全國中小學科展

環境工程

Geo-engineering CO2 Scrubber

On account of the rapid development of human activities, much more fossil fuel is burnt and thus a greater amount of greenhouse gases are emitted to the atmosphere including carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2, is considered as the major cause of the exacerbating global warming. “Geo-engineering”, literally, means the options that would involve large-scale engineering of our environment in order to combat or counteract the effects of changes in our atmosphere. As a carbon neutral CO2 scrubber is proposed to be a large-scale scheme to fix carbon globally through reducing the CO2 emitted to the atmosphere and our ultimate goal is to implement the CO2 scrubber scheme to the whole globe, that is, a large-scale scheme to our environment, it is a project of geo-engineering. The procedures of the project are as the following: (a)Investigating on the absorption of CO2 produced by calcium carbonate (CaCO3), using different basic substances at different temperatures (b)Investigating the absorption of CO2 in car exhaust produced by combustion of petrol in car engine using basic solid (c)Feasibility of using a prototype of CO2 scrubber in exhaust pipe of car (d)Feasibility of fixing carbon by turning CO2 into dry ice and stored in deep water (e)Feasibility of growing plant in used basic solution Results: 1.The CO2 scrubber prototype had an average CO2 removal ability over 50%, which was considered to be efficient. The concentration of CO2 (561ppm) was even lower than that in the ambient air (CO2 612ppm). During the experiment, the prototype was closely attached to the exhaust pipe and did not fall down. Thus, a CO2 scrubber was feasible to be used in the vehicles. Besides, our prototype was more energy efficient than LM2500 PE simple cycle gas turbine (consumed 21MW electricity) though our prototype had a lower CO2 removal efficiency. The cost of our prototype would be much lower than membrane technology as the production cost of the membrane was high. 2.Unlike existing CO2 scrubber prototype installed in open area (with electric fan installed), our CO2 scrubbers installed in the chimneys of power stations and exhaust pipes of cars are carbon neutral as exhaust gas has high kinetic energy and would pass into the scrubber. 3.dry ice would not evolve carbon dioxide gas at high water pressure such as at the bottom of the ocean. 4.Plants grew well in alkaline environment, it was feasible to grow plants in basic solution. Conclusion: CO2 scrubber is a suitable choice in combating the climate change through absorbing the excess carbon dioxide, with the utilization of the carbonates produced in the reaction, it is hoped that the climate change can be relieved using an environmentally-friendly device.

生活中的碳-探討自製的活性碳之吸附雜質及竹炭屏蔽電磁波效應

有鑑於SARS 期間活性碳口罩因原料均從國外進口,而造成活性碳急需用時的短缺,於是我們的研究是以國內最常見的木材自製成活性碳,並探討活性碳對生活週遭常見物質的吸附能力。我們利用六種不同的木材配合兩種活性化方法來製成不同的十二種活性碳,觀察活性碳對有色溶液的吸附效果,發現不同的活性碳對不同的物質有不同的吸附效果。在定量實驗中,我們採用不同大小、不同性質的物質依次為氯離子、氨分子、葡萄糖分子及三氧化二砷等,用十二種不同的活性碳作吸附效果的比較,發現每種物質都有對其具有最佳吸附能力的活性碳。再利用電子顯微鏡觀察並測出活性碳孔洞的大小,將結果與活性碳對各種物質的吸附能力相對應而得知,【1】活性碳的孔洞大小與物質質點相容性大即得最好的吸附效果【2】雖然木材本身並不帶電,但其中所含的礦物質可能會具有電性,所以在必要情況下亦可將電性列入考慮。同時,在現代化的生活環境中,人們與電磁波的接觸已無可避免;而電磁波因頻率的差異而有不同的特性,因此對於人們的影響也不相同,新聞報導中常出現宣稱竹炭具有遮蔽電磁波的效果。於是我們深入地去探討竹炭對電磁波的影響原因。 在我們實際測量過程中發現,基地台、高壓電塔、行動電話和家庭電器所釋放之電磁波總和均在安全範圍之內。竹炭的燒製溫度須達550℃以上才可在內部形成具有導電性的石墨結構才進一步具有屏蔽效果。 ;During the ravage of SARS, a great amount of activated carbon was imported to Taiwan, leading to the shortage of actived carbon for emergent use in our country. In view of this phenomenon, we investigated six kinds of wood that are most commonon the market and processed them into twleve kinds of actived carbon. We found that different actived carbon has distinct adsorptive power on different substances by observing theadsorption in the colored solutions. In quantitative experiments, we applied substances of different sizes and properties (chlorine ions, ammonium ions, glucose molecules, arsenic(Ⅲ) oxide) to compare the adsorption of these twelve kinds of actived carbon. We found that each substance is adsorbed the most by a certain kind of actived carbon. Then we observed the apertures of actived carbon under stereoelectric microscope and contrast the result with adsorption. We had two following findings: Actived carbon has better adsorption if its apertures fit the adsorbate molecule well in size. Wood itself doesn’t have electric charge. But sometimes the minerals contained would enable it to have electric charge. We have to take the electric charge into consideration in the experiment if necessary. At the same time, in a modern life, the contact between us and electronic waves are not avoidable. Electronic waves with different frequency have varied characteristic and therefore cause dissimilar influences on humans. The news reports keep on showing the charcoal can shield us from electronic waves. Therefore, we want to find the causes why the charcoal affects the electronic waves. During the process of the research, we find that the total of all electronic waves released by electricity tower, mobile phones, household electronics are within the secure spec. The charcoal has to be burned higher than 550℃ and then it can generate the electric conduction graphite structure inside and then it can have the shielding function.

神經妙算流博村-是洪水?是山崩?

南投溪頭米堤飯店在2001 年因土石流受創,產險公司以「土石流即是山崩」為由拒絕理賠。歷經5 年的訴訟後,2007 年1 月台灣高等法院認定,土石流屬保險契約中所規範的「洪水」,並非「山崩」,判決產險公司應給付賠償金。土石流究竟是洪水?是山崩?主要因素便是土石流發生的水文因子。本文藉由博愛村的現場調查及文獻探討先作初步資料分析(preliminary analysis),了解到地文因子(physiographical factor)是土石流發生的充分條件,非必要條件;一般僅考慮雨量因子,把地文因子看作常數(忽略地文因子受水文因子歷程(course)影響),簡單易懂,但在安全與經濟考量上有待討論。使用類神經網路對已發生過的土石流事件計算土石流發生臨界曲線,並使用模糊理論計算松鶴地區其受水文因子影響的土石流發生臨界曲線,這樣的模式,考慮似乎比較周到。由「米堤飯店」的例證,更說明土石流發生的水文因子的必要性。Lemidi hotel, Xitou, Nantou because mudflows and landslides and was wounded in 2001. The Insurance Company refused to settle a claim on the position on “A landside is a debris flow”. After the lawsuit which was going through 5 years. In January, 2007, the High Court of Taiwan asserted that the adversity in the 2001 belongs to “the flood” in the norm of the insurance agreement. As the norm of the insurance agreement said, the debris flows in the land is the flood, not the “landslide”. The High Court of Taiwan judged that the Insurance Company should compensate the Lemidi Hotel. Is debris low a landslide or a flood? The main cause is the Hydrology in the happening of a debris flow. We did preliminary analysis of forms by on-the-spot investigation on Song-Ho Village and reference discussing. We realized that physiographical factor is an abundant condition for a happening of a debris flow, not the essential condition. Generally, people only consider rainfall factor. And they consider physiographical factor as not as constant (neglect the influence of hydrology factor to physiographical factor). We can understand easily in that way. Therefore, in the aspect of security and economy, there is much doubt that is needed to be discussed. People who use neural network method to calculate the curve of the debris flow happening , and used fuzzy theory to calculate the curve of the debris flow happening which is influenced by the hydrology in Song-Ho Village. In that way, we may consider more thoughtful. From the example of the Lemidi Hotel in Nantou, we can prove that how necessary the hydrology factor in the debris flow is.

Titanium Dioxide(TiO2) Nanoparticle-based Solution as an Algal Growth Regulator

『吸凍!』--再造保麗龍的第二個春天

中文摘要 本實驗先尋求將廢棄保麗龍磺酸化為陽離子交換樹脂(本實驗稱”保麗龍膠”)的方法。將保 麗龍依:丙酮溶解→硬化→打碎→與濃硫酸共煮三小時→浸於50%硫酸溶液中→沖洗→以水 浸泡的流程,即可達再造的目的;我們測得其磺酸化比例為62.5%。再利用「碘滴定法」(浸 泡式)與「相對電壓檢測法」(流動式),依次尋求保麗龍膠吸附金屬離子的最佳條件。其中「碘 滴定法」可有效測出銅離子濃度,但手續繁瑣;「相對電壓檢測法」最大的好處是知道保麗龍 膠何時吸附達飽和必須再生。 目前我們所知,要保麗龍膠達到吸附陽離子的最佳效能,其條件依次為:使用細粒的保 麗龍膠;低濃度的金屬離子溶液;質量愈大的保麗龍膠;低溫下較慢的金屬廢水流速及pH 值約為4.30 的銅離子廢水;鈉型的保麗龍膠吸附效能優於氫型。保麗龍膠對不同金屬離子亦 有吸附力,單位體積所含離子數愈少,初始的相對電壓會愈高;在相同莫耳濃度下,不同離 子的吸附力依次為Cr3+>Fe3+>Ni2+>Cu2+>Co2+;分次吸附確可將金屬離子完全去除;由 吸附等溫線觀察得知,可能保麗龍膠為多孔物質,導致500ppm 以下的吸附模式無法明確判 斷,1000ppm 以上則為物理吸附模式;保麗龍膠可以再生也可被覆在砂粒上達到不錯的吸附 效能;最後,我們將吸附過金屬離子的保麗龍廢膠與硫酸鈣、紙漿及些許的石灰(質量依序為 13 克、13 克、7 克、0.04 克)混合,可製成類似紙黏土,做成造型磁鐵,廢物利用十分有趣。 Abstract The Experiment will, first of all, explore the ways to sulfonate expandable polystyrene into cation ion exchange resin (called “polystyrene rubber” hereafter in the experiment). The procedures of treating expandable polystyrene are as follows: acetone dissolve→hardening→smashing→ boiling with sulfuric acid for three hours→immersing in 50% sulfuric acid solution→washing→ immersing in water so that we may reach the goal of reconstruction. We calculate the sulfonated rate to be 62.5%. Then we make use of “Iodine Titration”(immersion method) and “Opposite Voltage”(floating method) to seek for the best conditions of adsorption the metallic ion through polystyrene rubber. The former can effectively calculate the concentration of copper ion, but the procedures are quite complex. The greatest advantage of the “Opposite Voltage” method is that we may know when the adsorption of polystyrene rubber is saturated and should be regenerated. As far as we know at present, the conditions of obtaining the best effect that polystyrene may adsorb the cation ion are as follows: fine particles of polystyrene rubber; low concentration metallic solution; polystyrene rubber of which the mass is greater; at lower temperature, slower waste water flow speed and the copper ion waste water with pH 4.30; the adsorption effect of sodium type polystyrene rubber is better than the hydrogen type. Polystyrene rubber also has adsorption effect toward different metallic ion. The less ion per cubic contains, the higher the original opposite voltage. With the same mole concentration, different ion adsorption effects may range as follows: Cr3+>Fe3+>Ni2+>Cu2+>Co2+. The batch adsorption definitely may erase metallic ion completely. By observing the adsorption isotherm, possibly because the polystyrene rubber is a multi-apertured matter, we find that it is impossible to judge exactly the adsorption model of those metallic ion solutions of which the concentrations are below 500ppm. Those which are over 1,000ppm belong to physical adsorption models. Polystyrene may be regenerated and get an adsorption effect by coating sand particals. In the last analysis, we may make paper clay and magnets of different styles by mixing the adsorbed metallic ion polystyrene rubber with calcium sulfate, paper pulp and a little lime(the mass are respectively 13g, 13g, 7g, and 0.04g). The reuse of waste is really very interesting.

Bio-Active Plants

My Science Fair project last year tested a local native plant for it’s toxic effects on insects (fruit flies), bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The root of the plant Lomatium dissectum, had been used by the Salish People to control lice and other insect pests in horses and cattle. The root was also used to kill fish, which could then be harvested by women and children. The fish killed in this way were not harmful to eat as long as they were consumed soon afterward. I have found also that fishing with the aid of plant toxins was formerly very common in tropical Africa. \r Lomatium dissectum, grows in dry rocky slopes in conjunction with Sagebrush.\r Many desert plants produce toxic substances that inhibit the growth of competing plants\r nearby. This adaptation is called Allelopathy. In a natural ecosystem, Lomatium does not\r kill fish because it does not grow beside creeks. But this raises the question of whether\r allelopathic plants growing outside their natural ecosystem are having a toxic effect on\r animal life. There are introduced invasive weeds that are allelopathic, such as\r Knapweed,growing near streams. And there are crop plants that are allelopathic – Rye and\r Alfalfa. Do these “natural herbicides” also kill fish? Walnut trees are allelopathic and\r compounds from Walnut kill fish.\r If this effect does go beyond toxicity to other plants, it would be an important\r consideration to environmental guidelines for private land bordering on streams and\r rivers. The B.C. Ministry of Environment notes the importance of shade cover for\r spawning streams. It does not recognize the harmful effects of introduced plants. Yet,\r when we were purchasing supplies for our Koi Pond the pet supply company offered a list\r of “Some of the Worst Plants to Have Around Koi”. We do not know if the introduced\r allelopathic plants are poisoning fish or reducing fish stock by poisoning the food that fish\r need.\r Science Fair rules do not allow any research that is expected to have any negative\r impact on vertebrate animals. Because of this, I have decided to test the effect of\r allelopathic plants on fruit flies (Drosophila). Fruit flies are similar to fish since, during\r larva and pupa forms, they live in direct contact with their culture media. I will also be\r testing the effect of allelopathic plants on Planaria (Turbellaria), an aquatic invertebrate.

整合型水族養殖系統研究與開發

本研究主要的目的是在開發二氧化碳製造、過濾與循環的整合型水族養殖系統。二氧化碳的產製是以基於發酵原理,並搭配具有純化二氧化碳作用的水濾裝置,發酵環境溫度以水族箱內的水來維持,循環過程中並搭配外部過濾器,所有容器均由保特瓶改裝完成,整合成一套價廉、環保且具有高效率的水族養殖系統。由實驗結果可得知,二砂糖發酵對於二氧化碳產生率而言,其最佳發酵環境溫度範圍25℃~35℃,一般水族箱的水溫即可保持在此一溫度範圍。過濾系統則使用光電比色計與一般市售過濾器相比較,亦有令人滿意的效果。本實驗除了研究以二砂糖發酵之外,還希望更進一步地朝向廚餘減量方面開發其他發酵材料,希望能為環保盡一份心力。;The purpose of this study is to develop an integrated system of aquatic breeding with the functions of producing carbon dioxide, filtering and circulating, where carbon dioxide is produced based on fermentative theorem and purified by the water filtering; the environmental temperature of fermentation is maintained by the water in the aquarium and circulating is through an external filter. All the containers are made of PET bottles and thus integrated a cheap, environmentally friendly and high efficient system of aquatic breeding. According to the experimental result, for the producing rate of carbon dioxide, the best fermentative temperature of NO.2 granulated sugar is 25℃~35℃. With a photocell colorimeter to compare the function of the self-made filter with that of the filters on the market, one can find it’s comparable. In addition to the fermentation of NO.2 granulated sugar, the study is also expected to develop other fermentative materials to reduce kitchen waste for environmental protection.

吸〝氣〞大法-QCM 對有機氣體之吸附與偵測

中文摘要:\r 化學實驗中,常常會使用到各種具有揮發性的有機溶劑,如醇類、酸類、醛類及酮類等。\r 當吸入過量的揮發性有機溶劑時,將會對人體造成嚴重的傷害,故使用時格外需要留意。有\r 鑑於此,我們開始著手研究如何偵測氣相中的有機氣體分子。\r 本研究中,我們利用聚苯胺薄膜吸附氣體分子的特性並結合對質量變化極靈敏的石英晶\r 體微天平,自行設計了一套簡單、藥品用量少且不需昂貴儀器的實驗系統。藉由此系統,我\r 們有效的針對各種揮發性有機溶劑進行偵測,並進一步地探討不同氣體分子對於聚苯胺薄膜\r 的吸附現象。\r \r 英文摘要:\r Students usually use volatile organic solvent in laboratorys such as alcohols, carboxylic acids,\r aldehydes, ketones, etc. It will injure our body when we breathe in too much volatile organic\r solvent. For this purpose, we begin to study how to detect volatile organic compound in air.\r In this work, we combine polyaniline membrane which can adsorb gas molecules and quartz\r crystal microbalance which is highly sensitive to mass changes to design a simple and inexpensive\r system which needs only little chemicals. With this system, we can effectively detect different\r volatile organic compounds. Furthermore, we can also study the adsorption of polyaniline\r membrance for different volatile organic compounds.

Improvement orchard Soil Ecology by Sustainable Cultivation

1.Purpose of the research We observed frequent application of chemical pesticides and herbicides at the pear orchards near our school. Our concerning questions are the influences of agricultural chemicals on soil ecosystem which may be slowly deteriorating. There are many other orchards where the farmers are practicing environmentally-friendly agriculture using organic fertilizers such as composed manure instead of sycnthetic fertilizers. The purpose of this research is to examine chemical and mocrobiological quality of the orchard soil. We report biological control of pear disease using antagonistic microorganisms and suggest improvement of soil quality as a result of nature friendly agricultural practice. 2.Procedures and Data Two orchards were selected: Conventional fertilizers and chemical pesticide application farm; Environmentally friendly farm using organic plant manure and biological control of disease. Several different aspects of soil micro-flora, indicator microorganisms, physiological characteristics of pear fruit, residues of synthetic chemicals in the soil, soil chemical properties were examined. We could observe that use of organic manure and biological control agents for disease control by indigenous microorganisms improved biological and chemical quality of the orchard soil. Results are summarized as follow: A. Microbial diversity could be observed in organic farming orchard soil. Among 42 fungal genus, 7 species of penicillium including P. decumns, 3 Alternaria species, 4 Fusarium species including Fusarium graminearum, 6 Aspergillus species including Aspergillus niger were identified. In case of bacteria, 59 samples were isolated and 17 genus including Cystophaga johsonae were identified. B. Beneficial indigenous bacteria having several biological functions were isolated: Enterobacter intermedium produces organic acid therefore this bacterium can solubilize insoluble phosphate. Several Pseudomonas species were isolated. These bacteria produce iron chelating compound under iron limited environments and can control plant disease. Interestingly, we could find indigenous biocontrol agent Hypocrea vinosa which can effectively control black star disease on pear surface. C. We have formulated ten different microbial-pesticides using several combinations of indigeous microorganisms such as Hypocrea vinosa, Trichoderma atroviride, Rhizopus microsporus etc. These microbial-pesticides could inhibit 100% of black star disease on pear surface which showed similar inhibition effect as commercial pesticides indicate that these microbial-pesticides may replace synthetic chemicals in the near furture. 3.Conclusions Our research demonstrates the eco-friendly organic farming system could improve soil eco-system of pear orchard, where no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are applied. As a result of manure application, the soil chemical properties are more stable and microbiological flora was more diverse. Use of microbial and bio-pesticide resulted in strong inhibition of black-star disease incidence on pear surface. We suggest that eco-friendly farming systems are needed to diminish environmental pollution in soil and water caused by frequent and abundant use of agricultural chemicals.

灰色預測在雨量長期趨勢分析之應用

灰色理論近來廣泛應用於各行各業的管理資訊科學上,本研究乃應用灰色理論的一階微分中輸入變數為一項之 GM ( 1 , 1 )模型,來預測台灣中部地區土石流主要因素雨量的月平均量值。本文運用三筆以上的歷史資料,作最近一年歷史性資料的預測,藉以驗證獲得其誤差(±△e)之校止參考依據值,比利用殘差檢驗所得的誤差校止數據,更能修止出精確的預測值,接著再做台灣中部雨量未來之預測,以作為未來雨水、土石流防治之參考 · 為了能迅速產生所要的灰色預測值,研究中並以 VB 程式語言及以Petri-net分析其動態處理行為,藉 GM ( 1 , 1 )模型的專屬處理支援程式,以做為未來雨輦自動化處理警示與預測之支援機制。Recently Grey Theory has been widely applied to management information science in all kinds of areas. This research applies the first Level differential of the Grey Theory to put a variable in GM( 1,1) model to forecast the monthly average value of the most common precipitation, in the midland Taiwan earth-stone flood zone. This paper uses more than three historical data to forecast the most recent year’s historical data, which can be used to verify and acquire referential correction data of its errors ( ±△e). The aforementioned method can correct forecast data more precisely than the differential inspection. In addition, this method can then forecast future precipitation in midland Taiwan earth-stone flood zone and the results can serve as reference for future precipitation control. To rapidly receive the needed Grey forecast values, the research analyzes its dynamic process method by utilizing VB program and Petri-net to build a dedicated process-support program of GM( I , 1) model. This program will serve as a support mechanism for future automatic precipitation warning and forecast.