By Kavya Shah
Project Description:
Kavya Shah undertook this individual project as part of her Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry, focusing on the effectiveness of copper removal from synthetic wastewater through electrodeposition. The study investigated how increasing applied voltage (2V, 4V, 6V, and 8V) influenced the efficiency of removing copper from a 0.2 M CuSO₄·5H₂O solution. Kavya conducted controlled experiments using a 250 cm³ solution, measuring changes in absorbance at 635 nm and conductivity over a period of 60 minutes to analyze the extent of copper removal under varying electrical conditions.
Project Outcome:
Through this investigation, Kavya developed a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes and their environmental applications. The results demonstrated how applied voltage impacts the rate and efficiency of copper removal, providing insights into optimizing electrodeposition as a method for wastewater treatment. The project enhanced her experimental, analytical, and data interpretation skills, and resulted in a well-structured Extended Essay that reflected both scientific rigor and practical relevance.