Detergent made from sawdust and water has the ability to effectively kill bacteria and viruses

The abuse of bleach can adversely affect the environment as well as the user's health. For example, the vapors emitted from chlorine bleach can be harmful to human health, or bleach containing phenols (or similar chemicals) has a high production cost, with an expensive manufacturing process. low energy.

 Bleach made from water and sawdust can remove up to 99% of bacteria.

However, the phenolic organic structures present in the wood open up new avenues. Discussing with colleagues, environmental engineer Zhang Shicheng working at Fudan University, Shanghai asked the question: what if we used sawdust to create an environmentally friendly antibacterial compound.

When the mixture of sawdust and water was boiled for an hour under high pressure and then filtered, the team tested the bactericidal ability of the finished product. In the experiment, the group targeted Staphylococcus epidermis, a bacteria that lives on the skin that can cause allergies; Another target is E. coli, which can cause gastrointestinal disease.

In certain concentrations, bleach made from water and sawdust can remove up to 99% of bacteria. The research report has been published by the team of scientists in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In testing with bacteria that cause anthrax and the virus that causes influenza, the team also got positive results. In addition, bleach also works on pathogens that are 'hibernating' waiting for time, which is difficult to destroy with many common bleaches.

Composition analysis shows that the eco-friendly detergent complex contains many phenol-like molecular structures. Presumably, the method of 'celling' sawdust with water broke the molecular bonds in the wood, releasing phenol molecules that have antibacterial properties.

Under the microscope, bleach attacks the cell walls of E. coli and S. epidermis. According to researcher Zhang, the new bleach can damage proteins and genetic material in bacteria and viruses.