Previously, we demonstrated a method to deactivate bacteria by percolation through a paper sheet containing silver nanoparticles (AgNP).[1] We have investigated the effects of influent water composition on the effectiveness of the AgNP paper during water purification. In this work, typical environmental and biological solutions, such as salt, nutrient media, and natural organic matter (NOM), were added to the influent water. Following water treatment, the silver loss was characterized by atomic absorption and UV-Visible spectroscopy. We assessed whether the test waters affected Escherichia coli bacterial inactivation. The viability of E. coli decreased from 8 log for deionized water to 4 log for nutrient broth, but the phosphate buffered saline and NOM had little on the efficiency of the AgNP paper.. The protein in the nutrient media may be complexing the silver. We conclude that bactericidal effectiveness of AgNPs is dependent upon the influent solution chemistry. 1. Dankovich, T.A. and D.G. Gray, Environ Sci Technol, 2011. 45  (5): p. 1992-1998.

Impact of the influent water composition on bacterial inactivation by a silver nanoparticle paper

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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