<b>Abstract: </b>Lead contaminated drinking water is not isolated to Flint MN, there are cities across the country and around the world struggling to keep lead out of their water supply. Expensive filters and bottled water are only a stop-gap measure. The purpose of this work was two-fold: to expose high school students to academic research and to produce an inexpensive filter for lead. The most important aspect of the filter was to remove lead from contaminated water. However, an issue occurs when filters are used longer than they are effective. The solution to this problem was to create a filter pack with an indicator that changed the color of the water when lead was present. A filter was manufactured in the maker-space of the Barrie Middle and Upper School that would affix to a standard faucet or water bottle. The filter contained a packet of calcium phosphate and potassium iodide. As contaminated water was poured through the filter, lead reacted with the phosphate to produce bio-unavailable lead (II) phosphate. As the calcium phosphate was consumed, allowing lead to pass through the filter, potassium iodide reacted with the lead, changing the color of the water to yellow. This yellow color indicated that the water was contaminated, and should not be drunk. A solution of 20 ppm lead (II) nitrate solution was passed through the filter. Samples indicate that lead was no longer present. Once the stoichiometric maximum phosphate had been consumed, the solution turned yellow, indicating that lead (II) iodide had been produced. This filter is inexpensive, removes a harmful contaminate from drinking water, and alerts people when it is no longer working. It should also be noted that this research was conducted by high school students while under quarantine, and in their own chemistry classroom.

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.