Antimicrobial Activity of Metal-Loaded Zeolites Against S. aureus and E. coli

Abstract

Aluminosilicate zeolites contain non-framework cations (usually Na+ ) in their pores that can be exchanged with other monovalent or divalent metal ions. In this study, two types of zeolites; zeolite Y and zeolite ZSM-5 that have different Si/Al ratios and different pore diameters, were synthesized and characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM, and specific surface area measurements. Each zeolite was loaded individually by each one of the following ions: Ag+ , Cu2+ or Zn2+. The highest loading capacity was found for Ag+ on both zeolites. The Ag+ -loaded zeolites exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity and Zn2+ has the lowest effect, for both types of zeolites and against both types of microorganisms Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Ag+ -loaded zeolites could be considered as potential formulations for antimicrobial applications.