CERIUM OXIDE IMMOBILIZED PAPER MATRICES FOR THE STUDY OF BACTERICIDAL APPLICATION

Abstract

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (Ce02 NPs) of diameter Ca. 20 to 100 nm have been successfully immobilized into the cellulose fiber matrix. The is situ synthesis was carried out using a simple single step hydrothermal technique at low temperature without the aid of linking or binding agents as retention aids. Paper was chosen as the substrate for immobilization on account of its widespread availability, economics and ecofriendliness. The Ce02 NPs were anchored onto the fiber surface due to covalent bond formation between the NPs and the cellulose fibers. The retention of CeO2 NPs was confirmed by the combustion test, ICP-OES and TGA. All other parameters remaining same, the Ce02 loading was varied from 0 to 12.5 % by weight of paper and the prepared Ce02 immobilized paper matrices were investigated for their antibacterial properties against the Gram negative, E. coli in the presence of visible light. It was found that the paper matrix containing 6.5 % by weight of Ce02 could inhibit 94 % of E. coli after 9 h of exposure in visible light with an initial count of 576 x 104 CFU ml* The morphological and structural analysis of Ce02 NPs were confirmed by various techniques like XRD, XPS, FESEM and FTIR.