Comparing the Amount of Particulate Matter Released from Wood, Charcoal, & Cornstalk
The objective of this experiment was to determine what form of biomass: wood, charcoal, or corn stalk, would produce the least amount of particulate matter. The purpose of this was to find the cleanest energy source between all three materials. The experiment consisted of particulate matter collection cards that were placed above the material that was being burned in the grill. After ten minutes of burning, the cards were taken off the grill and were used to collect data with a light sensor to see how much light transmittance passed through each trial/card.
The results produced have an impact on the environment, and provides solutions that can benefit air pollution. This research concludes that corn biomass is the best biomass fuel for cooking or heating because of its particulate matter collection. This is essential for the environment and the health of those who rely on these methods of fuel. People that will use corn as a fuel source rather than wood or charcoal will inhale less particulate matter which will have less of a health effect on the people using these fuels.
In order to analyze the data collected, an ANOVA test was conducted. The null hypothesis that all three populations would result in equal mean particulate matter was rejected because the p-value was below the alpha level of 0.05. If this experiment was conducted again with the same conditions, there would be almost no chance of getting the same results by chance alone, if the null hypothesis is true.
Research Conducted By:
Carsten Gregersen
Warren Woods Tower High School
Jessica Rus
Sterling Heights High School
Warren Consolidated Schools