Water sources in developing countries around the world are often infected by pathogenic bacteria, such as Vibrio cholerae. When ingested, these bacteria can cause waterborne diseases that are fatal, if untreated. To address this issue, a cost-effective approach using protein extracts from the leaves of moringa plants combined with silica-coated magnetic particles was investigated. These particular proteins were responsible for the observed clumping of bacteria (e.g., E. coli), while the magnetic platform was used to permit their retrieval in solution via an external magnetic field. The size distribution and morphology of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. In future studies, we will explore non-pathogenic strains of V. cholerae to better understand the bacteria-removing efficiency of the designed nanotechnology.

Preparation and study of protein-based nanotechnology for cost-effective water treatment

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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