Evaluation and efficacy of metal oxides in terms of antibacterial activity and toxic chemical degradation.

Inorganic metal oxides Ag2O, CuO and ZnO were examined using SEM, XRD, TGA and ICP spectroscopy to analyze their structures and physical properties in terms of resistance to germs and toxic chemicals. Zone of inhibition testing and the plate-counting method were used in this study to examine the antibacterial activities of the metal oxides against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). Furthermore, 2­chloro­ethyl ethyl sulfide (2­CEES) was used to study the degradation efficacy of the metal oxides by the NMR method. The objective of the study was to develop and evaluate metal oxides that are able to protect against chemical and biological warfare agents. Excellent antibacterial and catalytic toxic chemical degradation properties were obtained.

Preparation and antibacterial efficacy of bamboo charcoal/polyoxometalate biological protective material.

Nanocomposites based on Keggin-type polyoxometalate H5PV2Mo10O40 (POM) and porous bamboo charcoal (BC) were prepared by activation and immobilization processes. The physical properties of the BC/POM composites were examined using FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscope, 31P MAS-NMR, SEM and TEM. These techniques indicated that the POM was intact on the surface of the BC matrix after impregnation. The POM particle size was found to be less than 150 nm based on TEM. The antibacterial effects of the BC/POM composites were assessed from the zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and plate-counting method, and an excellent antibacterial performance was discovered.