The usage of Peperomia pellucida to eliminate bacteria in water.Emmanuel J. Santiago Burgos | RISE Summer Bridge program UPR Cayey

Can adding Peperomia pellucida to the water eliminate the bacteria in it?Peperomia pellucida is a medicinal plant used to cleanse water of harmful chemicals and to clean the blood vessels of impurities, in this research I plan to test this plant’s effectiveness in the elimination of bacteria in water.

Background Information

• The plant known as Peperomia pellucida is a native plant in the Caribbean and South America. It is an annual herb and likes to appear in places with high humidity.

• Peperomia pellucida is used to treat different illnesses .

• The plant is cultivated on purpose for medical reasons.

• A common bacteria that can be found in water is the Legionella, that can cause a type of pneumonia known as "Legionnaires disease".

Background Information

• Most of the bacteria in water is eliminated using harmful chemicals such as Cl in water.

• Another bacteria called Coliforms are common in water.

• The U.S. General Accounting Office reports that there are serious deficiencies in water treatment plants in 75% of the states.

• Peperomia Pellucida is a natural medicinal herb that can be used in the cleansing of water from harmful substances like Chlorine.

Images

Research

• This research brings benefits to all communities specially ones that don’t count with specialized water cleansing methods.

• The results obtained from this research will be used to promote an easier and less expensive way of eliminating bacteria in water.

• I will test two types of effective plant extractions to decide which one is best for the elimination of bacteria.

Variables

Controlled variables

• One bowl labeled “A” containing untouched water with Legionella and coliform bacteria.

Independent variable

• One bowl labeled “B” which will be used to add the infusion of Peperomia pellucida.

Independent variable

• One bowl labeled “C” which will be added the soxhlet extract of the plant.

Dependent variable

• Amount of bacteria left in water.

The two extractions will eliminate bacteria.Due to Peperomia pellucida’s nature any of the two extractions should work.

Materials

Materials Quantity

Peperomia pellucida 2 cut plants for each method of extraction

Water bowls One for control and two for the experiment

Legionella and Coliforms

Soxhlet extraction kit One kit containing the necessary parts for this extraction

Hot plate One for the infusion method

Microscope One for analysis

other lab materials.

Procedure

Prepare the bowls with water and

add bacteria.

Step 1

Prepare the extractions.

Step 2

Add the extractions

to the water.

Step 3

Analyze the water from each bowl.

Step 4

Possible setbacks

• Bacteria might be resistant to the plant extract.

Future Studies

• In the future I could use more ways of extraction.

• Also, test it with different types of bacteria that are less commonly found in water.

Works Cited

• Protabase Record. (2008). Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Peperomia pellucida_En.htm

• Basic Information about Pathogens and Indicators in Drinking Water. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/pathogens.cfm

• EALTH EFFECTS OF CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2015, from http://www.pure-earth.com/chlorine.html

• Soxhlet Extraction. (n.d.). Retrieved July 5, from https://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/pdf/soxhlet4dummies.pdf