ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF EGGSHELL POWDER FOR THE SUSTAINABLE CONTROL OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance has driven the exploration of alternative antimicrobial agents from sustainable and cost-effective resources. This study investigates the bioadsorption potential of eggshell waste as an antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Four different samples of eggshell waste were prepared and tested at three time intervals (24, 48, and 72 hours). Antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring absorbance, and a chi-square statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the significance of variations in activity across bacterial strains, time intervals, and samples. The results revealed no significant association between the antibacterial activity of eggshell waste and the bacterial strains tested (χ² = 0.683, df = 2, p-value = 0.711), indicating a broad-spectrum efficacy against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in antibacterial activity across the time intervals (χ² = 1.484, df = 2, p-value = 0.477) or among the four samples (χ² = 0.293, df = 3, p-value = 0.963), demonstrating the consistency and stability of eggshell waste as an antimicrobial agent. These findings highlight the potential of eggshell waste as a reliable, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient bioadsorbent for antibacterial applications. The study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the valorization of agricultural waste in combating bacterial contamination, paving the way for its integration into public health and environmental management strategies.