Eco-Friendly Biocidal Silver-Activated Charcoal Nanocomposite: Antimicrobial Application in Water Purification

Abstract

Abstract The authors report an eco-friendly way of synthesizing silver nanoparticles (SNPs) using tomato fruit extract and its characterization using XRD, SEM, particle size analyzer, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The SNPs were used along with activated charcoal as nanocomposite for water purification and the efficiency of the nanocomposite in microbial filtration was evaluated. The nanocomposite was found to be effective against water contaminating microbes. The nanocomposite exhibited very good water purification and reuse efficiency compared to virgin activated charcoal. Keywords: activated charcoalantimicrobial activitynanocomposite and water purificationsilver nanoparticles Acknowledgments The authors thank Dr. A. J. A. Ranjith Singh, Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, for anti-microbial assay related discussions. AD acknowledges Karunya University for short-term research grant. The Central Research Facility, Karunya University, is gratefully acknowledged for SEM and PXRD analysis.