Heather Richard

Heather Richard

Jun 05, 2015

Group 6 Copy 129
2

Samples sent off to be analyzed for metals

I finished the metal analysis for one of my experiments! Now I just have to wait for my results to find out if things turned out as I expected. In the meantime, my biofilm analysis is partly complete, and has a glitch you can learn about in the attached video. I did get one question, which was appropriate given that this week I was mixing corrosive acids for the metal analysis.

Dear Heather,

I know you don't need me to ask this, but I just want to be sure. When you are working with corrosive acids, are you being careful?

Love,

Mom.

Thanks for you question, Mom~ and yes. I am being very careful :-)

More updates when I figure out the biofilm glitch and when I get the metal data back!



2 comments

Join the conversation!Sign In
  • Josslyn Macke
    Josslyn MackeBacker
    Perhaps there is an electrical charge on your glass beads from contact with your submersion bag. Just a guess. Love the video.
    Jun 07, 2015
  • Heather Richard
    Heather RichardResearcher
    Thanks so much! We have a device here that neutralizes charges of particles, it's most commonly used to discharge powders so that you can weigh out an exact amount and have none of it stick to the weigh boat. I tried using that, but I saw no difference, and tried soaking the beads in salt water to neutralize any charge, but also had no luck there. I'm working on trying to clean the beads in different ways to see if it's a coating that causes the beads to stick...so interesting and frustrating at the same time!
    Jun 07, 2015
  • rachael smith lytle
    rachael smith lytleBacker
    you're awesome. it's definitely aliens. and i've been negative out of control all week and destroying everything in my path...
    Jun 05, 2015
  • Heather Richard
    Heather RichardResearcher
    HA! -OOC is the new +OOC
    Jun 05, 2015

About This Project

I want to know how ocean bacteria and algae that live on plastic debris influence the toxins plastic picks up.

Plastic debris picks up chemical pollution like heavy metals, pesticides and flame retardants from the water. These are toxins which then could be transferred to marine life, and possibly the seafood we eat.

Plastic is colonized by bacteria and algae the minute it gets into the water, and these cells form a mucus film, similar to plaque on our teeth, called a biofilm. We know biofilms alter the way chemicals stick to sediment particles, but exactly how these organisms alter the way plastic debris attracts and accumulates chemical pollutants remains a mystery. We need to find out so we can make more informed estimates about plastic as a potential source of toxins for marine life.

Blast off!

Browse Other Projects on Experiment

Related Projects

Urban Pollination: sustain native bees & urban crops

Bee activity on our crop flowers is crucial to human food security, but bees are also declining around the...

Wormfree World - Finding New Cures

Hookworms affect the lives of more than 400,000,000 men, women and children around the world. The most effective...

Viral Causes of Lung Cancer

We have special access to blood specimens collected from more than 9,000 cancer free people. These individuals...

Backer Badge Funded

Add a comment