Sphagnum+Moss+Pool+Pre-Treatment


 * =====Project Topic ===== || =====Sphagnum Moss Pool Treatment ===== ||
 * =====Chemistry concept ===== || =====-The moss supposedly controls pH and alkalinity of pools and can potentially reduce amount of phosphates.- Sphagnum moss inhibits the growth of microbes by absorbing heavy metals like iron, and it prevents the growth of biofilm, which is a corrosion-causing bacterium. ===== ||
 * =====Hypothesis ===== || =====Sphagnum Moss will purify and enhance the water quality and conditions as well as chlorine does in pools. =====

is sphagnum moss an effective way to filter bacteria in pools? What are some benefits? Downsides?
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 * =====Journal Article ===== || =====Sphagnan – a pectin-like polymer isolated from Sphagnum =====

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Antibacterial activity in sphagnum acid- " The reduction in bacterial numbers following incubation with ground leaf preparations but not the chlorite-treated holocellulose indicate that aromatic compounds are responsible for the antibacterial effect"=====

|| -1000mL water + 8 grams of nutrient broth --> heat up to 90 degrees to kill any pre-existing bacteria -heat test tubes for control nutrient broth -add bacteria to 1000mL nutrient broth solution .05 mg Cl = 10mL of bleach solution-control 5mL of bleach solution w/ sphagnum 1mL of bleach solution Sphagnum filtrations: 1.04 3.11 1.46 Counting bacteria: Diluting solution through 4 cylinders then placing on agar plate || -goggles -gloves ||
 * =====Lab Procedure ===== || Growing bacteria:
 * =====Apparatus & Chemicals Needed ===== ||  ||
 * =====Safety Information ===== || -awareness of possibly dangerous acids
 * =====Chemicals/Reaction ===== ||  ||
 * =====Other Information ===== || =====<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sphagnum moss is an all natural, biodegradable, and healthier alternative for cleaning/treating pools, it also creates a less toxic environment to swim in. Another benefit from using sphagnum moss is an end to the side effects from chlorine such as burning eyes, dry skin and hair, and the wearing out of swim suit fabrics. =====

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It has also been used with wound healing because its antimicrobial.
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serena's Journal:[] =====

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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Summary: This lab explored the antibacterial activity in acids using the catalyst of sphagnum. Sphagnum is believed to be made up of phenolic compounds. The question that was answered was give certain circumstances, what bacteria fighting properties did sphagnum have? Some variables that were used included the pH of the solution as well as temperature. Through observation it was determined whether the acids were filtered through diffusion or by other means. In conclusion, aromatic compounds were found responsible for the reduction of bacteria, meaning sphagnums phenolic structure contributes greatly to it's antibacterial activity. (Hardy) =====

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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maria's Journal 1: @http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf9/pdf/2009/2VJ/01Mar09/36433461.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=36433461&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeprc4yNfsOLCmr0qep65Sr6u4SbWWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGutkuyqrJMuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA =====

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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Summary: It explored the antibacterial and pH buffering abilities of an extract from Sphagnum moss called Sphagnan. The results illustrated that sphagnan in its acid form prevents food from spoiling which can cause food poisoning. The extract was also compared to the antibacterial effects of three other acids. The results showed that Sphagnan pH was similar to that of Hydrochloric acid. Though sphagnan is “antimicrobial polysaccharide” found in the leaves of Sphagnum moss, it helps to understand the practical uses of the plant. (Stalheim) =====

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maria's Journal 2: []


 * Summary:** This journal explains that research has shown that peat moss, another name for sphagnum moss, may be helpful in the treatment of water contaminated by metals, such as chromium in this case. The main question asked was whether or not Chromium contaminated waters may be treated with peat moss. Sphagnum moss was tested for the continuous absorption of hexavalent chromium, a harmful metal in which exposure may cause skin, eye, and respiratory damage to humans. Results showed that the chromium was mostly adsorbed at a pH level of 2-2.5 and a rate of 80 milliliters per minute.

APA citation:

Sharma, D. C. Forster, C.F (1995). Column studies into the adsorption of chromium (vi) using sphagnum moss peat. //Science Direct//, //52//(3), 261-267. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/096085249500035D

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">APA Citation: S.P. Hardy, et al. "Antibacterial Activity Of Sphagnum Acid And Other Phenolic Compound Found In Sphagnum Papillosum Against Food-Borne Bacteria." Letter in Applied Microbiology 49.1 (2009): 85-90. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Jan. 2012.

Stalheim, T. T., Ballance, S. S., Christensen, B. E., & Granum, P. E. (2009). Sphagnan – a pectin-like polymer isolated from Sphagnum moss can inhibit the growth of some typical food spoilage and food poisoning bacteria by lowering the pH. Journal Of Applied Microbiology, 106(3), 967-976. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04057.x

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Keywords: sphagnum moss, chlorine, nutrient broth, agar, quantitative, qualitative || Introduction:
 * ||  || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sphagnum Moss, an effective pool filtration media? Serena Hodges. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The purpose of this lab is to test various combinations of sphagnum moss and chlorine to prove which is the most effective. The determined amount of effective chlorine served as a variable. It was found that approximately 10 mL of chlorine was the most effective amount in getting rid of bacteria. By cutting that amount in half, sphagnum moss was used as an alternative to 5mL of chlorine. There was no amount of sphagnum moss found that was proven the most effective, but logically the more moss the less bacteria grew. Methods used in obtaining results included growing bacteria in nutrient broth followed by making chlorine solutions and/or filtering bacteria through sphagnum moss. In order to count the bacteria solutions, they were diluted 4 times over after 24 hours and then spread on agar nutrient plates. However, this method proved inaccurate because agar didn’t provide quantitative results but rather a visual representation of the bacteria growth. The only way the bacteria could be interpreted is through quantitative data rather than qualitative.
 * ||  || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sphagnum Moss, an effective pool filtration media? Serena Hodges. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The purpose of this lab is to test various combinations of sphagnum moss and chlorine to prove which is the most effective. The determined amount of effective chlorine served as a variable. It was found that approximately 10 mL of chlorine was the most effective amount in getting rid of bacteria. By cutting that amount in half, sphagnum moss was used as an alternative to 5mL of chlorine. There was no amount of sphagnum moss found that was proven the most effective, but logically the more moss the less bacteria grew. Methods used in obtaining results included growing bacteria in nutrient broth followed by making chlorine solutions and/or filtering bacteria through sphagnum moss. In order to count the bacteria solutions, they were diluted 4 times over after 24 hours and then spread on agar nutrient plates. However, this method proved inaccurate because agar didn’t provide quantitative results but rather a visual representation of the bacteria growth. The only way the bacteria could be interpreted is through quantitative data rather than qualitative.

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Various studies regarding sphagnum moss have been performed as to whether it is an effective bacteria eradicator. Through these studies, sphagnum moss proved to be an environmentally friendly alternative to excessive use of chlorine. The use of sphagnum moss in pools cuts the use of chlorine in half (cite), so harsh chemicals don’t have to be used as much. This lab explores to what extent moss is effective and what is the most effective ratio of sphagnum moss to chlorine to kill bacteria. According to Unicef chlorination processes, it takes about.5mg/L of chlorine to be effective in the filtering process. It was then found that an alternative to the use of chlorine in the lab is sodium hypochlorite found in bleach. By measuring out various levels of chlorine and then measuring out a second set of the same chlorine and filtering that set through sphagnum moss beforehand, the results will include varying amount of bacteria. =====

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3. Measure 5 ml of bleach, 25 ml of water, 10 ml of bacteria, and approximately 1 gram of sphagnum moss for the filtration of bacteria. Cover each beaker with aluminum foil and record all measurements of each beaker. =====

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5. After 24 hours, use plastic pipette to put a small sample of each beaker into an agar dish and then spread the liquid around the dish with a sterilized glass rod. Sterilize the glass rod by dipping it in a dish of methanol and then holding it over the Bunsen burner. =====

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6. Then dilute a 1 ml sample of each beaker into four smaller beakers filled with 100 ml of water. After dropping the 1 ml sample into the first beaker, mix the new beaker and take a new sample from the previous small beaker and repeat until the last beaker is diluted. =====


 * Filters: || Beaker 1 || Beaker 2 || Beaker 3 ||
 * Bleach (ml) || 10 || 10 || 5 ||
 * Water (ml) || 25 || 25 || 25 ||
 * Bacteria (ml) || 10 || 10 || 10 ||
 * Sphagnum Moss (g) || none || 3.11 || 1.04 ||


 * SPHAGNUM MOSS AS AN EFFECTIVE POOL TREATMENT ** . **Maria Aguilar.** Due to the practical applications of Sphagnum moss in healing wounds, and the research in its abilities to buffer, absorb, and potentially filter water, the question of this lab was whether or not this moss could be used in pool treatment to reduce the amount of chlorine. The purpose of this experiment was not only to find the effectiveness of sphagnum moss in filtering water and but to determine which ratio of chlorine to sphagnum moss inhibits the growth of bacteria the most. Thus the ratio of sphagnum moss to chlorine acted as a variable. Through the process of dilution, three 1 ml samples of filtered broth, chlorine, and water mixtures were diluted four times and then placed in agar dishes and left to grow over night. It was concluded that the greater amount of sphagnum moss used in filtration yielded less bacterial growth, however, no specific ratio of chlorine to sphagnum demonstrated the ideal effectiveness in preventing growth completely. The method of using agar dishes allowed for visual representation of the bacterial growth but failed to provide quantitative data on which to base concrete evidence.

Key words: Sphagnum, buffer, chlorine, nutrient broth, dilution, agar, quantitative.