Two Companies, one Clay.
Clear Creek System is a company that works with a product call BENTONITE. Bentonite is some kind of organic clay that can be used in the form of a powder or granulated and it is utilize to remove mechanically emulsified oil, grease and other sparingly soluble large chlorinated hydrocarbons from water and waste water. It is commonly used in filters to prevent early plugging by oil and grease (www.clearcreeksystems.com/media/cc100.htm)
Another commonly use of clay as oil absorbent is in at least in 85% of women bathroom. Clay is used as a beauty product to absorbed the oil of the face and lift and dry up impurity’s in the skin. Fullers Earth Clay is a beauty line product that the key ingredient is clay help clean oily and acne-prone skin. (www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/fullers.php)

Problem:

What kind of land is more absorbent to motor oil and which one would be better for oil clean up?

Abstract:

I have found that a lot of people don’t pay attention to what hit the floor. It sound silly, but really think about it. How many times a day or even a in a week you found yourself asking- “Hey, I wonder what got spill today?” We don’t pay attention to common practice like changing the engine oil to the vehicles at home and many people then discard the used oil directly to the ground, without giving much importance. One day doing it myself I felt guilty and as I was dropping the oil something in my conscience scream at me STOP! As the oil lay there on the ground I contemplated it for a couple of minutes and I felt like the oil was staring back to me, like it was trying to tell me something, and it made me wondered how much of the oil remains in the ground and how much is filtered through the earth, reaching aquifers.

For my research I took samples of 3 different types of terrain. The types of terrain where the following:
1. Beach sand
2. Clay
3. Mud. Using simple tools like a metal filter and plastic cups, I built a device to measure the amount of oil absorbed by the land. Each sample I took 150 ml of engine oil and after a minute volume was measured filtered oil.

Hypothesis:

My guess is that the clay would be the type of terrain more effectively to absorb the contaminant. I based my hypothesis under the impression that clay is more closed and it does not have many open spaces to where a contaminant can make pass, in other words it does not have much porosity. This differs from the sand and the mud substances that appear to be more mobile and space between the particles.

Background Information:

To better understand this experiment, it is needed to clarify some concepts on the types of land that were used in this project. Scientists describe the different soil types according to the amount of sand, mud and clay present. This is called texture.

Sand:
Despite what people think, the sand is the largest particle in the field. It has a sharp edge and that is why when you rub it, it feels rough.

Mud:
The mud is a ground particle whose size is between the sand and the clay. It feels smooth and powdery.
Clay:
Clay is the smallest particle. It is smooth when dry and sticky when wet, and can contain many nutrients.

NOTE: The particle size has a lot to do with the drainage of land. The contamination of soils results harmfully affecting the land devoted to agriculture and damage to the bodies of water and valuable aquifers.

Materials:

Amount

Article
1
Metal filter

750mL

Sand, Mud, Clay (soil Types)

750mL Engine oil (contaminant)

30

Plastic cups (16oz)

500mL

Graduated Cylinder

1

Paper notes

1

Table organized 1

Timer

Procedure:

1. I choose a clean area near a sink to work.

2. In a 16-ounce plastic cup I placed a metal filter and secure it.

3. I measured in a graduated cylinder a