Soap Salt Repeat by byronco

Creating an Anti-Microbial Biomaterial with Salt

by Byron Co

Table of Contents Abstract

Intro Case no. 5 My Work Setup Surface Design Hygiene

03 05 06 07

Chapter 1.0 - A Salty Situation Endangered Surfaces Fomite Transmission Breaking the Chain High Touch Surfaces Nasty Shakers Salt vs Microbes

12 14 15 17 18 19

Chapter 2.0 - Material Testing 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6

Incorruptibility Death by Osmosis Inexhaustibility Interdependency Salt + Bioplastics Salt + Textile Imprintability Integrity Integratability

25 27 29 33 35 41 43 45 51

Chapter 3.0 - Hygienic Habits Interview with Sophia Adolph A Global Survey on Salt & Sanitation

55 59

Chapter 4.0 - Soap Salt Shakers Product Concept - Habitat & Habit Product Development Protoypes Sketch Identity Ingredients Clear Glycerine Soap Base Recipe Moulding Soap Salt Shaker

67 68 71 72 75 76 77 78 79

Chapter 5.0 - Conclusion Reflection Sustainability Potential

83 85 87

Citations

01. Coarse Sea Salt

Have you ever imagined life without salt? Me neither. Salt is a material essentially found on almost all dining tables or spice racks all over the world. However, many are not aware of the significant role it played in shaping life as we know it today. Ever since early human beings started to preserve fish and mummies, salt and its anti- microbial properties have been utilised for millennia. Contrary to ancient belief, salt does not have super powers, nor can it dispel evil spirits. However, it does possess chemical properties that prevent bacteria or viruses from growing amid its presence. Superstitious beliefs about salt's anti-bacterial abilities have withstood the test of time.Â In 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic changed the conversation on current hygienic habits and societal interactions. As of the writing of this text, the virus has infected over 37 million and killed more than a million human beings, prompting everybody to seek out solutions for the new normal. Many solutions were suggested, including one with a saline solution and its capability to kill the novel Coronavirus. My journey with salt started with an exploration of its potential use as a material for design, which eventually evolved into a mission of reshaping salt for safer human-surface interactions in a growing global pandemic.

One January afternoon during a lunch break in a Bavarian car parts company, an employee asked a colleague to pass the salt shaker. Without knowing that a deadly virus would also be passed along, the employee would later be known as Coronavirus Case no. 5 in Germany.01 Nobody would have guessed that a simple salt shaker would play a large role in the first of the many COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe. This outbreak would act as a learning curve for the German government as it initiated early contact tracing efforts, preparing the country for the succeeding larger outbreaks.

“Reich das S herüb - Coronavirus Case no. 5, Germany

01 Böhmer, M. M., Buchholz, U., Corman, V. M., Hoch, M., Katz, K., Marosevic, D. V., . . . Zapf, A. (2020). Investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak in Germany resulting from a single travel-associated primary case: A case series. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30314-5

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02.

h mir Salz ber! â&#x20AC;?

When the news of the small outbreak in Bavaria broke out, I was in the middle of my salt exploration at KISD — a series of experimentations on salt’s malleability as a design material. However, increasing Corona cases prompted nation-wide quarantine measures, which forced me to move my experiments at home. Under home isolation, I immersed myself in multiple concepts to use salt in many ways — from flake salt making to crystallisation experiments. Hardly any day passes where salt does not enter our lives or bodies, not to mention mine during this time period. Using salt in gastronomical ways, such as salting food and seasoning has become common place in our daily diets, to a point where people over-consume the product, or even worse, become addicted to it.

03. Schreibraum at the Köln International School of Design

04. Home Setup

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Certain habitual quirks have also developed within the salt realm. Manners and habits have adjusted to our ever-growing socially interactive personas. From asking someone politely to pass the salt, to salting food unconsciously despite not taking that first bite, these natural habits occurring in a germ-infested world will raise the question of hygienic practices - How can we control these urges and stay germfree?

The salt shaker that served as a vehicle for virus transmission points to an interesting aspect on the object’s surface and its attraction to microbes. Glass and steel, which are the materials that usually make up shaker bodies, are one of the surfaces that host viruses and bacteria the longest, meanwhile, some materials such as copper and paper, do not seem to attract microbes as much as the former examples. I aim to test materials throughout my salt study, aiming to find a tangible surface solution against viral transmission. Sharklet02, a material that mimics shark’s skin and its ability to repel microbes, is one example of a surface designed to prevent the growth and spread of certain bacteria. Since nature is designed from eras of trying, testing, and adapting, biomimicry has been a proven method to solve modern human-centric problems, another good example is Japan’s Kingfisher-inspired bullet train.03 Since salt has anti-microbial properties, a surface designed with the substance may prove useful both for itself and humans.

02 Inspired by Nature The Discovery of Sharklet. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sharklet.com/our-technology/sharklet-discovery/ 03 The Kingfisher and the bullet train – In the news. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www. gtac.edu.au/the-kingfisher-and-the-bullet-train-in-the-news/

05.

Aside from surface design, I will also tackle hygiene as it plays a huge role in sustaining the work done by anti-microbial surfaces. Regulations set by the authorised governing bodies on health and hygiene, mainly the World Health Organisation, are constantly releasing and updating scientific findings on methods to combat current threats to human health. Without observing proper hygiene, such as hand-washing, humans will still risk viral transmission and infection, since not all surfaces can be designed to be bacteria-free. As physical distancing might prove to be difficult for some humans to religiously practice, good hygiene can serve as a major catalyst in preventing another pandemic to occur.

06. Dried Agar with Salt

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Chapter 1.0

A Salty Situation

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“The surfaces we touch in our daily routine can be a vector of transmission.” - Larrouy-Maumus, Infectious Disease Researcher at Imperial College London

12 07. Copper (Image from Unsplash)

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08. Cardboard

09. Plastic (Image from Unsplash)

10. Steel (Image from Unsplash)

11. Ceramics (Image from Unsplash)

12. Glass (Image from Unsplash) COVID-19 Survivability on Surfaces: Copper

up to 4 Hours

Cardboard

up to 24 Hours

Steel

up to 2-3 Days

Plastic

up to 3-7 Days

Ceramics

up to 7 Days

Glass

up to 7 Days

(Doremalen et. al, 2020); (Liu, Y et. al, 2020)

Endangered Surfaces On April 2020, the New England Journal published a study on the survivability of the Coronavirus on different surfaces in a controlled laboratory testing. The virus was able to live on copper for up to 4 hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours and 3 days on plastic and steel.04 A more recent study in May of the same year by microbiologists in Beijing found that the Coronavirus could survive and remain infectious on smooth surfaces like plastic, glass, and ceramics for up to 7 days.05 Researchers highly recommend to constantly disinfect high contact surfaces with at least 70% alcohol solutions to rid them of germs. Once in personal contact with infected surfaces, hand-washing is the next step to prevent the virus from entering any open membranes in the body. “Hand washing is important not only for fomite transmission, but also for person-to-person transmission,” advised by Dr. Daniel Winetsky, a postdoctoral fellow in the division of infectious diseases at Columbia University.06 Understanding the relationship of certain surfaces with microbes will help us design a better and safer environment for humans.

04 Doremalen, N. V., Bushmaker, T., Morris, D., Holbrook, M., Gamble, A., Williamson, B., . . . Munster, V. (2020). Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1. doi:10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217 05 Liu, Y., Li, T., Deng, Y., Liu, S., Zhang, D., Li, H., . . . Li, J. (2020). Stability of SARS-CoV-2 on environmental surfaces and in human excreta. doi:10.1101/2020.05.07.20094805 06 Parker-pope, T. (2020, May 28). What’s the Risk of Catching Coronavirus From a Surface? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/well/live/whats-the-risk-ofcatching-coronavirus-from-a-surface.html

13.

On average, you come in contact with 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing you to 840,000 germs - 2011 Tork Report07

07â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Tork USA (2011). Tork Report 2011. Retrieved from https://www.torkusa.com/downloads

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Fomite Transmission Fomite transmission of a virus, or indirect human to human transmission of a virus through an inanimate object08, is not the primary cause of pandemic-size infection rates. However, it is still a possible way to catch a deadly virus. Case in point: the salt shaker incident in Bavaria.09 The risk of infection lessens in this method of virus-transmission since there is a long chain of events and decrease of microbial count through time on the object’s surface.10 “The last step in that causal chain is touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hand, so the best way to make sure the chain is broken is washing your hands.” as explained by Julia Marcus, an infectious disease epidemiologist and assistant professor in the department of population medicine at Harvard Medical School.11 Despite the low-risk involved, we should remain cautious with objects we touch and the necessary proper hygiene.

08 Beery, B. (2020, June 22). Study brings fomites' role in COVID-19 transmission to light. Retrieved from https://www.optometrytimes.com/view/study-brings-fomites-role-in-covid19-transmission-to-light 09 Böhmer, M. M., Buchholz, U., Corman, V. M., Hoch, M., Katz, K., Marosevic, D. V., . . . Zapf, A. (2020). Investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak in Germany resulting from a single travel-associated primary case: A case series. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. doi:10.1016/ s1473-3099(20)30314-5 10 Parker-pope, T. (2020, May 28). What’s the Risk of Catching Coronavirus From a Surface? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/well/live/whats-the-risk-ofcatching-coronavirus-from-a-surface.html 11 Renwick, D. (2020, April 04). How long does coronavirus live on different surfaces? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/04/how-long-does-coronavirus-live-on-different-surfaces

i vo

sc ep

tib

Infectious Microbe

Chain of Infection rt

al tr

of y Mode of Transmission

14. Infection Chain Chart Adapted from Van de Mortel, T. (2020)

Breaking the Chain By understanding the movement cycle of a virus from one infected indiviual to another, we can better identify the weakest link on the chain, in other words: the target area for possible interception. For the novel Coronavirus, human beings are the reservoirs, meanwhile the main modes of transmission are droplets, either through direct person-person or indirect (fomite or airborne) contact.12 Until a vaccine is made available, the most effective way to break this cycle of infection is through effective infection control. Preventing the virus from entering susceptible hosts by identifying the specific virus’ main mode of transmission. In the case of COVID-19, physical distancing, correct face mask etiquette, and proper hand hygiene are just some of the effective measures against the spread of the virus.13 12 Pooladanda, V., Thatikonda, S., & Godugu, C. (2020). The current understanding and potential therapeutic options to combat COVID-19. Life sciences, 254, 117765. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117765 13 Van de Mortel, T. (2020, July 15). We could have more coronavirus outbreaks in tower blocks. Here’s how lockdown should work. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/ we-could-have-more-coronavirus-outbreaks-in-tower-blocks-heres-how-lockdownshould-work-142297

With population density and international travel rapidly increasing, the COVID-19 Pandemic illustrated the importance of breaking the infection chain early on in an epidemic, which greatly affects the number of cases in a given population.

Infected Person

Self-Quarantine Social Distancing Proper Hygiene Face Masks

15. Broken Chain of Transmission Adapted from Dr, Hanage’s Transmission Tree

14 Roberts, S. (2020, March 19). You Can Help Break the Chain of Transmission. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-distancing-transmission.html

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As explained by Dr. Hanage & Dr. Jenkins in a NYT interview, “It’s really instructive to compare what happened in Wuhan and what happened in Guangzhou. In Wuhan, they shut down when they had 495 cases in a city that is roughly the size of New York. In neighboring Guangzhou, by contrast, they took action when there were seven cases. The epidemic curve in Guangzhou was completely manageable. As we all know, in Wuhan it was absolutely catastrophic.”14

High Touch Surfaces

Nasty Shakers

High Touch Surfaces are high-traffic areas that get handled frequently by yourself or numerous individuals. From smartphones to elevator buttons, constant cleaning can only disinfect it for a certain amount of time until the next fomite transmission occurs. A series of experiments revealed that 86% of workers in an office space were contaminated with a spray tracer. The glowing powder of the tracer was placed on high touch surfaces in an office setting, such as doorknobs and bathroom faucet handles. Upon inspection, they found the powder residue on employee’s hands, faces, phones, and hair. They even traced it all the way to the people’s households where it can be found on computers, light switches, appliances, among other things.15

A study published by ABC News and the University of Arizona tested surfaces in 12 different restaurants in three different US states for germs. They found out that salt and pepper shakers are among the most dirtiest objects that harbour microbes on their surfaces. To be more specific, pepper shakers accumulated a 11,600 organism-count, which is six times more than an average toilet seat in a public restroom.16 “These are objects you’re going to touch that can serve as vehicles that are transmitting micro organisms that can potentially make you ill,” as explained by Dr. Charles Gerba. Being in a place where you eat can also pose a threat for possible ingestion of these microbes. Another study from the University of Virginia found out that salt and pepper shakers are hotbeds for the rhinovirus. They asked 16 sick test subjects to name household objects they had contact with in the preceding 18 hours, three of whom mentioned salt and pepper shakers, which all resulted to be positive for the virus.17 Salt and pepper shakers in restaurants and homes rarely get disinfected with alcohol or soap. Most of the time, they only get wiped down after appearing dirty on the surface. The shakers are also in contact with multiple individuals most likely during mealtime, a time when surface to hand, and then hand to mouth transmissions are likely to take place, increasing the risk the surfaces on shakers pose to human health.

16 Leamy, E., & Weber, V. (2010, January 27). Dining Out? Do You Know Which Restaurant Tabletop Item Is ... Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/ eating-tabletop-item-germier-toilet-seat/story?id=12093016 15 Reynolds, K. A., Watt, P. M., Boone, S. A., & Gerba, C. P. (2005). Occurrence of bacteria and biochemical markers on public surfaces. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 15(3), 225-234. doi:10.1080/09603120500115298

17 University of Virginia. (2008, December 16). Researchers identify hot spots for cold germs. University News. Retrieved from https://uvamagazine.org/articles/december_2008_e-newsletter_university_news/

16.

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A study tested a restaurant shaker, which had 11,600 microorganisms on its surface, more than a public toilet seat.

Salt vs Microbes From civil wars to royal monopolies, salt is not only the building block of many human diets but also modern human cities. The value from this salty substance stems from its ability to repel microbes. “Salt is not worm- eaten”, as an ancient Arabian proverb describes its imperishability.18 The ancient Egyptians were the first to use salt for its food preservation potential. Sodium can draw the moisture out of food and microorganisms, making it possible to store food for long periods of time.19 Salt has carved out a significant role from early medicine and superstitions to modern medicine. Blood, sweat, skin, eyes, and tears all contain sodium chloride, which helps it develop anti-bacterial resistance.20

18 Ritz, E. (1996). The history of salt—aspects of interest to the nephrologist. Nephrol Dial Transplant , 11(6), 969–975. Retrieved from www.academic.oup.com/ndt/article-abstract/11/6/969/1819735 19 Butler, S. (2013, January 10). Off the Spice Rack: The Story of Salt. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/off-the-spice-rack-the-story-of-salt#:~:text=The Egyptians were the first,for extended periods of time.&text=Even well into American history, destinies were decided by salt. 20 Wormer EJ. Salz in der Medizin. In: Treml M, Jahn W, Brockhoff E (eds.): Salz Macht Geschichte (Collection of essays and catalogue). Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte, Augsburg, 1995, p. 48-55

17. Salt Crystallized on Cotton Textile with Spirulina as Colouring

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During the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic, Hyo-Jick Choi, a biomedical engineer and professor at the University of Alberta in Canada developed a salt coating for masks that can allegedly neutralize viruses in 5 minutes. The coating, which is still undergoing further testing upon the writing of this text, uses saltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crystallization phenomenon to pierce and eventually kill the deadly microorganism.21

Which begs us to question...

18. Sea Salt Sprinkled on Face Mask

21â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Quan, F., Rubino, I., Lee, S., Koch, B., & Choi, H. (2017). Universal and reusable virus deactivation system for respiratory protection. Scientific Reports, 7(1). doi:10.1038/ srep39956

What if we take the salt...

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and put it on the shakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface?

Chapter 2.0

Material Testing

A series of six experiments, which tests salt overall potential as a material. All experiments were done in a household kitchen setting in a 3-month period. Materials were sourced online and the supermarket, making the end product attainable by the ordinary individual. Further improvements to this study can be made with the consideration of professional facilities.

2.1 Incorruptibility What makes salt anti-microbial?

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19. Agar Petri Dish, without (left) and without (right) Salt, swabbed with saliva from mouth, 2 weeks in same conditions.

To test saltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anti-microbial properties, I left a petri dish with Agar, swabbed with saliva sample from my own mouth. The dishes were left in a bathroom under low light and room temperature. After one week, bacteria started to show up in the sample without salt (left in image above), meanwhile sample with salt remains clear of germs with some salt crystallization on the surface. This proves the theory that salt can resist certain microbial growth. It is also well-known among researchers and scientist to avoid sodium in bacteria culture.

Microbes

Salt Water

Death by Osmosis Sodium chloride, or table salt, can kill non-halophobic microbes22, meaning they are not salt-tolerant. Bacteria or viruses contain water, which is sucked out by salt through the process of osmosis. Water passes out of the cell walls to balance the salt concentration inside and outside of the cell. Without water, the microorganism eventually dies. This is why salt baths and seawater has been observed to effectively cleanse skin wounds, infections, and certain skin diseases.

22â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Davies, E. (n.d.). Why does salt have antibacterial properties? Retrieved from https:// www.sciencefocus.com/nature/why-does-salt-have-antibacterial-properties/#:~:text=Salt kills some types of,side of its cell membrane.

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20. Evaporated Sea Salt in glass container

2.2 Inexhaustibility How much of the mineral can we cultivate?

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21. Salt Growth, Day 01

22. Salt Growth, Day 03

23. Salt Growth, Day 05

24. Salt Growth, Day 06

The 8-day experiment concluded that sea salts dissolved in distilled water formed the sturdiest flake salt, meanwhile Pink Himalayan Salt is not an ideal candidate for flake salt making as the minerals that give it its colour separates from Sodium Chloride crystals once the water fully evaporates. Flake salt making is a method that can be used to form larger pieces of crystals for surfaces. It is also a way to recycle and purify salt that has been used in different production methods. 25. Salt Growth, Day 08

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26. Evaporated Sea Salt Flake

2.3 Interdependency How does salt coexist with different materials?

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The third experiment involves mulitple experiments dealing with various materials hypothesized to coexist with salt. The formulas were tried and tested over a 2-month long period, which allowed me to get some insights into how salt affects different surfaces.

27. Corn Bioplastic wrapped around a salt shaker,

Salt + Bioplastics As salt itself is a natural renewable mineral, I incorporated it with biodegradable and bio-based bioplastics, or plastics created from non-petrochemical processes which can ultimately naturally degrade in the envionment.23 These materials are made from biomass products, such as corn, cellulose, or algae. I started by mixing salt and agar, otherwise known as gelatine made from algae. The results showed dried agar with salt developed less shrinkage and a white salty crust on the surface, making it more brittle.

27. Dried agar with (left) and without (right) salt.

23â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Bioplastics. (2020, April 15). Retrieved from https://www.european-bioplastics.org/bioplastics/

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Recipe: Distilled Water

1dl

Agar

15g

Fine Sea Salt

5g // 0g

Mix ingredients in almost boiling water until dissolved. Cut in rectanguar shapes. Dry out Agar on non-stick surface for about one week. Agar with salt will have more salt crystals on the surface will show up if left out longer.

28. More experiments with Salt + Algae. Spirulina was added to add colours to the materials

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The most successful samples I produced included glycerine, a plasticizer in bioplastic formulas, thereby making the salt biofilms thinner and more flexible. After cooking the mixture looked like any other biofilm. It was until the film dried out when salt crystals started forming, giving it a whiter and more opaque appearance. Spirulina was also added as a colourant.

29. Salt + Algae Biofilm 1

Recipe: Distilled Water

40ml

Agar

Fine Sea Salt

Glycerine

5ml

Green Spirulina

One Pinch

Mix ingredients (except spirulina) in almost boiling water until dissolved. Spread out mixture on a non-stick surface. Sprinkle spirulina powder for colour. Biofilm will dry out in one week.

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30. Salt + Algae Biofilm 2

Revised Recipe: Distilled Water

40ml

Agar

Fine Sea Salt

Glycerine

5ml

Green Spirulina

One Pinch

Mix ingredients (except spirulina) in almost boiling water until dissolved. Spread out mixture on a non-stick surface. Sprinkle spirulina powder and press on biofilm. The green powder turned blue, most likely from contact with my finger, after 2 days. Biofilm will dry out in one week.

Salt + Textile To make a sturdier material out of salt, I also explored textiles to give it a good surface area to grow on. Salt crystallizes from saline solutions after all the water evaporates. Textile proved to be a good surface which can aid in water evaporation because of its absorbency. The recipe for this method is simple as the results varies only with time. More water in the saline solution, means the longer period before cystallization, which does not affect observable appearance of salt crystals. Natural dyes can also be added, in this case Turmeric powder was used. This experiment was inspired by the theory proposed by Dr. Choi from the University of Alberta.24 I wanted to merge salt and textile together as a possible material for face masks during a pandemic.

31. Farming salt crystals on white cotton textiles

24 â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Quan, F., Rubino, I., Lee, S., Koch, B., & Choi, H. (2017). Universal and reusable virus deactivation system for respiratory protection. Scientific Reports, 7(1). doi:10.1038/ srep39956

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32. Sea salt encrusted white cotton textile, coloured with Turmeric powder.

2.4 Imprintability How can salt be applied to current design methods?

34. White cotton textile dyed with turmeric and salt- and algae-resist method. Washed.

Coming from experimenting with salt and textiles, I seeked to explore it further by finding a method to control the design of the end product. I managed to make patterns from a mixture of agar and salt. The solution was dissolved and gently poured on the fabric to harden, after two hours dyes were then poured on the fabric. The salt was able to help in forming cleaner shapes and lines since it was able to absorb the liquid dye while it was drying. One problem with using natural dyes was the colour loss that occured after hand-washing the material. Salt-resist dyeing is already a technique common practiced. However, the use of algae in forming the resist patterns may be a more sustainable alternative as the materials can be washed away without the fear of toxic water pollution. The result perfectly captures salt's ability to absorb moisture. The same phenomenon that happens when bacteria is killed through osmosis. However as surface prone to bacteria, textiles would need to be sanitised regularly. Loss of colour from the salt-resist method washes away the concept of salt as a material.

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33. White cotton textile dyed with black ink and salt- and algae-resist method. Unwashed.

2.5 Integrity How can we make salt stable and controllable?

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35. Cotton textile structure crystallized over sea salt and water mixture.

The fifth experiment involves the control of salt tomake it more durable and useable. Different materials were experimented with and rated based on their useability & physical integrity.Through this experimention, I learned that salt can grow on almost all surfaces.

36. Jute weave crystallized over sea salt, spirulina and water mixture.

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36. Paper structure crystallized over sea salt, spirulina and water mixture.

The structural integrity of crystallized salt alone is not strong enough to be useable. However, if left long enough in open air, the salt can take over the whole structure, coating every corner, given that the surface is absorbent enough. It can be seen on the paper structure that the height and thickness of the material had an effect on the growth potential. Salt wasn't able to grow beyond a certain point because the paper could not absorb the solution high enough. The experiments gave me the idea of exploring materials that can encase salt. A substance that should control the natural parasitic tendencies of salt to prevent over- or under-crystallization.

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37. Paper mache structure crystallized over sea salt and water mixture.

2.6 Integrability What is the ideal material to integrate with salt?

38. Coarse Sea Salt in Clear Glycerine Soap (First Material Testing with Soap)

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Salt + Soap While doing experiments under pandemic circumstances, proper sanitation was a constant trending topic. After my salty experiments, I was always washing my hands, which then inspired me to combine salt and soap. I found out that ordinary bar soap contains glycerine, a humectant, a substance that draws in moisture. It mirrors salt's parasitic tendencies to suck moisture out of most things it comes in contact with. On the contrary, microbes can live on soap's suface. However, studies have shown that transmission of these microbes is highy unlikely. Soap also gives salt a habitat which does not instigate extensive crystallization, a phenomenon that makes salt grow out of control. This can be evidenced by sea salt soap bars that people use for wellness uses. As both substances have abilities to repel germs, I will combine them to create objects that can prevent another Case no. 5 from happening again in the future.

Chapter 3.0

Hygienic Habits

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After discovering the material ideal for an anti-bacterial surface that inhibits fomite transmission, I researched occurrence when bacteria is forcibly transferred to the surface. What role does hand hygiene play in viral transmissions? I interviewed and conducted surveys to understand good hygiene and its current state in society, which will be applied to the final product development phase.

Inter view with Sophia Adolph M.Sc. Psychologie Psychologische Psychotherapeutin Praxis Pommersheim fĂźr Psychotherapie und Coaching

At the height of the Corona Pandemic, I interviewed Sophia Adolph, a psychotherapist based in Cologne, Germany to understand the psychological aspect behind hygiene and habits at a critical point of an ongoing global pandemic.

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- Start of Interview -

Hey Sophia, for my Bachelor's Thesis, I wanted to get a psychotherapist's point of view on salt, hygiene, and everything in between. From learning about salt and its history, many cultures have developed superstitions on how salt can cleanse or disinfect the body, spirit, food, among other things. Many are heavily rooted in science but other beliefs are proven as myths (ie. Pink Himalayan Lamps against negative energy) What aspects of human psychology comes into play here? When it comes to myths or even superstitions, the reason why people have them is often the sense of control they gain by it and being able to have an explanation for things you might otherwise not be able to. Myths give meaning to things we cannot understand and cannot control. This could mean the following regarding the example of the lamps you gave me: By thinking and believing a lamp could help me against bad energy, that person might feel relief and a sense of control ("I have that lamp and whenever I feel I need more good energy I can turn it on or look at it"). It offers them a way to cope with uncontrollable or unpredictable negative events and feelings in life.

57 BC

Are there any psychological explanations to germophobia (fear of germs)? What are the triggers, treatments, and coping mechanisms that helped develop this fear among people?

About mysophobia (or germophobia, as you described it): Phobias develop generally through a combination of classical and operant conditioning (see "Zwei-Faktoren-Theorie by Mowrer for more information). By learning that a certain thing is dangerous, a certain stimlus gets connected to a response (for example: a dog bites a child, the child screams and ... connects the pain with the dog). This is the classical conditioning. This connecting is strengthened and held upright by operant conditioning (e.g. the child later hears a random dog bark, feels stress and anxiety and decides to run away. By avoiding the encounter, the child experiences relief and a confirmation of their phobic belief: "I need to avoid dogs to prevent pain"). The same principle works for any kind of phobia (spiders, heights, germs etc.). Treatment involves a combination of cognitive techniques (e.g. questioning and reframing said phobic beliefs) and exposure therapy (confronting the feared stimlus). In this case you would work and developing more helpful cognitions regarding germs (e.g. "It is highly unlikely that I will die if I tough the dirty kitchen counter") and actually exposure yourself to potential germs (e.g. touching the dirty kitchen counter without washing your hands for a while).

58 BC

While on the topic of fear, given the current pandemic, how will the societal psyche evolve with dirty surfaces?

Thank you for the insights and please stay safe!

- End of Interview -

Interview Findings Hand-washing is an important hygienic habit that helps us develop a sense of control in a world full of bacteria and viruses. In the case of COVID-19, the situation with the salt shaker in the Bavarian company could have been prevented if the persons involved observed proper hand hygiene. On the other hand, salt and soap as materials could have prevented fomite transmission. The interview reinforced salt and soap as anti-bacterial materials.

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It is hard to say how society will be affected by the pandemic. I can only make assumptions. It is likely that we will see a rise in mental illness in the next couple of years (depression, OCD, PTSD, anxiety disorders such as phobias, see "Deutsches Ă&#x201E;rzteblatt" for more information, they recently published a study about this). I doubt that the mandatory masks will stay (I can only speak for Germany in this case), since I think that the human need for autonomy and control is a very important basic instinct and people will demand getting back to "the old normal" in this case. But I do believe that the pandemic will have changed the way we teach our kids about germs in school and about the proper way to wash your hands. Maybe there will be more awereness regarding "dirty surfaces", but I highly doubt that society in general will suffer from mysophobia.

A Global Survey on Salt & Sanitation - 100 online respondents from 34 different countries across 6 continents

To understand the general views on salt and sanitation during a pandemic, I asked young people from the ages of 34 and under about salt, hygiene, and anything in between. The online survey was created to gain some insights from the general population.

60 Do you like salt or salty foods?

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

39. Salty Preference

At what point of a meal do you wash your hands?

39. Hand Hygiene

Can you pass me the salt?

40. Pass the Salt

Based on your culture growing up, how wa

41. Salt & Culture

as salt perceived/used? Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

Survey Findings The online survey reinforced my theory on the general view on salt. Many people love to use salt, despite being aware of the risks of consuming too much of it. Salt was used to Regarding hygiene, people also wash their prior to eating. Contamination during a meal is still a case to take note of. Respondents would also willingly pass me (a stranger) the salt shaker even given a "physical distancing" option. Note: these are just excerpts. Please contact me for a full copy of the survey results: <byrnandco@gmail. com>

Coarse Sea Salt + Agar Agar + Clear Glycerine Soap

Coarse Sea Salt + Activated Charcoal Powder + Clear Glycerine Soap

42. Salt & Clear Glycerine Soap Combination Tests

Coarse Sea Salt + Agar Agar + Clear Glycerine Soap

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

Pink Himalayan Salt + Clear Glycerine Soap

Coarse Sea Salt + Agar Agar + Clear Glycerine Soap

Coarse Sea Salt + Clear Glycerine Soap

Chapter 4.0

Soap Salt

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

Shakers Using the salt + soap discovery, I will design objects that elevate the anti-microbial concept even further. Taking inspiration from recent events and the natural form that exists in the environment, I will develop the concept of sustainable salt shakers in two forms: habitat and habit.

Product Concept

Habitat Habit

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

43. Dead Sea Salt Pillar (Image from www.flickr.com/photos/22957314@N00/7987789563/)

44. Salt Shaker

45. Hand Washing (Image from Unsplash)

46. Handmade Organic Soap Bars (Image from Unsplash)

Product Development

47.

48. Salt Shaker Prototypes

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

Product Concept

49. Salt Shaker Sketch

51. Logomark

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

50. Logomark

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

Product Development

52. Ingredients: Coarse Sea Salt (top), Pink Himalayan Salt (middle), Activated Charcoal Powder (bottom)

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

53. Clear Glycerine Soap Base

54. Method of Measurement (2x2 cm cubes)

Product Development

55. Shaker Moulds using Used Acrylic Champagne Flutes

56. Other Tools

Sea Salt Shaker Recipe: Clear Glycerine Soap Base

12 x (2x2cm) cubes

Coarse Sea Salt

30-45g

Place 12 sliced glycerine cubes in silicone bowl then microwave for 30-60 seconds. Pour into moulds which will surmount to 6.5 cm in length. Pour in 30-45g of coarse sea salt which will extend shaker length to 8cm. Leave in refridgerator for 2 hours to harden. Place in cool dry place to let solution solidify.

Pink Himalayan Salt Recipe: Clear Glycerine Soap Base

12 x (2x2cm) cubes

Pink Himalayan Salt

30-45g

Place 12 sliced glycerine cubes in silicone bowl then microwave for 30-60 seconds. Pour into moulds which will surmount to 6.5 cm in length. Pour in 30-45g of pink himalayan salt which will extend shaker length to 8cm. Leave in refridgerator for 2 hours to harden. Place in cool dry place to let solution solidify.

Black Salt Recipe: Clear Glycerine Soap Base

12 x (2x2cm) cubes

Pink Himalayan Salt

30-45g

Activated Charcoal Powder

1 tsp.

Place 12 sliced glycerine cubes in silicone bowl then microwave for 30-60 seconds. Mix activated charcoal with hot liquified glycerine. Pour into moulds which will surmount to 6.5 cm in length. Pour in 30-45g of coarse salt which will extend shaker length to 8cm. Leave in refridgerator for 2 hours to harden. Place in cool dry place to let solution solidify.

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

57. Shaker Moulding Process

57. Final Soap Salt Shakers (out of mould)

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

58. Soap Salt Shakers

Chapter 5.0

Conclusion

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

59. Soap Salt Shaker in use

Reflection Soap Salt Repeat is a journey, not just for a material nor product, but for the designer as well. The project started as a curiosity with a small, often overlooked mineral, which then turned into a mission to help society with its current Pandemic dilemma. As the project materialized, it conveyed the importance of washing your hands before and after a meal. In the case of Coronavirus Case no. 5 from Bavaria, it was a matter of bad luck. However, today the conversation on sanitation has changed. Is there still an excuse to not observe proper hand hygiene? The next time a co-worker asks you to pass the salt (or soap), remember to do it safely. Take it lightly but never with a grain of salt.

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

60. Soap Salt Studies

1. Shaker

Material Life Cycle

4. Repeat

3. Sea

61. Material Life Cycle

Sustainability At a time when hygiene and pollution go hand in hand in shaping the current landscape of urban lives, I made sure to consider the salt + soap material's ecological impact by crafting a production process with low impact ingredients, less wastage, and toxic runoff.

2. Soap

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

62. Soap Salt + Black Pepper Waste

For starters the only ingredients used, such as salt, clear glycerine soap base, and natural colourants, are bio-based and biodegradable. Using the soap salt shakers in its 2nd phase (see fig. 62.), completely washes the product away. The material will break down and eventually enter natural waterways, which will return sea salt in its natural habitat. Cultivation of this resource will then restart the sustainable and endless cycle. Waste material from production (as seen on image 62.) can still be reused or reheated to form other products.

63. Soap Salt Gourmet Bowl

Potential The material's potential for other uses was tested in a different mould. As a way to house gormet salt, which would need an open container for serving purposes, a small bowl was created with the same materials as the Soap Salt Shakers, with the addition of dried rosemary. In traditional soap making, anything can be added to a soap base. However, fresh ingredients, such as fresh herbs and flowers, can cause unappealing appearances ,since they still biodegrade within the soap. Considering the product's second life as useable soap, skin-safe ingredients are also necessary.

Soap Salt Repeat | Byron Co

64. Soap Salt Gourmet Material

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Butler, S. (2013, January 10). Off the Spice Rack: The Story of Salt. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/ news/off-the-spice-rack-the-story-of-salt#:~:text=The Egyptians were the first,for extended periods of time.&text=Even well into American history, destinies were decided by salt.

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Images Cited *Non-cited images and figures were created by the author. 07.

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Creating an Anti-Microbial Biomaterial with Salt Byron Co byrnandco@gmail.com BA Thesis Supervisor Prof. Katrin Müller-Russo Ecology & Design Prof. Iris Utikal Typography and Layout SS20 Technische Hochschule Köln Fakultät für Kulturwissenschaften // Köln International School of Design Submitted on: 30.07.2020

I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this bachelor thesis. All content is created by myself, unless stated and referenced otherwise. I further declare that I have not submitted this thesis at any other institution in order to obtain a degree.

Thank you to Maryanne, Erik, Oma, Aziz, Estelle, Celina, Sophia, Eliana, Puk, Abi, so many others for the support.