Bactericidal activity of Ag nanoparticle-impregnated fibreglass for water disinfection.
A new bactericidal system composed of fibreglass impregnated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles was developed and tested. Silver content, particle size and distribution were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antibacterial effectiveness was evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. coli, ATCC 29055). The minimum inhibitory loading was determined to be less than 1.8 wt% of silver nanoparticles per gram of fibreglass. In a 1 h immersion test, using a 0.1 mg fibreglass mat ml(-1), with 2.9 wt% loading of silver nanoparticles completely disinfected 100 ml of 10(6) CFU ml(-1) of E. coli, dramatically outperforming activated carbon fibres impregnated with silver. Inactivation rate studies of 0.05 mg fibreglass mat ml(-1) (Ag 1.8 wt%) with 10(12) CFU E. coli displayed a 7 log reduction in 5 minutes. The activation and reuse of fibreglass (Ag 4.3 wt%) maintained its full effectiveness after two cycles of use and thermal regeneration at 350 degrees C.
Nangmenyi
Gordon
G
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W. Green St, Urbana IL 61801, USA.
Xao
Wei
W
Mehrabi
Sharifeh
S
Mintz
Eric
E
Economy
James
J
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005898:Glass; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C009753:fiberglass; D012834:Silver