The effect of corrosion on the antibacterial ability of copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless, steel
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Microbiology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Written Paper Award
3rd Place
Abstract
Due to an increase in antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, new methods for killing bacteria without the use of antibiotics and caustic chemicals are being sought out. Research has shown that some metals can be used as a way to kill bacteria on contact. This experiment was designed to see how well copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel were able to kill bacteria after acid corrosion. This was intended to mimic extended contact with human sweat from handling. It was hypothesized that metal subjected to corrosion would be less effective against bacteria than metal that had not been corroded. Twenty metal squares of each metal type were used measuring 0.635cm on each side. Half of each group was randomly selected for corrosion. Afterwards, all metal squares were randomly assigned to 16 petri dishes with 5 squares per petri dish, and each dish was covered in E. coli. After 48 hours of incubation at 37o C, the zones of inhibition around the metal squares were measured. The results were analyzed with an ANOVA at alpha equal to 0.05. This ANOVA (F (7,67)= 2.22, p=0.044) showed that the results were significant, but a Scheffe test was not powerful enough to determine with certainty the locations of these differences. Based on the values gathered from the Scheffe test it can be concluded that the hypothesis was not supported. The biggest differences shown in this test indicate that corrosion generally increases antibacterial ability of the metals tested with the exception of copper.
Recommended Citation
Kaufman, Garrett, "The effect of corrosion on the antibacterial ability of copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless, steel" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 164.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/164
Location
Wall 224
Start Date
3-25-2017 9:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The effect of corrosion on the antibacterial ability of copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless, steel
Wall 224
Due to an increase in antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, new methods for killing bacteria without the use of antibiotics and caustic chemicals are being sought out. Research has shown that some metals can be used as a way to kill bacteria on contact. This experiment was designed to see how well copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel were able to kill bacteria after acid corrosion. This was intended to mimic extended contact with human sweat from handling. It was hypothesized that metal subjected to corrosion would be less effective against bacteria than metal that had not been corroded. Twenty metal squares of each metal type were used measuring 0.635cm on each side. Half of each group was randomly selected for corrosion. Afterwards, all metal squares were randomly assigned to 16 petri dishes with 5 squares per petri dish, and each dish was covered in E. coli. After 48 hours of incubation at 37o C, the zones of inhibition around the metal squares were measured. The results were analyzed with an ANOVA at alpha equal to 0.05. This ANOVA (F (7,67)= 2.22, p=0.044) showed that the results were significant, but a Scheffe test was not powerful enough to determine with certainty the locations of these differences. Based on the values gathered from the Scheffe test it can be concluded that the hypothesis was not supported. The biggest differences shown in this test indicate that corrosion generally increases antibacterial ability of the metals tested with the exception of copper.
