Materials List: Using Membranes to Remove Toxic Algae

Each student needs:

Each group needs:

  • Algae Sorting Activity cards
  • empty water bottle
  • water quality testing materials, such as water test strips (e.g., 16-in-1 Drinking Water Quality Test Strips) and/or reef aquarium testing kits (e.g., Red Sea Reef Care Algae Control Test Kit)
  • a filtration unit with vacuum flask and hand pump, such as one as in Figure 1
    Three images of filtration units with vacuum flasks and hand pumps.
    Figure 1: Filtration units with vacuum flasks and hand pumps can speed up the filtration process.
    copyright
    Copyright © Left: https://www.amazon.com/Laboratory-Filtration-Distillation-Apparatus-Filtering/dp/B0942NYT9L Center: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Olympia-Sports-16072-Filtering-Set-with-90-mm-Porcelain-Buchner-Funnel/47753231 Right: https://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Suction-Filtration-Conical-Buchner/dp/B09479W6B8?th=1

OR

  • 2 L or 3 L soda bottle
  • 1,000 mL beaker
  • large rubber band(s)

AND

OR

  • filter paper or coffee filters

For the entire class to share:

  • collected water from a fish tank or pond for testing (may be collected as an additional class activity)
    • Collect 0.5 L per student group, or no more than 5 L per class. Store water in an amber HDPE bottle.
  • nutrient solution
  • deionized water
  • aluminum foil
  • waterproof tape
  • paper towels
  • microscope
  • (optional, but recommended) spectrophotometer
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/uot-2702-asymmetric-membranes-microfiltration-algae