Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello! I am conducting research on the moringa seed and the best ways to utilize its coagulating properties. I started this project after coming across a research article: https://honors.libraries.psu.edu/files/ ... sions/1394. I grow this plant in my backyard and thought it would be cool to do a project relating to it. I'd like to do a project similar to this one: viewtopic.php?t=13101 but I want to create a filter that can actually be used in third world countries. That's where I need a little help.

Referring to the old thread, someone suggested looking at potential sanitizers to use on the filter. I was wondering how to figure out if the sanitizer will wash away the protein along with the bacteria in the filter. I saw people using thyme as a disinfectant, but it isn't readily available in third world countries.

My other question was how do I get seeds that are harvested in specific seasons? My plant still isn't tall enough to have pods and there aren't any trees where I live.

My second-to-last question has to do with the polluted water. I am going to test the effectiveness of the filter using a turbidity meter and by measuring biological contaminants using agar plates and software. Should I manually add contaminants to clean water? I only have 1 river near me (Catawba) which isn't that polluted.

Last one!! I want to test the effectiveness of the filter on combating waterborne diseases, but I can't use that bacteria because it's too dangerous. What bacteria should I use instead? I was thinking about E. Coli, but I want to use a cocktail of bacteria. What other bacteria can I use?

Whoops, I lied... how do you distinguish between bacteria? I heard about coloring it but I don't know the details.

Sorry for the bounty of questions...any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Please help me! I need to get this project started asap!

Please, if anyone could help me with my questions, it would be much appreciated. I was also wondering what to do if I need equipment that cost upwards of a hundred dollars. It's available on Amazon, but I don't have the budget for that.

Hi there,

This sounds like a cool project with a great real world application. I can speak to some of your questions but not all--

There are two solutions I can think of to test if you protein was washed away with the sanitizer. The first would require access to a UV/Vis spectrophotometer, which many labs have and is relatively simple to use. Proteins absorb ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 280 nm, so one way to test if your protein was washed away by the sanitizer is to test for UV light absorption in the sanitizer solution using a UV/Vis. You'd need to use a negative control, sanitizer before rinsing the filter, to see if the absorbance at 280nm increases after rinsing your filter.

The other way to test for protein is called the Biuret's test. For this you would need to purchase Biuret's reagent which goes for around $4 on Sigma Aldrich. This is a dilute mixture of Copper Sulfate and Potassium Hydroxide, so it will be important to check out the MSDS to find out about hazards, and wear the proper personal protective equipment. This is a blue solution that will undergo a color change in the presence of protein.
MSDS Biuret's Test:
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925659

As for distinguishing between bacteria there are several ways to do this, but getting a definite ID on a bacterium is a very involved process. "Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology" may be a helpful resource. There are a variety of qualitative tests that you may perform on the bacteria you have isolated-- these would be the coloring that you've heard about. It would be best if you are able to get in contact with a microbiology lab at a local university. Any microbiology lab should have access to all of the reagents you'd need to identify your bacteria. There are quite a few reagents needed, and some of the tests have more hazards involved so it would be best to work with someone else if you pursue this type of testing. Another method would simply be by observation under a microscope, since different types of bacteria will have different characteristic shapes.

Hope that helps to get you started!

Erin

Thanks so much Erin! I've been trying to contact the local university, but I keep getting referred to other numbers... Anyway, thanks for your help with the protein! That really helps a lot!

Here's a link to the Science Buddies guide "How to find a Mentor":
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... tem-mentor

This includes some specific suggestions for how to find a mentor at a university near you. Note that following the steps will take some of your time, but doing that research will be useful to you. Best of luck and be sure to let us know if these guidelines helped you to find a mentor.

Hi Madeline! I actually used those guidelines while contacting the university, but I still got no reply..

Mmm .... maybe try this - look for researchers who are doing related work, even if they're not at the closest university. If you find someone who will look at your research plan, maybe you could ask that researcher for contacts who are closer to you. Think of it as casting your net widely, hoping to find someone who knows someone local to you. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but first, someone can provide help to you just by reading your research plan and providing suggestions, so it seems worth the effort. Second, someone might help you modify your plan so you don't need the local lab, but could still have a good project. Don't give up!

You could try thoroughly sterilized (technique is easy) sand as a filter.