Antibacterial activity of Clinoptilolite/TiO 2 /ZnO photocatalyst against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in water resources

Abstract

Abstract Water treatment is crucial due to rising water demand across the board, including drinking, agriculture, industry, etc. Pathogens are a type of contamination that must be studied to improve water purification methods. This study investigates the elimination of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using Clinoptilolite/TiO2/ZnO nanocomposite with varied TiO2/ZnO ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 under UVA and UVC light irradiation. To synergize the effect of coupling TiO2 with ZnO, we synthesized nanocomposite Clinoptilolite/TiO2/ZnO to make a powerful system for water and wastewater disinfection. The characterization tests, including X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption, were performed to confirm the structure. The optimum response for bacterial removal was found by using the determination-optimal (D-optimal) design of response surface methodology (RSM). 100% removal was obtained for E. coli and S. aureus under UVA irradiation and contact time of 100 min for both of them.