AIR QUALITY INDICATOR PROTOTYPE (AQIP) USING PETROLATUM

NATHANIEL DIMAOCOR and IRISH JANE ESPEJO

RATIONALE This study aims to contribute to the determination and

prevention of air pollution outdoors, as well as contribute a portable and cheaper way to determine the air quality of a certain location/area. This will also help us to have an idea in controlling pollution. This prototype can be also used in small-time industrial and commercial structures. This will also help other researchers by providing them idea that it is possible to develop an Air Quality Indicator Prototype by using petrolatum.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This research aims to design, fabricate,

and evaluate the performance of a portable Air Quality Indicator Prototype (AQIP).

It seeks to answer the following questions:

Is AQIP an effective determiner of air quality?

Is AQIP a reliable determiner of air quality?

METHODOLOGYCHAPTER III

A. RESEARCH DESIGN

The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) will be the basis for the experimental design. The same amount of petrolatum will be impregnated on the heated laminating film and the prototype will be subjected to outdoor areas.

B. MATERIALS/EQUIPMENTMaterials:

7” x 5” (2” thick) block of wood Yellow paint

White paint

1” brush Wood saw 2 small hinges Chisel

Heated laminating film (without

paper) Apollo Petroleum Jelly

Equipment:

Laminating machine

C. GENERAL PROCEDURE

Gathering of Materials

The materials and equipment needed will be gathered.

C. GENERAL PROCEDUREConstructing the Wood Base

With the help of a carpenter, the wood base of the prototype will be constructed. The 152 x 216 x 10 MM block of wood will have a rectangular cut in the middle. This rectangular cut will be separated, but will have to remain undistorted. The rectangular cut would then be attached back with the use of the two small hinges. The sides of the rectangular cut will be carved so that plastic strips can have a grip at the sides. The wood surface will be painted with a primary coating (yellow paint), followed by the secondary coating (white paint). The paint will help achieve a smoother surface.

Figure 1. Air Quality Indicator Prototype (AQIP) Dimensions

C. GENERAL PROCEDUREPreparing the Petroleum Impregnated Plastic Strips

The two layers of laminating film (without paper in between) will be heated using the laminating machine. It will be cooled and then the petrolatum will be spread on the surface of one side of the plastic. To achieve an even spreading of the petrolatum on the heated laminating film, the heated laminating film (spread with petrolatum) will be covered with the thin plastic then will be rolled in the laminating machine. This way, excess petroleum jelly would be pressed outside and the resulting amount will be spread evenly on the plastic.

C. GENERAL PROCEDUREPreparation of Set-ups

In the preparation of set-ups, the plastic strips will be placed inside the wood base. The prototype will be hung outdoors to collect the fine particles. Every two days, the plastic strip will be removed and the results will be recorded.

D. DATA GATHERING During the experimentation, the amount of

fine particles will be determined every two days. After every two days, the plastic strip (with the fine particles collected) will be flashed with a beam of light, using a flashlight. The fine particles stuck in the set-up will absorb the light, then the intensity of the light shown will determine the air quality.

E. STATISTICAL TOOL

To verify that there is a significant difference among the results of the Air Quality Indicator Prototype (AQIP), the T-test will be used in our study.

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