Title: Water decontamination by silver and copper montmorillonite

Authors: J. Lamarra; M.A. Fernández; J. Pascual Cosp; S. De La Fournière; G. Garbossa; R.M. Torres Sánchez

Addresses: CETMIC, Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y Cerámica, CIC-CONICET La Plata, Gonnet B1897ZCA, Argentina ' CETMIC, Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y Cerámica, CIC-CONICET La Plata, Gonnet B1897ZCA, Argentina ' Dep. Ingeniería Civil de Materiales y Fabricación, Escuelas de las Ingenierías, c/ Dr. Ortiz Ramos. 29071 Málaga, Spain ' Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina ' Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cuidad Universitaria, Pabellón II, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina ' CETMIC, Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y Cerámica, CIC-CONICET La Plata, Gonnet B1897ZCA, Argentina

Abstract: Several bactericide inorganic materials have been used for the purification of water with varying success. The characterisation of the incorporation of Ag or Cu cations in montmorillonite (MMT) clay, to obtain a bactericide material against E. coli, indicated that both outer and interlayer surfaces act as adsorption sites of AgO and Ag₂O or CuO, respectively. The Ag-exchanged clays retain their bactericide ability even after being stirred in aqueous suspension, whereas samples with the highest concentration of Cu do not inhibit bacterial growth. Experiences from supernatants of Cu-exchanged clays indicated that bactericide capacity was present at high clay concentration.

Keywords: silver montmorillonite; copper montmorillonite; bactericidal effect; water decontamination; water pollution; water purification; MMT clay; E. coli; bacterial growth; bactericide capacity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2014.060124

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2014 Vol.7 No.1, pp.15 - 30

Published online: 13 Oct 2014 *

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