DESCRIPTION: Photo Two:  Dylan Benningfield and Sudan Loganathan with Dr. Thomas Lane, President-Elect of American Chemical Society.  Dr. Lane was the Luncheon speaker at the 31st Annual Area Collegiate Chemistry Meeting held at University of Tennessee at Martin.  Murray, Ky., May 1---- Murray High School students, Dylan Benningfield and Sudan Loganathan, were recently recognized during Murray State University Scholar Week, fortheir water quality assessment research with Dr. Bommanna Loganathan, Murray State University 2007 Distinguished Researcher and MSU chemistry professor .    

The duo-team were recognized for their efforts and received outstanding researcher awards at MSU's Annual Sigma Xi Students Recognition Banquet.        




Benningfield and Loganathan collected water samples from Murray Wastewater treatment plant and Kentucky Lake to measure biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). 

"Our preliminary research results show our city's water treatment plant does a good job of removing the sewage and other wastes from the water and then releases the treated water back into the Bee Creek, " the students explained.            

After comparing their collected data, their research results indicate there are some non-degradable organic matter that still exists in the effluent water and Kentucky Lake water.   "This may be due to disposal of non-degradable wastes, such as plastic containers and unused pharmaceutical and personal care products disposal into our waterways, Loganathan said.             
"We do not know whether the small amount of non-degradable organic matter will have any effect on fish and other organisms live in these waters," Benningfield explained.               

The duo-team presented a poster on their findings at the annual MSU's Sigma Xi Poster Competition event and also at the 31st Annual Area Collegiate Chemistry Meeting held at University of Tennessee in Martin, Tenn.    

"We were a little a bit nervous to present at these meetings because the majority of presenters are undergraduate and graduate students.  But, it was a rewarding experience," Loganathan said.             

"We want to continue our research and discover ways to conserve and improve our water quality," Benningfield said.              

"Working with talented High School Students is a great experience and it is amazing to see the energy and enthusiasm Dyaln and Sudan have. 

It is rare to see High School Students engaged in chemistry research," Dr. Loganathan said.