ABSTRACT
The presented study proposes an efficient utilization of a common Thymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme) plant as a highly potent biosorbent of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions and the efficient interaction of the copper-laden plant with two opportunistic bacteria. Apart from biochars that are commonly used for adsorption, here we report the direct use of native plant, which is potentially interesting also for soil remediation. The highest adsorption capacity for Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions (qe = 12.66 and 53.13 mg g-1, respectively) was achieved after 10 and 30 min of adsorption, respectively. Moreover, the Cu-laden plant was shown to be an efficient antibacterial agent against the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the results being slightly better in the former case. Such an activity is enabled only via the interaction of the adsorbed ions effectively distributed within the biological matrix of the plant with bacterial cells. Thus, the sustainable resource can be used both for the treatment of wastewater and, after an effective embedment of metal ions, for the fight against microbes.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification , Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Adsorption , Metals, Heavy/chemistry , Metals, Heavy/metabolism , Metals, Heavy/pharmacology , Thymus Plant/chemistry , Lead/chemistry , Lead/metabolism , Copper/chemistry , Copper/pharmacology , Copper/metabolism , Microbial Sensitivity TestsABSTRACT
A series of nanosilica/AgI composites was synthesized by inâ situ reactions between silver nitrate and ammonium iodide deposited on the nanosilica surface using the gas-phase solvate-stimulated mechanosorption modification (GSSMSM) under both dry and wet conditions. The characterization of the synthesized materials was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM/EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray), thermogravimetric (TGA) and gas sorption methods. As a result of the mechanosorption modification of nanosilica, the bulk density of the samples synthesized in the dry and wet medium increases from 45â g/l for initial nanosilica to 249â g/l and 296â g/l for the modified samples, respectively. The specific surface area of the composites decreased in compared to the nanosilica precursor. The SEM data showed a denser aggregate structure of the nanocomposites compared to the initial nanosilica. The XRD, SEM/EDX and TEM/EDX data indicated the formation of AgI clusters. The AgI particle size was in the range of 6-45â nm. The ice-forming activity of the AgI-containing samples was examined as well. The sample with a smaller size of silver iodide on the surface exhibited superior ice-forming properties, and considering the quantity of utilized AgI, the prepared samples hold promise for application in this field.