by
Cheryl Langit, MAT Bio
Dante Orbe
ABSTRACT
Currently, proper attention has not been given to thermal pollution nor has any instrument been developed to monitor it. Though the thermometer serves a similar purpose, it is not a convenient device to measure water temperature in the field. This research aimed to develop an alternative device in measuring the temperature of thermally polluted rivers in Baguio and Benguet. Thermochromism is a property known to be exhibited by some compounds in which color changes occur at specific temperatures. The compound Silver nitrate (AgNO3), which had the most dramatic color change at a temperature not more than 45 degree Celsius and not less than 25 degree Celsius, was chosen the most suitable compound for monitoring thermal pollution. Reliability test has been conducted on the device as pre-test in the laboratory. Thermochromic test results on the rivers’ water samples from Baguio and Benguet, exhibited all are thermally polluted. However, Camp 7 and Balili are more thermally polluted with 30 to 32 degrees Celsius as compared to Asin, Irisan, Ambuclao, and Atok which are slightly thermal with 27 to 29 degrees Celsius.
| Published December 3, 2012 |
Issue UB RJ Vol. XXIX, No. 1 2005 |
