Project Background and Objectives

The Chemistry Club of the Hiroshima Gakuin High School has traditionally been doing activities, focusing on the environment. However, nearly half of the 22 club members belong to both the chemistry club and a sports club. What is more, activities at culture clubs have been limited to just once every week; students in the chemistry club have not got enough time to devote themselves in their studies. Even on days of the activities during a long holiday, it is difficult for the students to coordinate days to join a sports club with those to the chemistry club so that enough time for their studies is unlikely to be secured.  

Therefore, in order for the effective use of the limited time, the main focus of the chemistry club has been on technical development for improvement in the environment, not on investigation into the actual conditions.

Project Abstract and Effects of Project

1. Development of a Treatment Method of Negative Ion Surface-Active Agents
   Domestic waste, which is inevitably discharged in our daily life, is a main cause of water pollution and its purification has largely depended on treatments with microbes. However, anionic surface active agents, which are widely used and can be found in detergents, shampoo, etc., are substances which microbes are poor at deal with. Therefore, an effective treatment method of anionic surface active agents was developed.
   
   At first, an electrolytic treatment method was developed. Then, it was found that powdered silica gel, which has similar constituents as glass, with positive ion pigment absorbedanionic surface active agents well when the electrolytic treatment method are used. This method does not suit for large-scale treatments. However, it does need no energy such as electricity. Small-scale experiments by the chemistry club have shown that the method reduced the concentration of anionic surface active agents to less than 10%.
   
   
2. Water Purification Concerning the Treatment of Liquid WasteDerived from Developing Fluid
   Studies on the disposal of liquid waste derived from developing fluid were carried out by the club for fear that the Water Pollution Prevention Act will prohibit the disposal of liquid waste derived from developing fluid. The chemistry club focused on titanium dioxide, which is a conclusive factor for successful purification of the environment, and succeeded in improving the efficiency of the treatment, resolving its disadvantages such as difficulty in using radiant energy. The studies were introduced on newspaper and received a lot of inquiries from companies.
   
   
3. Water Purification with Chitosan Salt
   Chitosan is one of the high polymer biomass and chitin, which is the main component of shells of crabs and shrimps, ends up in chitosan if treated chemically. Chitosan had been used as a cohesive agency to make clouded water clear for long.
   
   Water pollution result from negative ions in substances which cause water pollution.
   
   Thereupon, the chemistry club supposes that the capture of the negative ions by chitosan hydroxychloride acid containing hydroxy acid can contribute to the solution of the red soil problem, which has caused serious damage to coral reefs, and the club has been challenging the problem.

Club Members on Studies

Distinctive Features of Project (Factors and Keys to Success)

• The chemistry club has made use of its members’ limited time available, focusing on technical development for improvement in the environment.
• The chemistry club of the Hiroshima Gakuin High School has been actively working; for instance, it has applied for a patent on the treatment method of anionic surface active agents.

References

• Introduction of the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Prize of The 4th Japan Water Prize

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