| Abstract |
My project is based on whether “seaweed can be used as an antibacterial product” and how this could benefit our world and community. My first thought when starting this project was, “What is the goal I want to reach?” That goal was to create a safe and eco-friendly alternative substance that would be as effective as the antiseptic brand Dettol at sterilising surfaces. I aimed to make a strong antibacterial product that could be locally sourced and free to make using something that is accessible to people all around the world. My hypothesis is that seaweed holds antibacterial properties that can kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, which could make this project challenging. My aim was to investigate the antibacterial properties of seaweed, starting with three different species: bladderwrack, sugar kelp, and gutweed, three common seaweeds found in many coastal areas. I collected my samples in Greencastle. Throughout my research, I carried out practical work such as incubating extracts from the three seaweed types alongside 2.5% and 10% Dettol solutions for comparison. The incubation lasted 72 hours and was conducted against Staphylococcus aureus.
After 72 hours, both gutweed and bladderwrack showed very small clear zones, while both Dettol mixtures were effective, with the 2.5% solution averaging around 3.33 mm. The sugar kelp, however, produced results over three times greater, averaging around 10.66 mm. These findings suggest that sugar kelp could safely be used as an antibacterial cleaning agent. Furthermore, using seaweed in combination with spinneret technology could allow the production of fibres for medical applications such as wound healing and bandages.
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