Silver and/or copper vermiculites and their antibacterial effect

Abstract

Vermiculite (V) from Brazil with aqueous solutions AgNO3 and/or Cu(NO3)2 was used for preparation of nanocomposites V/Ag, V/Cu, V/AgCu and V/CuAg using two procedures and their effect on bacteria was compared. Structural changes were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Infrared spectroscopy (IRS) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Elemental chemical composition was determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and the solutions were analyzed by Atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP). Antibacterial properties of Ag- and Cu-vermiculites and combined Ag/Cu-vermiculites were tested on two bacteria groups: (1) Gram-positive, G+, (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and (2) Gram-negative, G-, (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae). The samples under antibacterial testing showed different effective times and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. The Gram-negative bacteria showed higher sensitivity to the prepared samples than Gram-positive bacteria. The combined Cu/Ag vermiculites stopped the bacterial growth at lower MIC value.