title: Surface characteristics and antibacterial activity of a silver-doped carbon monolith.
abstract: A carbon monolith with a silver coating was prepared and its antimicrobial behaviour in a flow system was examined. The functional groups on the surface of the carbon monolith were determined by temperature-programmed desorption and Boehm's method, and the point of zero charge was determined by mass titration. The specific surface area was examined by N2adsorption using the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method. As a test for the surface activity, the deposition of silver from an aqueous solution of a silver salt was used. The morphology and structure of the silver coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The resistance to the attrition of the silver deposited on the carbon monolith was tested. The antimicrobial activity of the carbon monolith with a silver coating was determined using standard microbiological methods. Carbon monolith samples with a silver coating showed good antimicrobial activity againstEscherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureusandCandida albicans, and are therefore suitable for water purification, particularly as personal disposable water filters with a limited capacity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vukčević
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Science, PO Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalijadis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimitrijević-Branković
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Science, PO Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Laušević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Mila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laušević
keywords: antimicrobial activity; carbon monolith; silver; surface properties; water purifier