Link to PDF of lab report:file:///C:/Users/Cat/Downloads/meltingpointreport.pdf
Title: Observing the melting ranges of mixtures of coconut oil and beeswax.
Introduction:
Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland, which significantly reduces milk production and affects about 20% of cows per year. Commercial cattle are exposed to many bacteria, being confined in a space where they make constant contact with their own feces. The specific bacteria that have been cited as causing mastitis are Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and, Escherichia coli. The disease causes a high economic impact to farmers, and also poses a risk to human health. Currently, the mainstay of treatment for this infection required the use of many different types of antibiotics, which have proven to be costly and not entirely efficient or effective.
Through the use of essential oils (tea tree, garlic, oregano, lavender and eucalyptus) as well as coconut oil and beeswax, a topical, phytogenic salve will be created in order to prevent transmission and treat dairy cows with mastitis. Tea tree oil, garlic oil, oregano oil, and eucalyptus oil are all known to have antibacterial properties that are important in treating and preventing mastitis.
A melting point test will be performed in this experiment. This will be done because our topical treatment is a lipid, and therefore can melt easily off of the cow. Different ratios of bases were produced and their melting ranges will be reported. A cow’s body temperature is reported to be 101.5°F, or 38.6° C. Our salve needs to melt after this temperature, to stay on the udder of the cow. When a cow has mastitis, the temperature raise to 104°F, or 40°C. The salve also needs to melt at a greater temperature than this, to stay on the udder when the cow has mastitis.
Materials:
Data Table 1. Shows each ratio of beeswax to coconut oil and its corresponding melting range.
Data Table 1
(At bottom of page)
Results and Discussion:
Data Table 1 shows each bases’ ratio and its melting range. The 1:2 ratio base started melting at 62°C and became totally liquid at 73°C. The 1:3 ratio base started melting at about 47°C and became totally liquid at about 71°C. The 1:2.5 ratio base started melting at about 51°C and became totally liquid at about 67°C. This shows that the best base to apply onto cows is the 1:2 ratio base. This is because a normal cow’s body temperature is 101.5°F (38.6°C). Although any base could work without melting on the cow, as the lowest starting melting temperature is 47°C, it is safest to use the base with the highest melting range. Cows with mastitis could reach body temperatures of 104°F (40°C). This is still about 20°C lower than the 1:2 ratio base, making it still the most versatile base to apply to the cow’s udders.
This data is based on the experimenter's’ perception of the base melting. When the base was observed to start to become liquid, the temperature was recorded. When the bases become liquid, the temperature was recorded and these two numbers are the melting range of the base. In Data Table 1, the temperatures all have “±2°C” because the temperatures are somewhat qualitative.
Conclusion:
The melting point test showed that a 1:2 ratio base of beeswax and coconut oil is best to use on the cow udder because it starts melting at the highest temperature, 62°±2°, and the temperature of a cow with mastitis is about 104°F (40°C). Therefore, the 1:2 ratio base is the base that will be used in the production of our salve.
Title: Observing the melting ranges of mixtures of coconut oil and beeswax.
Introduction:
Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland, which significantly reduces milk production and affects about 20% of cows per year. Commercial cattle are exposed to many bacteria, being confined in a space where they make constant contact with their own feces. The specific bacteria that have been cited as causing mastitis are Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and, Escherichia coli. The disease causes a high economic impact to farmers, and also poses a risk to human health. Currently, the mainstay of treatment for this infection required the use of many different types of antibiotics, which have proven to be costly and not entirely efficient or effective.
Through the use of essential oils (tea tree, garlic, oregano, lavender and eucalyptus) as well as coconut oil and beeswax, a topical, phytogenic salve will be created in order to prevent transmission and treat dairy cows with mastitis. Tea tree oil, garlic oil, oregano oil, and eucalyptus oil are all known to have antibacterial properties that are important in treating and preventing mastitis.
A melting point test will be performed in this experiment. This will be done because our topical treatment is a lipid, and therefore can melt easily off of the cow. Different ratios of bases were produced and their melting ranges will be reported. A cow’s body temperature is reported to be 101.5°F, or 38.6° C. Our salve needs to melt after this temperature, to stay on the udder of the cow. When a cow has mastitis, the temperature raise to 104°F, or 40°C. The salve also needs to melt at a greater temperature than this, to stay on the udder when the cow has mastitis.
Materials:
- Test tubes
- Test tube rack
- Hot plate
- 500 mL beaker
- Bases (1:2 ratio, 1:3 ratio, 1:2.5 ratio [beeswax to coconut oil])
- Test tube holder
- Label 3 test tubes 1, 2, 3. In test tube 1, fill it about ¼ of the way full with 1:2 ratio base. In test tube 2, fill it about ¼ of the way full with 1:3 ratio base. In test tube 3, fill it about ¼ of the way full with 1:2.5 ratio base.
- Turn on hot plate and place a 500 mL beaker, ¾ full of water, on the hot plate.
- Place a thermometer in the water, and keep track of the temperature, in degrees celsius.
- When the bases, are melting, observe them. Once one of them starts melting, record the temperature. This is the start of the melting range.
- Once the bases are liquid, this is the end of the melting range. Record the melting range for all bases.
Data Table 1. Shows each ratio of beeswax to coconut oil and its corresponding melting range.
Data Table 1
(At bottom of page)
Results and Discussion:
Data Table 1 shows each bases’ ratio and its melting range. The 1:2 ratio base started melting at 62°C and became totally liquid at 73°C. The 1:3 ratio base started melting at about 47°C and became totally liquid at about 71°C. The 1:2.5 ratio base started melting at about 51°C and became totally liquid at about 67°C. This shows that the best base to apply onto cows is the 1:2 ratio base. This is because a normal cow’s body temperature is 101.5°F (38.6°C). Although any base could work without melting on the cow, as the lowest starting melting temperature is 47°C, it is safest to use the base with the highest melting range. Cows with mastitis could reach body temperatures of 104°F (40°C). This is still about 20°C lower than the 1:2 ratio base, making it still the most versatile base to apply to the cow’s udders.
This data is based on the experimenter's’ perception of the base melting. When the base was observed to start to become liquid, the temperature was recorded. When the bases become liquid, the temperature was recorded and these two numbers are the melting range of the base. In Data Table 1, the temperatures all have “±2°C” because the temperatures are somewhat qualitative.
Conclusion:
The melting point test showed that a 1:2 ratio base of beeswax and coconut oil is best to use on the cow udder because it starts melting at the highest temperature, 62°±2°, and the temperature of a cow with mastitis is about 104°F (40°C). Therefore, the 1:2 ratio base is the base that will be used in the production of our salve.
Test Tube# |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Ratio (b:c) |
1:2 |
1:3 |
1:2.5 |
Start Melting (°C) |
62°±2° |
47°±2° |
51°±2° |
End Melting (°C) |
73°±2° |
71°±2° |
67°±2° |