Week nine: fiber count

 Happy ninth week of the Fall semester!

Last Friday, the team and I analyzed our glass filters underneath UV light and the dissecting microscope. Splitting the glass filters into four quadrants, we counted the visible fibers- my stage (4) contained seven visible fibers. 

Later this week, we plan to dye half of the glass filter with Nile Red to distinguish amongst the microplastics more efficiently while placing the other half in the FTIR machine. 

We were also able to look at the biological contaminants in the collected wastewater thanks to Dr. Cotter's BIO181 class, who placed their diluted filters on Petri dishes. 

The smaller tuna-colored plates are specific to gram-negative bacteria (the agar type is known as E. Coli Coliform agar- ECC abbreviation.) This media type is essential when in regard to wastewater- since intestinal bacteria will be present. Pink or violet colonies indicate E. Coli; other coliforms will be blue, and non-coliform will be beige-tan. 

The larger plates are TSA media, which permits the growth of all bacteria types. 

I attached photos of the fibers I noticed as well as the Petri dishes. :)