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A Summer at Norlite...

By Jenny Starr

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Why STEM Research Institute??

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Intro to Norlite

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“You can take a girl out of the lab but you can’t take the lab out of the girl!”

Unit:

Part 1 - Explore Norlite’s Virtual Lab (Discover the lab equipment and what it tests for and WHY!)

Part 2 - You Decide Mission - Grab your lab coat and goggles and head into Norlite’s Analytical Virtual Lab and test fuel samples. Based on your results, you decide if they are safe to fuel the kilns!

To be continued...

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Labs contain more than just beakers and bunsen burners!!

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YOU DECIDE!!

Take each of the following fuel samples back

to the lab and collect all the testing information

to determine if it is acceptable fuel to use in the kilns.

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2

3

4

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Back to samples

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Gas Chromatography Results Sample 1

Directions:

Use the data listed and the formula above to calculate the total PCB concentration in the sample. You must first calculate the average of the peaks and then substitute into the equation.

Sample Mass (g)

3.085

Initial Solvent Volume (mL)

10

Final Hexane Volume (mL)

30

Recommended Parameter

<25 ppm

Total PCB Concentration (ppm) = (Average Concentration of Peaks)x(Initial Solvent Volume)x(Final Hexane Volume)

Sample Mass (g)

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Peak Number

Peak Name

Result (ppm)

1

1016-1

0.0545

2

1016-2

0.0175

3

1016-3

0.0243

4

1016-4

0.0105

Average Concentration of Peaks

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ICP-OES Results Sample 1

Element

Wavelength (nm)

Parameter (must be less than value listed) (ppm)

Arsenic

193.696

43.25

Beryllium

234.861

2.4

Cadmium

226.502

65.9

Chromium

267.716

805.99

Copper

324.754

1949

Lead

220.353

829

Barium

233.527

198

Nickel

231.604

1216

Antimony

206.834

45.3

Selenium

196.026

24.5

Silver

328.068

26.75

Thallium

190.794

53.5

Zinc

213.857

1996

Directions:

Using the graphs above produced by the sample on the ICP-OES machine and the reference data on the left of the slide, determine which elements are present in the sample and if they are within the acceptable parameters or not.

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pH Results Sample 1

Directions:

Slide the sample off the page to reveal the pH results of the sample. Then compare the results to the key to left to determine the pH of the sample and whether or not the sample is safe!

pH

Safe (Y or N)

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Acceptance Parameter = 2.0-12.5

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Halogen Content Results Sample 1

Halogen Testing

Sample 1

Sample Weight (Wt)

1.0757 g

Initial Sample Volume (S)

50 mL

AgNO3 Normality (N)

0.0250 N

AgNO3 Volume use in 1st Titration (V1)

8.5 mL

AgNO3 Volume use in 2nd Titration (V2)

4.3 mL

% Halogen

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Acceptable (Y or N)

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Use the data from the table and the formula above to calculate the % Halogen content and determine whether it is acceptable or not.

Formula to Calculate the % Halogen Content

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% Halogens = (V1-V2) x (N) x 71,000

(S) x (Wt) x 100

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Recommended Level = < 1.67%

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Note: 71,000 = 2 x 35,000 mg Cl- equivalent since V1 = 2V2

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Heat of Combustion Results Sample 1

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Sample 1

Δt

(temperature difference in K)

5.5479

C

(energy equivalent of vessel)

3549.01

EF

(energy of fuse)

0.7165

EI

(energy of ignition)

0.5349

ES

(energy of added spiking material)

0

a

(mass of sample in g)

1.06560

Ho

(heat of combustion in BTU/lb)

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Acceptable (Y or N)

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Formula to calculate Heat of Combustion (BTU/lb)

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Ho = (Δt * C - EF -EI -ES)

a

Recommended Ho = 5,000-15,000 BTU/lb

Substitute the data from the table into the formula above to calculate the heat of combustion and determine whether it meets the recommended parameter!

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CVAAS (Hg) Results Sample 1

Recommended Value:

< 0.98 ppm

Data from Graph

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Acceptable

(Y or N)

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Read the output graph from the CVAAS machine and record the data in the table. Determine if the sample is acceptable.

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Ash Content Results Sample 1

Crucible Weight (g)

Sample Weight (g)

Final Weight (g)

Ash Weight (g) (final - crucible)

% Ash

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Acceptable

(Y or N)

14.3729

6.1751

15.4138

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Ash Weight = Final Weight - Crucible Weight

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% Ash = (Ash weight / Sample Weight) x 100

Use the data in the table above and the equations to the left to calculate the % Ash in the sample to determine if it passes or not!

Parameter for Acceptance: < 8.3%

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Flash Point Results Sample 1

Sample 1

Flash Point Results (oF)

Recommended Values: Greater than 100o

Trial 1

127.1

Trial 2

126.0

Trial 3

127.4

Average

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Acceptable:

(Y or N)

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Use the data in the table to calculate the average of all three trials and determine whether or not the sample meets the recommended values.

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Conclusion Questions:

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  1. Which sample(s) were safe to burn and which one(s) were not acceptable? Explain your reasoning.

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  • The goal is to keep hazardous waste out of the landfill and out of our drinking water. What could you do to make the unacceptable samples meet the parameters to be safely used as fuel and burned?

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  • What other information or data would you like to have to determine if the fuel or hazardous waste you deemed “acceptable” is truly safe to burn?

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Extending the Unit and Student Thinking...….

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Part 3 - Project Delta - Were you right? What happened when the fuels you cleared to use in the kiln’s were used? (Air emissions, bag dust and more reports)

Part 4 - In the News - Choose one of the selected news articles and decide what equipment or tests you would use in Norlite’s Lab to help find out more or solve the mystery in each story.

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Thank you….