Synthesis of phenolic precursor-based porous carbon beads in situ dispersed with copper-silver bimetal nanoparticles for antibacterial applications.
Copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) bimetal-dispersed polymeric beads (~0.7 mm) were synthesized by suspension polymerization using phenol and formaldehyde monomers. The Cu:Ag bimetal nanoparticles (Nps) were incorporated into the polymeric matrix at the incipience of gel formation during polymerization using an anionic surfactant. The prepared bimetal-doped polymeric beads were carbonized, activated using steam, and reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce metal Nps-doped porous carbon beads. The prepared bimetal (Cu and Ag) Nps-doped beads exhibited significantly larger anti-bacterial activities than single-(Cu or Ag) metal-doped beads for both gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. The prepared materials contained the total optimized amounts of Cu and Ag. These amounts were smaller (approximately half) than the amount of single metal (Cu or Ag) required for preparing single-metal-doped beads. Although Cu Nps exhibit lesser antibacterial activity than Ag Nps, it enhanced the porosity of the beads. The prepared bimetal beads remained effective for 120 h, completely inhibiting the bacterial growth, and therefore, they are potential antibacterial agents for water purification.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India.
Prateek
P
Khare
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India; Center for Nanosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India.
Ashutosh
A
Sharma
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India; Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India. Electronic address: vermanishith@gmail.com.
Nishith
N
Verma
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D058105:Polymerization; D016062:Porosity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012834:Silver; D002244:Carbon; D003300:Copper
Ag and Cu nanoparticles; Antibacterial agents; Phenolic resin beads; Surfactant; Water purification