Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education Document Code:

Region III- Central Luzon Revision:
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PAMPANGA Effectively Data:
High School Blvd, Brgy. Lourdes,
City of San Fernando

Science Investigatory Project Name of School Office: San Juan

( Robotics &Intelligent Machines - Individual High School, Mexico, Pampanga
Category

WASTES CHARACTERIZATION AND MONITORING WATER

SWEEPER

A Science Investigatory Project

(Robotics and Intelligent Machine Individual Category, RIM-I-SDO13)

Presented to the Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) of

Department of Education Division of Pampanga

John Lester B. Onofre

Researcher

Mrs. Kharen M. Rafael

Research Adviser

1
 ABSTRACT

Title: Wastes Characterization And Monitoring Water Sweeper

Researcher : JOHN LESTER B. ONOFRE
School : San Juan High School, Mexico, Pampanga
Date Completed : October 2019
Adviser : Mrs. Kharen O. Rafael

The study was conducted to evaluate the conditions of oceans and other water
bodies despite the enlarging rate of plastic pollution on water due to the unending
plastic materials and waste products that enters the oceans and water bodies
yearly.The study made use of the experimental method of research. This study sought
to find out the advantages wastes characterization and monitoring water sweeper and
the effectiveness and the efficiency of it in collecting plastic materials, and in
monitoring the state of water bodies, and the significant difference on the number of
trash that the Waste Collector can occupied and capable to carry wastes from the
water in a given time. In order to meet the objectives, the researchers of this study
performed an experiment where they compared the Waste Collector and Sea Bin. The
experiment was done by programming the Waste Collector in order to move and to
collect waste from the water systems. Also, using the two ways of set-ups; the remote
control were connected to the phone of the researcher, and the non remote control that
depends only on the flow of water.

2
 INTRODUCTION

Plastic products play a major role in the daily lives of people. It is specifically

more in demand for its production is energy efficient. It is a light and soft object, easy

to form into a shape, strong and not feeble like other materials, and not costly.

(Kinnon, 2008). Almost everything that is being used every day in the people’s lives is

made out of this material. According to the Global Plastic Production Statistics by

Statist, more than 348 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide as of

the year 2017 and is still steadily growing.

As of the recent progressing assessment of the Philippine Non-Governmental

Organization of Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (NGO GAIA), most of

the Filipino peoples hurl around 60 million sachets unused and single use-plastics

reliable as of March 2019, which is why the Philippines was named as the third

biggest ocean polluter of plastics. This was living proof that the issue of plastic

contamination in the nation is already alarming and cannot be merely ignored.

Plastic wastes in the water causes harmful effects just like drainage

complications, water contamination, and danger to marine life. It is truly an ecological

concern that plastic pollution contains harmful chemicals and when mechanically

fragmented, turns to micro plastics that can be unintentionally ingested by smaller

organisms. (Environ. Sci. Technology, 2017)

Plastic pollution also cause water contamination because the harmful

chemicals disperse into the water and may also contaminate the drinking water source

of the residents in the area. According to the World Health Organization, water

contamination causes illnesses like diarrhea. However, severe cases of contamination

may cause cholera, typhoid, and dysentery (Vestergaard, 2014).

The extensive use of plastics has been a concern for how many decades and

until now, because of its effect in the environment most special in water systems.

3
Plastic debris in the ocean, water surges, and creeks causes waste entanglements,

water pollution, and peril to marine life. It is genuinely a biological concern that

plastic contamination contains destructive synthetic concoctions and when

mechanically fragmented, goes by to a smaller scale or size of plastics production that

can be unintentionally ingested by smaller organisms like fish, coral reefs, and even to

humans.

This ongoing problem has motivated the researchers to create a simple

machine that can collect plastics and other waste products in the rivers and streams of

Mexico, also to monitor the state of the pH and temperature of the water.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study generally aimed to determine the effectiveness and the efficiency of

the Waste Collector in gathering plastic wastes in the rivers and streams of Mexico.

Specifically, the study will be answering the following questions.

1. How many various grams of garbage or trash does the Water Sweeper

Vacuum accumulate inside a specific given time?

2. What is the capacity of the Water Sweeper’s net when in use?

3. Is there a significant difference between before and after the application

of the Water Sweeper Vacuum?

HYPOTHESIS

H0: The Wastes Collector does not accumulate any grams of trash at a

specific given time.

H0: The capacity of the Wastes Collector net when in use is low.

H0: There is no significant difference between before and after the

application of the Wastes Collector.

4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of the study is to see the effectiveness of Wastes Collector

in collecting plastics and other waste products which can be found in the rivers and

streams of Mexico. Also the results of this study are hoped to be valuable to do the

following.

To the Community

With the use of this study, the device will help attain cleaner water that could be

optimized to help supply the needs of the people by means of agriculture and other

recreational activities.

To the Administration

This study would help them to become more involved in keeping the community

safe and clean for the betterment of everyone.

To the Students

Children are very sensitive and have a lower tolerance to harmful

environment. That is why, once the researchers keep the water resources clean the

safer they will be.

To the Researchers

The study is beneficial for the researchers for it gives a means of satisfaction by

helping others with their problem, specifically the ongoing plastic pollution in the

rivers and water ways in their community.

To the Future Researchers

Once this study turns out effective it can be continued and further developed by

future researchers that can help improve the purpose of the device.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

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 The study will only focus on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Wastes

Collector in removing any plastic materials in water bodies, such as rivers, water

drainage, and creeks, and also to monitor the state of water were surrounded by

wastes materials. The device will only be operated on water areas that has enough

water to make it float and for the contraption’s paddling mechanism to move freely.

Probably, the Wastes Collector was composed using the simplest tools and materials

that will be modified by the researchers of this study to make the machine work, in

equipping and gathered plastics and other wastes materials in waterways and surges of

Municipality of Mexico

DEFINITION OF TERMS

To have a better and wide understanding about the study, the following

terminologies and phrases are defined as operationally utilize in the study.

Cholera. A serious disease that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea that was often

results in death.(Merriam-webster.com)

Contamination. The process of contaminating an object, or the state of being

contaminated.(Merriam-webster.com)

Contraption. Is a kind of machine or gadget that looks antiquated or ungainly,

particularly to the person who haven’t enough idea how to use and utilize it.

(Dictionary.Cambridge.Org.)

Conventional Plastics. It contains synthetic compounds that were unsafe to a human

body and other living organisms. (hempwaterbottles.tripod.com)

Dysentery. A serious disease that causes severe diarrhoea and loss of

blood.(Merriam-webster.com)

Marine. Relating to the sea or a type of plants or animals that live in the

sea.(Merriam-webster.com)

6
Padding Mechanism. It is the utilizing cushioning in an advantageous method for

ensuring that scrambled information is of the right size.

Plastics. Made from raw and consist of plastics materials.(Merriam-webster.com)

pH Level. pH is a proportion of how corrosive or antacid water is, yet this is really

dictated by the measure of free Hydrogen and Hydroxyls particles in the water.

Pollution. It is the action or the process of making land, water, and air dirty and not

suitable to use.(Merriam-webster.com)

Rotary Motion. It is the turning round in a circle, such as a wheel

turning.(Quora.com)

Single-Use Plastics. Those things utilized just once before they are

discarded or reused. These items are commonly things that probably you can see

nearby your place like water and soda bottles, plastic bags, coffee stirrers and food

packaging.(PlasticFreeChallenge.org)

Turbine. Is a type of single device that hold the kinetic energy of fluid things,

include the air or combustion gases, and water from water bodies. With the help of

these turbines, it can regenerate this fluid into rotational

motion.(EnergyEducation.com)

Typhoid. A kind of disease from domestic animals, resembling human TYPHUS or

typhoid.(Merriam-webster.com)

Wastes. Materials that is left over or unwanted after something has been made and

used.(Merriam-webster.com)

Wastes Collector. This machine will play a big role in cleaning the oceans and other

water bodies, in order people will having a clean and potable water systems.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

7
 This chapter will present the related literature and studies to further understand

the research.

Review of related literature

One of the major concerns people have is the rapidly growing amount of

plastics that builds up in the ocean that can soon after affect agriculture, the health of

marine life and even humans. The top 20 polluting rivers, mostly located in Asia,

account for 67% of the total waste polluted oceans worldwide. Implementing

mitigation strategies cannot be done easily, one needs to compromise and consider

certain concerns like marine plastic sources, taking spatial and temporal variability

into account. (Lebreton, 2017)

In 2009, Andrady & Neal stated that over a billion single-use plastic bags are

given out for free every day. Around 20 to 30% of plastic production was eventually

ends up in the ocean and other water systems. According to Hopewell et.al., 2009, the

key problem with plastic is that a major portion of it is used in disposable packaging

or one time usage in which are being discarded in a short period of time just after

being manufactured.

A plastic waste in the marine environment is widely documented by the

environmentalist around the area. However, the exact amount of plastic that enters the

ocean by waste generating industries is still unknown. By connecting the overall

information solid waste, population density, and economic status, we estimated the

mass of land-based plastic waste entering the ocean (Jambeck et. Al., 2015).

It was determined that 275 million metric tons (MT) of plastic waste was

generated in 192 coastal countries in the year 2010, with 4.8 to 12.7 million MT

entering the ocean bodies. Populace size was increment and the nature of waste

administration frameworks to a great extent figure out which nations contribute the

huge mass of un caught squander accessible to end up plastic marine garbage. Without

8
waste administration foundation upgrade, the aggregate sum of plastic waste available

to enter the sea, from land is foreseen to increase the request for extent by 2025. (CJ

O’Brien, 2018)

There is a significant proportion of submerged plastics in the present consisted

of food wrappers or containers and plastic cutlery; relatively few plastic bags were

observed. The predominance of food wrappers/containers and plastic cutlery is

probably due to recreational activities, with direct or indirect dumping into the Seine in

addition to runoff and CSO discharges as stated by Morritt et.al., 2014.

Stated by Law et. al., 2010, almost all marine species that vary in size just like

planktons to marine mammals, from the fiercest to the most vulnerable, have now

ingested or being severely harmed by plastics. About 60% of 6,136 surface plankton

net tows conducted in the western North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea from 1986

to 2008 contained buoyant plastic pieces, which were found to be millimeters in size.

According to the article of Cassella in 2018, the world’s seas are immense and

plastic contamination is spread over many square kilometres that keep on moving up

until the present time. As of now, more than five trillion bits of plastic litters and

contaminated our seas. Attempting to fix this massive issue would almost cost billions

of dollars and take a large number of years to accomplish.

By creating a machine that looks like a mere boat but has the capacity to sweep

the bodies of water can be a huge help in lessening the plastic pollution bit by bit. The

device will use the Boat Propeller Theory and propulsion. It is a very simple principle

wherein at the end of the boat a screw or propeller mechanism with attached engines

is places that will cause the displacement of water and be able to push the boat

forward.

There are some studies that were already conducted that inspired the researcher’s

machine. IN 2014, Colin Wood of Baltimore introduced a new and conventional way

9
or gathering plastic wastes in the water called the water wheel. The machine looks

like something out of the steam age, and at full control, it can gather five tons of

garbage for each hour. Sun powered board’s power water siphons that drive a water

wheel, which pulls a transport line that accumulates the refuse. The machine will

likewise be furnished with webcams, so individuals can watch the waste gather

continuously and a remote control gadget so administrators can make changes from

their phones.

The study of pH water level portrays a coordinated detecting framework with

arrangements handled pH, free Chlorine, and temperature sensors on a typical glass

substance. The pH and temperature sensors are created by ease

inkjet printing of Palladium/ Palladium Oxide and Silver. The created detecting

framework is easy to use, savvy, and can screen water tests progressively with a

precision of >0.82%. This stage empowers the water quality checking by

nonprofessionals in a basic way. (M.J. Deen, et. al., 2017)

The total pH scale ranges from 1 to 14, with 7 viewed as unbiased. A pH

under 7 is said to be acidic and arrangements with a pH more prominent than 7 are

essential or antacid. The Arduino one quantifies the pH avec of water levels.

Stated by Alam et. al.,2018, who talked about concoction, electrochemical and

physical properties of ph delicate polymers and natural materials and their detecting

instruments for medicinal services applications. Different groups of people who

gathered the materials decide their substance properties which redox responses for

chemical detecting of pH.

Review of related studies

10
 One of the largest problems in our world today is the extreme pollution of our

oceans and waterways. Each day passes, thousands of tons of trash and plastic debris

are dumped into our oceans. This quite often leads to death because of their inability

to digest the plastics (Gunter et. al., 2017).

Nowadays, almost of the manufacturing process is being atomized in order to

deliver the products at a faster rate. In this project, they have fabricated the remote

operated river to clean the machine. The main of the project is to reduce the man power,

time consumption for cleaning the river. In this project of Wagh et.al., 2018, they have

automated the operation of the river cleaning with help of a motor and chain drive

arrangement. According to Bhuiyan, 2013, the quick increment in demand for water,

and increase in occurrences of contamination of various water sources, environmental

dangers to human health and other life creatures are more improved. This paper reviews

empirical evidence on the impact of polluted water in the context of the environmental

risk as well as Ecological Risk. Necessary recommendations and policy considerations

which would be raised and highlighted for implementation by policy and decision

makers throughout the study must be done.

Terrado et. al., conducted a research in 2016 and they have identified the main

contamination sources of heavy metals, organic compounds and other

physicochemical parameters in Ebro River surface waters and the description of their

temporal and spatial distributions, are analyzed using Chemo metrics and Geo

statistical methods.

A critical extent comprised of sustenance wrappers or compartments and

plastics cutlery, most likely starting from intentional or automatic dumping, urban

releases and surface spillovers. Most plastic things are made of polypropylene,

polyethylene, and to lesser a degree, polyethylene terephthalate are found to be a huge

part of the occurring plastic pollution as studied by Gasperi et. at., 2018.

11
 As stated in Hug’s study in 2013, water becomes more contaminated by

unexpected substances which are considered harmful for human health and other

aquatic living creatures, such us corals, and fish. This water is termed to as polluted

water. Numerous variables are responsible for polluting the bodies of water. The

necessity of water for each and every living being needs no description.

The principal thought of "Ganga", the national water stream of India that

contains a monstrous number, which about 29 liters of sewage and dump stocked with

toxins. The idea of this is to clean the water lake for making it more possible and

proficient Lake Junk Jockey by utilizing the pedal using the vessel to make it work.

The “Ganga” utilizes the pedal worked vessel and transport which is connected to

each other, in gathering and collecting pieces of trash from the lake. (Jogi et. al.,

2016)

On the other hand, Robert Ongom and his fellow researchers concluded that in

Lake Kyoga, one of the great African lakes in Uganda is facing an increasing pressure

from human activities as of 2017. This study determined selected physic-chemical

parameters of Lake Kyoga at some landing sites and anthropogenic activities. The

parameters included temperature, pH, water flow rate, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and

phosphate.

The American Public Health Association and Water Watch Australia Protocols,

standard meters, Merck’s rapid test kits and timing of a float were used to measure the

parameters. The phosphates in the form of P2O5 were higher than the EPA standard

value at Kayei and Acholi in landing sites as well as at waste sites and gardens pointing

to high nutrient input at these sites.

In the same year, Christian Schmidt together with his team of researchers

analyzed a global compilation of data on plastic debris in the water column across a

wide range of river sizes. Plastic debris loads, such as micro plastics are positively

12
related to the mismanaged plastic waste generated in the river. This relationship is

nonlinear where huge waterways with populace rich catchments conveying an

excessively in the higher part of MMPW into the ocean bodies. Using MMPW as a

predictor, they calculate the global plastic debris inputs form rivers into the sea to range

between 0.41 and 4106 t/y. Due to the limited amount of data high uncertainties were

expected and ultimately confirmed. The experimental investigation to quantify plastic

loads in waterways can be broadened effectively by extra potential indicators other than

MMPW, for example, hydrological conditions.

According to Maria Gavrilescu in 2016, ecological dangers presented in nature

by plastic generation and plastic squanders keep on being a noteworthy issue today,

firmly associated with the expansions of plastics utilization by the populace. Bio

plastics started to be perceived as a positive and significant innovation of synthetic and

plastics industry, giving numerous and shifted chances to natural effects and dangers

decrease.

Another research that ignited the idea of cleaning the bodies of water in a new

and conventional way and without exerting too much effort is the Sea Bin. It is a

device that can be set up in ports and harbors around the world to stop the debris from

leaving the port, and capture debris that make it to the port. This study was led by

Jonathan G. et. al. in 2017.

13
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Input
1. Percentage of the mortality rate of wastes in the water systems in differentiation
the capacity and capability of Aqua Testing and Wastes CollectorRoBoat in collecting
wastes?
2. Lethal concentration of water pollution in the society will againts to the efficiency
of Aqua Testing and Wastes Collector RoBoat?

Process
1. Preparation of the Materials
2. Serial Dilution of Plastics
3. Probit Analysis
4. Interpretation of Data

Output
1. identified the effectiveness and efficiency of the Aqua esting and Wastes Collector
RoBoat in collecting trah from the water systems.

14
 METHODOLOGY

Materials Used: Programming:

 Battery Box  Arduino Uno

 Cardboard  Bluetooth Receiver

 Galvanized Tube  Breadboard

 Net  Digital LCD

 Used Styrofoam  Driver motor

 Wire  Bluetooth Receiver

 DC Motor  pH Level Sensor

 Temperature Sensor

Creating the Base

Using the used Styrofoam and cut it into specific shapes and sizes using the saw.

The researchers have modified the design of the base to maximize the collection of

plastic wastes. The Styrofoam will serve as the floatation device. Then two pieces of

Styrofoam are attached to the base together with the galvanize iron.

In the other side, cut another rectangle shape from the excess styrofoam to

compose the body of the robot. After cutting it, attach it to the base and the top of it

put the cut cardboard with a box that serves to be holder of the arduino uno,

breadboard, driver motor, digital LCD, and pH level sensor board to protect it from

the water.

Making the Propeller

Cut out small propellers using an old electric fan’s propeller. Then, attach them

all together to the DC Motor using glue sticks. After attaching it, connect the

propellers to the arduino uno.

15
 Applying the Trash Collecting Boundary

The net is attached to a rectangular wire which is connected to two battery

box which is assembled at the back and connected to the base, to accumulate trash

from oceans, rivers and other bodies of water.

Galvanized Tube

Styrofoam
35 cm

80cm
Arduino Uno

Cardboard

280 cm 14 cm 10 cm
Temperature Sensor
8 cm

DC Motor 14 cm Battery Holder

Wires
Bread Board pH Level Sensor

Driver Controller
Bluetooth
Digital LCD Receiver

70 cm
Plastic Net

60 cm

Attaching the pH Water Level Sensor and Temperature

Using the base, create a small hole in both side of the base near the stand where

you can put the pH Water Level Sensor and the temperature of water, in order to

monetize the state of water if it is safe and clean. And at the same time to check the

temperature of water base on the usage of pH Water Level Sensor.

16
 FLOW CHART: Shows the Trial and Error Method

WASTES
COLLECTOR

Figure 1.
Figure 4. Shows the first
Final prototype that
prototype. the researcher
of this study has Figure 2.
This Shows many
made.
prototype is difference
more from the
effective first
and prototype
efficient that the
when it come researcher
in cleaning create for
and his study.
maintaining
the
cleanliness
of the water
bodies.

Figure 3. This
image indicates
the evolution of
Wastes Collector
from the 1st and 2nd
prototype which
created in a
purpose by the
researcher to
accommodate the
cleanliness of the
water systems.

17
Volume of waste collected

Using the device, four sites where chosen as area to collect floating materials in

water. The highest volume of waste was collected as San Lorenzo followed by Balas.

The device have collected 20 L to 50 L of waste.

50

40

30

20

10

0
San Juan Balas san Lagundi
Lorenzo Volume of Waste
Collected

Figure 1. Volume of waste collected per hour using the device

COST ANALYSIS

Quantity Materials Cost

1 Arduino Uno 50

1 Breadboard 160

1 pH Sensor Kit 1500

1 Driver Motor 450

9 volts Battery 50

60 yards Wire 100

1 Digital LCD 500

1 Temperature Sensor 800

1 Bluetooth Reciever 700

2 DC Motor 300

18
 REFERENCES

Internet

Bhuiyan.2013. Rapid in depends for water. Retrieve from

https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Environmental_Risk_Assesment?pa
ge=4

Jogi et. al., (2016). Sewage Waste Management. Retrieve from

https://www.gangaaction.org/actions/issues/sewage-waste-management/

Hernandez-Gonzales.et al., (2018). An application on marine litter beaching

prediction. Retrieve from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication,330097990_Aggregated_outputs_by
_linear_models_An_application_on_marine_litter_beaching_prediction

Wabnitz.et al., (2010). An Ocean Emergency. Retrieve from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268187066_Editorial_Plastic_Polluti
on_An_Ocean_Emergency

Jambeck.et al., (2015). Plastic Waste (Kg/Person/Day). Retrieve from

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=a9dc4c91d5f34b
ed8b3625be4258deb7

Jambeck.et al., (2015). Plastic Waste Input From Land into the Ocean.
Retrieve from https://science,sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768

CJ O’Brien.(2018). Impacts of plastic in the stone. Retrieve from

https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3893&context=si
p_collection

Law.et al., (2015). Plastic Waste Input From Land into the Ocean. Retrieve
from
https://www.bluebird-electric.net/oceanography/Ocean_Plastic_International_
Rescue/National_Center_For_Ecological_Analysis_And_Synthesis_California
_University.htm

https://www.facebook.com/thebambooplanet/posts
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Turbine
https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/42315
https://www.merriam-webster.com
https://www.quora.com
https://www.alive.com/lifestyle/plastic-pros-and-cons/&ved=2ahUKEwi0-qys
qZnkAhWNFIgKHecuB2MQFjANegQIDRAz&usg=AOvVaw22eWdGYi5tm
X3iSzMKKuAJ
www.plasticfreechallenge.org
https://cambrige.org/amp/english/
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/main_page&ve
http://www.crypto-it.net/eng/theory/padding.html

19
APPENDICES

20
 APPENDIX A

DOCUMENTATION

21
 CURRICULUM VITAE A

NAME : JOHN LESTER B. ONOFRE

ADDRESS : LAGUNDI, MEXICO, PAMPANGA

DATE OF BIRTH : NOVEMBER 22, 2002

PLACE OF BIRTH : CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA

SEX : MALE

CITIZENSHIP : FILIPINO

RELIGION : CATHOLIC

CONTACT NUMBER : 099761488389

EMAIL ADDRESS : johnlesterbalatbatonofre@gmail.com

FATHER : JOSELITO P. ONOFRE

MOTHER : MILA B. ONOFRE

22