Fun with Cation Exchange

In the ongoing attempts to remove salt from a saline solution, the Lower Filter team spent the morning constructing an ion exchange column made from a plastic cylinder filled with cation exchange resin and a saline solution of 5000 ppm. We spent the majority of the time creating the saline solution and attaching the cylinder to a stand. Porter handled the cation exchange resin while Molly and Lauren worked to create the proper solution. Some water immediately began to pass through the cyclinder; it is not yet clear whether the saline content was removed in the process.

The Lower Filter team also tackled yet another 500ml container, this one with two stopcock valves attached to its bottom with epoxy glue. As a revision of a previous model, we plan to attatch two fittings that will secure luer-lock syringes to the bottle's lid.