The Effectiveness of Natural Bleaches on Killing Staphylococcus spidermidis Respect to Sodium Hypochlorite
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Microbiology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effectiveness of liquid bleach alternatives killing Staphylococcus Epidermidis with respect to sodium hypochlorite (Liquid Bleach). To test this, 60 petri dishes were filled with Nutrient Agar, then Staphylococcus epidermidis was streaked across each plate. Soon after the antibiotic sensitivity discs that had been soaked in lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, 10% citric acid solution, and diluted bleach were placed into 60 sterile petri dishes with about 2 discs per petri dish depending on the quality of the petri dish in terms of amount of unmelted agar. After incubating in a 37°C incubator for 48 hours, the petri dishes were taken out of the incubator and had diameters of the area in which no bacteria survived around the filter paper, measured. The results of the experiment found that Hydrogen Peroxide's zone of inhibition's diameter was the most effective cleaning agent by a 59.4% margin and was even more effective than bleach. This finding suggests that people should replace their usage of bleach with hydrogen peroxide in order to have the most effective cleaning of bacteria.
Recommended Citation
Sobel, Daniel, "The Effectiveness of Natural Bleaches on Killing Staphylococcus spidermidis Respect to Sodium Hypochlorite" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 212.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/212
Location
Furman Hall 126
Start Date
3-28-2020 10:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effectiveness of Natural Bleaches on Killing Staphylococcus spidermidis Respect to Sodium Hypochlorite
Furman Hall 126
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effectiveness of liquid bleach alternatives killing Staphylococcus Epidermidis with respect to sodium hypochlorite (Liquid Bleach). To test this, 60 petri dishes were filled with Nutrient Agar, then Staphylococcus epidermidis was streaked across each plate. Soon after the antibiotic sensitivity discs that had been soaked in lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, 10% citric acid solution, and diluted bleach were placed into 60 sterile petri dishes with about 2 discs per petri dish depending on the quality of the petri dish in terms of amount of unmelted agar. After incubating in a 37°C incubator for 48 hours, the petri dishes were taken out of the incubator and had diameters of the area in which no bacteria survived around the filter paper, measured. The results of the experiment found that Hydrogen Peroxide's zone of inhibition's diameter was the most effective cleaning agent by a 59.4% margin and was even more effective than bleach. This finding suggests that people should replace their usage of bleach with hydrogen peroxide in order to have the most effective cleaning of bacteria.
