Around the world, various forms of water-borne diseases commonly occur from everyday activities such as bathing, drinking, washing and preparing food. Researchers have extended great effort towards developing effective methods that can eliminate risk factors of water consumption that commonly exist in under-developed societies. For centuries, metals such as copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) have been known for their antibacterial properties. More recently, nanoparticles of these metals have been frequently studied. In this research, the level of fecal coliform bacteria in local water samples has been investigated. The efficiency of the antimicrobial properties of Ag and Cu nanoparticles have been compared to those of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), as well as a hybrid system of nanoparticle-doped MOFs. Silver and copper nanoparticles were synthesized alone, and then were infused into porous MOFs by absorption of metal precursors and subsequent reduction inside MOF pores. Though analyses of the results are still underway, we anticipate that NP-MOFs reduce bacteria levels with much higher efficiency. If successful, these new systems may be incorporated into water purification systems in facilities such as hospitals and community water systems and thus, have the potential to greatly improve water quality in underserved regions. The full extent to which these metal nanoparticle systems can help treat the issue of potable water have not fully been exploited.

Antibacterial properties of metallic nanoparticle-doped MOFs in water

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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