Introduce Ag on Natural Zeolites and Investigation of antibacterial activity

The zeolites are a crystalline aluminosilicates with well defined channel and cavity that these cavities contain metal cations and removable water. Microorganisms are part of the organic matter in the wastewater. These organic materials can affect human health and are commonly found in wastewater because they are present in fecal material. Consequently, the treatment of wastewater is important and its success depends on its final use. The removal or inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms is the last step in the treatment of wastewater. Some chemical and physical agents, such as chlorine, ultraviolet light, reverse osmosis, and silver catalyst are well developed [1–3]. The bactericide activity of silver ions has been known for a long time. In nanoparticle form, silver becomes more reactive and shows catalytic properties, large surface area to volume ratio, unusual crystal morphologies, and thus toxic than silver ion [4]. To apply silver nanoparticles effectively in water disinfection, they should be impregnated in a substrate. Several studies have shown the use of silver nanoparticles coated on various substrates. For instance, silver nanoparticles were incorporated in materials such as montmorillonite, polysulfide, cellulose acetate, fiberglass, polyurethane foams, ceramic filters, and activated carbon [5]. In the last few years, several investigations were carried out using synthetic and natural zeolites that combined with silver ions to obtain disinfection agents for the treatment by microbiologically polluted water [6].