Creating the Columns

Creating the Columns

Our first steps in creating the columns were to make electrodes that we placed in two of our columns to see if the reactions will create any current.  We used carbon felt as our electrode and platinum wire as the electron carrier.  Insulation heat shrink tubing wire cable wraps were then place over the wires to prevent energy from escaping the system.  Silicon was put around the wire and tubing so water cannot infiltrate and touch the wire.  Next, a two part carbon black resin and one part carbon black hardener were mixed together and painted onto any exposed wire in the electrodes.  Once those sat and dried over night we finally began to put the columns together.

Our first column was made in a 2000mL tube.  It consisted of 600mL of enriched compost dirt with an egg yoke (for the sulfur content), 30mL of pond water, and 160mL of soil sediment from the pond.  We added an electrode into the column, close to one side, and then added about 500mL more of not enriched compost dirt.  Another electrode was added with another 200mL of compost on top, then another electrode, and about 500mL of pond water to the top.

The second column did not contain any electrodes and was also in a 2000mL tube. However, asparagus was used for the sulfur content and amino acids instead of an egg yoke.  This mixture contains a layer with 600mL of compost dirt, 60mL of pond water, 160mL of pond sediment, and 100mL of asparagus.  An 800mL layer of compost dirt was added on top, and finished off with 500mL of pond water.

The third column was made in a 1000mL tube and also contains electrodes.  The first layer is a mixture of 300mL of compost dirt, 60mL of pond water, 80mL of pond sediment, 50mL of asparagus, and one egg yoke.  An electrode was added and then about 200mL of compst dirt, followed by another electrode and 200mL more of compost dirt. After the last electrode was put into the column 250mL of pond water was added to the top.

The last column did not contain any electrodes and was also made in a 1000mL tube.  The first layer consisted of 300mL of compost dirt, 60mL of pond water, 80mL of pond sediment, and one egg yoke.  This was followed by 400mL of compost dirt and then 250mL of pond water.