Surfactant modified clinoptilolite as novel antifungal agents against Saprolegnia sp.

Fungal diseases cause much damage to the aquaculture industry annually. Saprolegnia fungus, in particular, causes mortality in hatchery systems. The control of Saprolegnia on trout eggs is a problem encountered in aquaculture industry. Several methods have been used to control the fungal disease in the past, including the use of Malachite green and formalin. The banning of chemicals increased the demand for finding effective alternative treatments to control the disease [1]. At this study, by using a cationic surfactant, Hexadecyletrimethye ammonium chloride (HDMA), Surface and Layer structure of clinoptilolite and bentonite were modified, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analyses were used to characterize the modified materials. The antifungal activity of HDMA clinoptilolite and bentonite were investigated against Saprolegnia sp. at different amounts of materials and time of exposure. All of the synthesized materials were found to have antifungal activity. These results showed that modified clinoptilolite and bentonite can be used as effective growth inhibitors in different biological systems, making them applicable to applications in aquaculture.