Artificial Sweeteners (AS) are commonly used worldwide, but many scientists do not fully understand the effects sweeteners have on drinking water. Zeolites have been previously shown to sequester target pollutants from water samples; this research examines whether zeolites are a viable option to obtain cleaner drinking water via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by reducing the concentration of four free AS (Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Saccharin, and Aspartame) in water samples. A significant reduction in free AS was observed after introduction to zeolites in solution using GC-MS and density testing. The determination of significance in our results starts by looking at the baseline of the data. For peak areas, the data goes from zero to the highest peak area while the density baseline is 1 g/mL for water and 0.792 g/mL for methanol. Looking at the results and comparing them to the baseline we can see that our results are significant. Almost all the sweetener was removed in our density testing, and there was a minimum 91% reduction of our sweetener concentration in GC-MS testing.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Dahlberg, Elizabeth

Subject

• Environment
• Water
• Health

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042524-094130
• 121644

Advisor

• Brodeur, Drew R.

Year

• 2024

Sponsor

• No sponsor

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemistry

Source

• E-project-042524-094130

Rights statement

• In Copyright