ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SITE VISITS AND LABS

C.A.P.E
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
UNIT 2
SITE VISITS AND LABS

NAME:
MALIK STUART.
MATTHEW BOVELL.
HASHEM BREWSTER.
GOODNESS OGUNKOLA -
SCHOOL: COMBERMERE SCHOOL.
SCHOOL CODE:030008
CANDIDATE NUMBERS: 0300081987
YEAR of EXAMINATION: 2021
TEACHER: MR. K. LUKE MS. D. KING
TERRITORY: BARBADOS
SITE VISITS #1 and #2

Site Visit #1
Entry #1

DATE: 29/04/2021
LOCATION: Solar House, Queen’s Park, St. Michael
OBJECTIVE: To examine the use and effectiveness of solar derived energy at the
solar house at Queen’s Park
ACTIVITIES: The upper sixth environmental science group were tasked to gather at
Queen’s Park to observe the solar house there, through their observations they
highlighted the characteristics of the solar house and also recorded and discussed
the houses’ socio-economic benefits.
OBSERVATIONS: The house is painted in very bright vibrant tones of yellow and
red, the windows are hooded with a reflective tint to reflect sunlight in effort to
promote cooling in an environmentally conscious way. The house was constructed
as a part of a project with the intention of raising awareness and educate the public
on renewable energy and the various energy conserving technologies and the ability
to enhance energy efficiency.

Figure 1 Showing. Sign giving an overview of the Solar House

Figure 2 showing. Front exterior view of the Solar House at Queen’s Park
The bright red and yellow paint are useful for insulation, as well as the hooded tinted
windows.
Figure 3 showing. Interior of the solar house

122

Figure 4 showing. Photovoltaic cells on the roof of the solar house

Comments: Upon careful observation of the solar house, it has been concluded that
solar energy is an excellent and efficient source of energy to power homes, the tinted
windows complimented with the hoods help to keep the house cool and the bright
colors used to paint the house are useful for insulation the overall design of the solar
house was very well thought through, the house also demonstrate the feasibility of
solar energy with how readily available sunshine is in Barbados and throughout the
Caribbean.

Follow up activity: Build a solar still made from recyclable materials and carry out an
experiment to test its efficiency.
 Site Visit #2
Site Visit Entry #2

DATE: 25/04/2021

LOCATION: The University of the West Indies Cave Hill

AIM: To study and assess the various purposes of the anaerobic digester situated within the
university of the west indies, cave hill campus

ACTIVITIES: A number of Environmental Science students travelled to the Cave Hill campus
in order to examine the Anaerobic digester which was built by PHD candidate, Lecturer and
researcher at the university, Mr Nikolai Holder. Mr Holder led the tour and showed us the
biodigester, while comprehensively explaining the use of this anaerobic digestion
technology. He elucidated upon the subject, describing how the bioenergy is formed through
the conversion of organic material into Biomethane, also referred to as Natural Gas. He also
elaborated on the significance of utilizing environmentally friendly technology to find
alternative sources of energy towards the main goal of reducing carbon emissions which
contribute to the depletion of the environment.Photos were taken of the biodigester and the
steps and processes which the biogas production goes through. Mr holder then proceeded
to actively display how the Biogas is stored either in a cylinder for later use or is used for
direct application. He then gave us a firsthand description of the processing and production
of the Biogas.

OBSERVATIONS: The anaerobic digester actually consists of four individual anaerobic

digesters, as well as four airtight sealed gas collector systems. Although animal waste or
dung would primarily be used in these sorts of processes, Grass is instead used as
feedstock because it provides higher methane gas production. During biogas production,
methane passes along the tubing, and is then collected in drums. Methane levels increase
as more gas is produced.The anaerobic process varies in production rates at different points
during gas production. Initially, high levels of the carbon dioxide and methane gas are
produced, nevertheless, as the reactor stabilizes, less carbon dioxide is produced, however
high levels of methane production continue.
PRODUCTION OF METHANE BIOGAS

FIGURE 1. DISPLAYING SET-UP OF THE FULLY FUNCTIONING

BIODIGESTER SYSTEM.

FIGURE 2. DISPLAYING BUCKETS CONTAINING BIOMASS WHICH ARE

PLACED INSIDE BARRELS FILLED WITH WATER.
FIGURE 3. DISPLAYING TAPS ATTACHED TO A MODULE.

LAB #1
Date: June 6, 2021
Title: biogas digester
Aim: to anaerobically decompose kitchen waste to produce biogas.
Materials/Apparatus: 1 2-liter bottle,1 500ml bottle, 1 rubber tube, metal straw, glue gun, food
scraps, water

Diagram showing assembled biodigester

 Method:
Food scraps were placed into the 2-liter bottle along 0.5 liters water to cover. Water was poured into
the smaller bottle. Next a drill was used to create a hole in the covers of both bottles. A rubber tube
was inserted into the holes connecting the bottles. Using the drill once again another hole was made
adjacent to the first in the cover of the smaller bottle. A metal straw was inserted into the hole.
Afterwards a glue gun was used to create a seal around the holes on the top side of the cover.

Results:

Day Volume of Water (cm)

0.5
1
0.5
2
0.48
3
0.45
4
0.43
5
0.4
6

Discussion:
A bio-digester or also known as an anaerobic digester is a sequence of processes
Where microorganisms break down biodegradable materials such as food which was used in this
experiment in the absence of oxygen. Biogas is the mixture of gasses produced as a result of the
breakdown of organic materials in the absence of oxygen; it primarily consists of methane and
carbon dioxide. Biogas can be produced from raw materials
such as food waste, manure, sewage, green waste, Municipal waste, plant material or agricultural
waste. The data shown above shows that the biodigester began to produce gas on the third day as
evident by the fact that there was no change in the volume of water on days one (1) and two (2). As
gas is being produced, the pressure of the gas when it comes into contact with the water causes
little bubbles to be seen from the end of the plastic tubing that was submerged into the water. As
more gas was being produced as the days passed the number of bubbles increased. As the frequency
of bubbles and gas increased the amount of water in the 2-liter bottle subsequently decreased.
The volume of the water over the period that the bio-digester was monitored is as follows; Day
(1) 0.5cm3, Day (2) 0.5cm3, Day (3) 0.48cm3, Day (4) 0.45cm3, Day (5) 0.43cm3 and Day (6)

0.4cm3. The difference in volume for the days was 0.02cm3, except for days 1 and 2 which had
no significant change and for days 3 and 5 which had a change of 0.3cm3. The results indicate
that as the days increased that the volume of water decreased and the amount of gas also
Increased.

Source of error:
A possible source of error was the seal on the biodigester was not airtight which would lead to gas
leakage thus producing an inaccurate result.
Conclusion: Methane gas was produced and this was indicated by the bubbles that came through
the end of the plastic tube.

Conclusion: Methane gas was produced and this was indicated by the bubbles that came through
the end of the plastic tube.

Lab #2
Date: June 6, 2021
Title: solar distiller
Aim: to make use of recyclable materials to distill and measure the amount of drinkable water that
can be produced by the solar water distiller.
Apparatus/materials: space 2 two-liter bottles, 1 350 milliliter bottle, silicone, black spray paint,
marker, retractable blade, discolored water
Method: The retractable blade was used to sever both ends of the 350-milliliter bottle to create an
opening; the circumference of the opening was then used as a template to trace a circle the same
size of the opening on both two-liter bottles. The retractable blade was then used to cut a whole
following the marked-out circle. once this was done, both two-liter bottles were laid on their side
and the 350 ml bottles ends were inserted into their respective bottles, the bottle which would
collect the distilled water was fixed with the cap facing downward, after this both insertion point
were sealed with silicon. The bottle which would hold the discolored water was then Spray painted
black, the 3 bottles now fused to make one structure was then put to stand in the sun and 150ml of
discolored water was then poured into the bottle which was pray painted black. The solar still was
then placed in the sun for 5 days for 4 hours a day between (9am-1pm). The amount of water
collected each day was recorded.

Image of assembled solar distiller

Results
Day Amount of water collected (cm) Weather Condition
16 Sunny
1

13 Sunny
2

4 Partly Cloudy
3

11 sunny
4

14 sunny
5

58
total

80
Remaining Water

12

Water lost

Table showing the amount of water collected each day and the weather conditions on those days
and the results after the experiment was finished.
Discussion:
Solar energy is energy derived from the sun that is converted into either electrical or thermal energy.
The methods of collecting and using solar energy are plentiful and fortunately enough it is the most
abundant source of energy on earth, it is also a renewable resource and will be a very important
resource which will be used to power our clean energy future. Energy can be harnessed by means of
passive or active heating, an example of a passive method would be solar water heating, passive
heating absorbs and stored heat energy directly from the sun to the water, this method was utilized
in the experiment conducted by the upper sixth environmental class.
Painting the bottle black allowed for faster and easier heat absorption by the bottle from the sun,
the water in the painted two-liter bottle is heated resulting in water vapor being produced, as a
result the water was not only distilled but also heated, as the water is evaporated, the water vapor
rises and condenses into the 350 ml bottle creating water droplets r in the painted two-liter bottle is
heated resulting in water vapor being produced as the water is evaporated, the water vapor rises
and condenses into the 350 ml bottle creating water droplets r in the painted two-liter bottle is
heated resulting in water vapor being produced as the water is evaporated, the water vapor rises
and condenses into the 350 ml bottle creating water droplets which then trickles into the collection
bottle to be recorded. It was noted that different weather conditions affected the rate at which the
water distilled. More water was able to evaporate on the sunny days as opposed to the cloudier
days, this difference would have occurred simply due to the blocking of the sun on the cloudy days
thus causing the temperature resulting in a slower rate of evaporation.
Upon completion of the experiment, it was noted that water loss occurred this can be attributed for
small openings in the tops of the bottles or possibly spaces that weren't fully sealed by the silicon,
water vapor could have been lost this way.
Limitations:
One limitation is the Un forecast atmospheric condition, another limitation would be the movement
of the sun throughout the course of the day.

Source of Error:
Failure to properly seal all opening and securing the caps of the bottles which will result in loss of
water vapor into the atmosphere

Precautions:
One precaution that can be taken is to ensure the proper sealing of any openings that may be
present as well as securing the caps of the bottles.

Conclusion: In conclusion the solar distiller proved to be effective in its purpose, while it is heavily
dependent on the right weather conditions and is affected negatively by factors such as high winds
and cloud cover which lower the temperature within the vessel which is needed in order for the
water to evaporate in order for water to be purified.