Final answer:
The methods arranged in ascending order of effectiveness for microbial elimination are Sanitation, Disinfection, and Sterilization, with Sterilization being the most effective. Option c) Sterilization, Disinfection, Sanitation is the correct sequence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The arrangement of methods in ascending order based on their effectiveness in microbial elimination is sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization. This corresponds to option b) Disinfection, Sanitation, Sterilization, which inaccurately lists the methods. The correct sequence is: c) Sterilization, Disinfection, Sanitation.
Sterilization is the most effective method as it completely removes or kills all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses. Disinfection removes most or all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects except bacterial spores. Sanitation, on the other hand, reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level but does not eliminate all of them. Factors affecting the effectiveness of disinfectants include the length of exposure, concentration of disinfectant, temperature, presence of organic matter, and type of microorganism.