Water decontamination by Ag and Cu-montmorillonite.

J. LAMARRA; M. A. FERNANDEZ; J. PASCUAL COSP; S. DE LA FOURNIÈRE; G. GARBOSSA ; R. M. TORRES SÁNCHEZ

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2013

0960-3123

Several inorganic bactericidal materials have been used for the purification of water with varying success. The characterization of the incorporation of Ag or Cu cations in montmorillonite clay, to obtain a bactericidal 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 bactericidal ability even after being stirred in aqueous suspension, while samples with the highest concentration of Cu do not inhibit bacterial growth. Experiences from supernatants of Cu exchanged clays indicated that bactericidal capacity was present at high clay concentration.