbed by the polypropylene pad.
10. Repeat steps 1-9 4 more times.
11. Repeat steps 1-10 for the next type of detergent.
The first purpose of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of polypropylene absorbent pads on oil spills.
The second purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of detergent on the absorbency of polypropylene pads.
The third purpose of this experiment was to compare how various detergents affect the absorbency rate of polypropylene pads.
The results of the experiment indicated that detergents did affect the polypropylene in a negative way, decreasing its effectiveness in picking up oil. My controlled trials averaged 31.14 grams of absorbed oil, while in the variables 30.33 grams of oil were absorbed. I also found that Dawn dish soup affected the efficiency of the polypropylene pads the most, allowing the pads only to pick up an average of 29.78 grams of oil, while Wisk affected it the least, allowing it to absorb 30.79 grams of oil.
My first hypothesis was that the polypropylene would absorb the oil, but not the water.
The results indicate that the first hypothesis should be accepted.
My second hypothesis was that the detergents would affect the polypropylene pads in a negative way, decreasing its ability to pick up the oil as effectively.
I felt that the results indicate that the second hypothesis should be rejected. This was because, even though there was a decrease, the difference was so minute that it would be insignificant to the real world. It does suggest polypropylene is a reliable method of picking up oil, even when detergent is involved. (See Appendix)
My third hypothesis was that Dawn Dish soup would affect the absorbency rate the most, however, the difference is too small to be very reliable.
The results indicate that the third hypothesis should be accepted.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if this experiment would have different results with the variable as the type or weight of oil. I also wonder if different thicknesses or weaves of polypropylene would have more effectiveness.
If I were to conduct this project again, I would do more trials, use different types of oil, and do two complete experiments, one as a practice run so everything goes more smoothly, and I’d make sure I actually knew what I was doing before I dove into my experiment. I think it would have also been beneficial to go to different parking lots and find the amount of oil on them that is washed into storm drains. I may have used too high a ratio of oil to water (1 to 5).
Just a note about my 2nd hypothesis…
In my conclusions, I stated that my second hypothesis was rejected. I said this because really, in my 500ml ocean with 100ml oil spill, the results truly proved it inefficient. BUT just last year in 2004 in Alaska a freighter lost it’s engine and ran into a Unalaska Island. It was carrying 483,000 US gallons of heavy bulk fuel and another 21,000 of diesel fuel. In my ocean, dawn decreased the oil absorbed by 4.4%. In that oil spill, 504,000 gallons were spilt, not 100ml. 4.4% of that is 22,176 gallons of oil that would still be in the environment had Dawn been involved. So in a sense, my hypothesis should have been accepted, but I chose to reject it because of the very minute difference that took place in my ocean consisting of only 500ml.
I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
- My parents for taking time out of their schedule to give me ideas and transport from one place to another and buying me oil and other materials.
- My brother for helping me with the timer and pictures.
- Mr. Newkirk and Mrs. Helms for helping me in many, many ways.
- Mr. Hepner for giving me much needed information.
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