title: Controllable preparation of Nano-MgO and investigation of its bactericidal properties.
abstract: Samples of nano-MgO with varying particle sizes were prepared by four different methods using Mg(NO3)2.6H2O, Na2CO3, urea and ammonia as raw materials and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), low temperature N2 adsorption-desorption measurements and FT-IR spectroscopy. Bactericidal experiments with Bacillus subtilis var. niger and Staphylococcus aureus were carried out using as-synthesized nano-MgO samples and the bactericidal mechanism was also investigated. The results showed that the bactericidal efficacy of nano-MgO increases with decreasing particle size. The bactericidal efficacy of the samples was compared with that of TiO2, a common photoactive bactericidal material. The nano-MgO has better bactericidal activity, both when used directly and as an additive in an interior wall paint. Furthermore, nano-MgO is active even in the absence of irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Controllable Chemical Reactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Dian-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D008277:Magnesium Oxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D010150:Paint; D010316:Particle Size; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D008277:Magnesium Oxide; D014025:Titanium