title: Incorporation of copper nanoparticles into paper for point-of-use water purification.
abstract: As a cost-effective alternative to silver nanoparticles, we have investigated the use of copper nanoparticles in paper filters for point-of-use water purification. This work reports an environmentally benign method for the direct in situ preparation of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in paper by reducing sorbed copper ions with ascorbic acid. Copper nanoparticles were quickly formed in less than 10 min and were well distributed on the paper fiber surfaces. Paper sheets were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of the CuNP sheets was assessed for by passing Escherichia coli bacteria suspensions through the papers. The effluent was analyzed for viable bacteria and copper release. The CuNP papers with higher copper content showed a high bacteria reduction of log 8.8 for E. coli. The paper sheets containing copper nanoparticles were effective in inactivating the test bacteria as they passed through the paper. The copper levels released in the effluent water were below the recommended limit for copper in drinking water (1 ppm).
authors.affiliation: P.O. Box 400472, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. Electronic address: td2pm@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dankovich
authors.affiliation: P.O. Box 400472, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010209:Paper; D010316:Particle Size; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D060753:Water Quality; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D003300:Copper; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Copper nanoparticles; Drinking water treatment; Point-of-use water treatment; Sustainable nanotechnology