HOW TO REMOVE CHLORINE FROM WATER

ASHWINI A/P JAYABALAN,

PRAVEEN A/L VASANDHAN,
SARVIN A/L KUMARESAN,
VEKANEES A/L GANESAN,
KAUSHALYA A/P SOCKALINGAM
SJK (T) TASEK PERMAI, 14120 SIMPANG AMPAT, SEBERANG PERAI

1. ABSTRACT
Chlorine is used widely to prevent regrowth of microorganisms in tap water. At the same
time, drinking water with chlorine brings harmful effects to human body. Thus, removal
of chlorine from water must take into consideration. This research was carried out in
order to identify the best way to remove chlorine from water. The experiment was done
in 3 stages. The first experiment was done with 4 different materials and the second
experiment was done with the same materials but to test the taste of the water after
dechlorination. The third experiment was done with the same materials to find out the
last longer material in water. Our research reveals that grapes seeds can remove
chlorine from water, does not change the waters taste and last longer compare to other
materials that were tested.

2. INTRODUCTION
Chlorine is widely used to disinfect raw water in drinking water treatment plants. It is low
in cost and effective in inactivating harmful microorganisms and eliminating waterborne
diseases. Like its effect on pathogens and parasites, chlorine attacks delicate body

tissues when tap water is consumed. Many concerns have been raised about the safety
of chlorine residual in tap water, which has been linked to adverse health effects,
including dementia in elderly patients and heightened food allergies. More significantly,
chlorine residual in tap water causes a mildly pungent odor and taste, which may be
one of the primary reasons for people to consume bottled water. It is known that bottled
water is considerably more expensive than tap water. Accordingly, a simple, effective
and low-cost method of reducing chlorine residual in tap water is essential for
sustainable and palatable drinking water. By conducting this research, we believe that
we can help the people to get water to drink without chlorine in an easiest way. It is
known that ascorbic acid may reduce chlorine residual to chloride ions. We collected
some sources of ascorbic acid to identify the best source to remove chlorine from water.
The objective of the experiment is to identify the best material to remove chlorine from
water. The hypothesis of the research is grapes seeds is more effective in removal of
chlorine from water.
AIM:
To identify the best material to remove chlorine from tap water.
Hypothesis :
Grapes seeds is more effective in removal of chlorine from tap water.
Variables :
Manipulated variable : Type of materials
Responding variable : Condition of the water
Constant variable

: Volume of water / size of the beaker

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Apparatus
needed to conduct the experiment are 8 beakers of same type and size (250ml), glass
rod, spatula, and beaker (500ml).
Materials
that needed to conduct this experiment are grapes seeds, lemon, pineapple, apple,
knife, DPD tablets (chlorine tester).
The experiment was conducted in 3 different stages using the same experiment
apparatus and materials. The first experiment was conducted with different types of
materials in order to find the best material to remove the chlorine. The second
experiment was conducted with the same materials as used in experiment one to test
the taste of water after dechlorination. The third experiment was conducted by using the
same materials and apparatus that have been used in experiment two to find out the
last longer material in water.
The methods used to conduct these three experiments are as below:
Experiment 1 : 4 beakers of same size and type (250ml) prepared and labeled as A, B,
C and D. Each of the beakers filled with 100ml of tap water. DPD tablets which are used
as chlorine tester were crushed into powder form. Quarter spatula of chlorine tester
powder was added into each of the beakers. The water mixed using glass rod. The
change in colour of water is observed. We prepared some materials such as 40 grapes
seeds, half lemon, half apple and a slice of pineapple. Then, each beaker was tested
with different materials. Beaker A: Grapes seeds, Beaker B: Lemon, Beaker C: Apple
and Beaker D: Pineapple. All the mixture in the beaker were stirred until the colour
changed of water is observed. The observation was recorded in a table. The time taken
to water change colour from pink to colourless also recorded using stopwatch.

Experiment 2 : The methods for experiment 2 are the same as experiment 1 but
chlorine tester powder is not used in this experiment. This is because, the mixture of
water and materials have to be tasted. After the dechlorination, the water from each
beaker is tasted using spatula. The taste of water from each beaker is recorded in a
table.
Experiment 3 : The materials and apparatus that have been used in experiment 3 are
the same as experiment 2. The mixtures in beakers left out for 1 month at the science
laboratory. The days taken to materials get rotten is recorded.

4. RESULT
Experiment 1
BEAKER

COLOUR CHANGES OF WATER

AFTER CHLORINE AFTER
TESTER

POWDER DECHLORINATION

ADDED

TIME TAKEN TO
WATER
CHANGE
COLOUR

pink

colourless

(seconds)
20

seeds)
B

pink

colourless

60

(lemon)
C

pink

colourless

120

A
(grapes

(apple)
D

pink

colourless

110

(pineapple)

TIME TAKEN TO WATER CHANGE COLOUR

140
120
100
80
TIME (seconds)

60
40
20
0

G r a pe's s eeds

Le m o n

Ap p le

MATERIALS

Experiment 2
BEAKER

TASTE OF THE WATER

tasteless

(grapes seeds)
B

sour

(lemon)
C

sweet

(apple)
D

sour

(pineapple)
Experiment 3

Pi n e a p p l e

BEAKER

DAYS TAKEN TO GET ROTTEN

30

(grapes seeds)
B

(lemon)
C

(apple)
D

(pineapple)

DAYS TAKEN TO GET ROTTEN

Pineapple

Apple
MATERIALS
Lemon

Grape's seeds
0

10

15
DAYS

20

25

30

35

5. DISCUSSION
The result gained from the experiment can be considered accurate because the
experiment was done using constant amount of materials.
Chlorine is one of the many harmful chemicals in our water today. Its used to kill
harmful pathogens in an effort to make water safe to drink. Its also a known health
hazard. Thus, removal of chlorine from water before drinking is necessity. Readings
showed ascorbic acid could complete reduce the chlorine rapidly from water. Ascorbic
acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties which make
the water become pure without chlorine. All the materials that have been used in this
experiment contains ascorbic acid but different level of ascorbic acid. Based on the first
experiment, grapes seeds took the fastest time to change the colour of the water from
pink to colourless compared to other materials that have been used. This indicates that
grapes seeds contains more ascorbic acid compared to other materials. Thus, it
changes the colour of the water in a short period. Second experiment showed that the
water using grapes seeds was tasteless. It shows that, the water can be consumed as
drinking water after the chlorine has been removed completely. Water that have been
removed chlorine using fruits gave their respective taste to the water. Thus, the water
could not consumed. Besides that, grapes seeds seems last longer than other
materials throughout the experiment was conducted. Apple was get rotten as quick after
1day the experiment carried out. Pineapple last longer for 2 days while lemon last
longer about 7 days. Grapes seeds last longer until the last day of the observation and
this shows that grapes seeds have longer life span. Based on all the experiments that
have been carried out, grapes seeds was identified as the best material to remove
chlorine.
The experiment also went very smoothly because the all methods were the same
as we done in the previous experiments. Only few methods are different. Grapes seeds
can be considered as the best material to remove chlorine from the water compared to
all other materials that are tested in experiment 1, 2 and 3. It is because, grapes seeds
can change the water colour in a few seconds (remove chlorine faster), water give no
taste and last longer.

The problem that we have faced during this experiment is tap water at school
does not contain chlorine because it has been filtered. So, we have to bring water from
home to conduct the experiment every time.
6. CONCLUSION
Grapes seeds is the best material to remove chlorine from the water compared to all
other materials that are tested in experiment 1, 2 and 3. It can change the water colour
in a few seconds (remove chlorine faster). At the same time, the water with grapes
seeds give no taste and it can last longer. It shows that the hypothesis made earlier is
acceptable.

INI TAK PAYAH

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank my school headmaster who gave me this wonderful opportunity to
take part in the School Level Science Fair. I also would like to thank the officials of the
National Science Fair for Young Children team who influence the Tamil school students
in improving their knowledge and skills in Science. The teachers of my school are also
very cooperative, understanding and helpful in preparation of the Science Fair.
8. REFERENCES

M. W. Tikkanen, J. H. Schroeter, L. Y. C. Leong, and R. Ganesh, Guidance manual for

the disposal of

chlorinated water. AWWA Research Foundation Report

90863 (CO:American Water Works Association, 2001).

L. West, Why is chlorine added to tap water? About: Environmental Issues. Available
online at:http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/a/chlorine.htm.
Accessed on 11April 2013.
Jennifer. (2014). How to remove chlorine from your water with vitamin c. Retrieved from
http://www.20somethingallergies.com/how-to-remove-chlorine-from-your-waterwith-vitamin-c/
SFPUC Website Chloramine. (2013). Questions regarding chlorine and chloramine
removal from water.Retrieved fromhttp://www.sfwater.org/modules
/showdocument .aspx?documentid=4125