One-pot synthesis of CNC-Ag@AgCl with antifouling and antibacterial properties

Authors: LV, JIN - Hunan Normal University; ZHANG, XIAOMIN - Hunan Normal University; YU, NINGYA - Hunan Normal University; SU, SHENGPEI - Hunan Normal University; ZHU, JIN - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; DENG, LE - Hunan Normal University; Liu, Zengshe - Kevin

Submitted to: Cellulose
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2019
Publication Date: 8/6/2019
Citation: Lv, J., Zhang, X., Yu, N., Su, S., Zhu, J., Deng, L., Liu, Z. 2019. One-pot synthesis of CNC-Ag@AgCl with antifouling and antibacterial properties. Cellulose. 26:7837–7846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02658-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02658-9

Interpretive Summary: In this research, we discovered that prepared particles of cellulose nanocrystal with silver chloride were applied to polyvinyl alcohol (PVC) films and showed the excellent antibacterial properties. The silver and its compounds have good stain resistance and strong anti-bactericidal ability which could inhibit or kill dozens of pathogenic microorganisms including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). The smaller silver particle size, the better properties it shows. On the other hand, smaller silver particles were easy to agglomerate and fell off from materials. In this method, the silver attached to cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and when applied to PVC films, it showed excellent stability of particle size and antibacterial properties. This technology will benefit pharmaceuticals and food industries.

Technical Abstract: The cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)-Ag@AgCl was prepared by previously adding silver nitrate to a cellulose solution with PVP, then hydrolyzed using sulfuric acid under visible light. In this method, Ag@AgCl could be firmly attached to the CNC surface without using any reducing agent. Experimental data obtained from energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of Ag@AgCl on the surface of CNC. The anti-fouling performance of CNC-Ag@AgCl composites was tested by a model methyl orange-degradation experiment under visible light. The composites could almost completely degrade methyl orange in 180 min, while the composite fabricated in the solution with PVP was more stable. After three experimentation cycles, the degradation efficiency remained at 85%. Also, the composite exhibited excellent antibacterial properties in a test of Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. This work provided an easy way to prepare multifunctional fillers which could be applied in the antifouling and antibacterial field.