Antimicrobial Properties of Ion-Modified Zeolite Composites: A Study on Biofilm Inhibition and Bacterial Cell Viability

Abstract

This work investigates the antibacterial efficacy of zeolite composites by using combinations of zinc, manganese, and magnesium ions at concentrations of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%. Our assessment of the antibacterial effectiveness was conducted by biofilm inhibition, insitu bacterial colonization, and ion-release tests. The results indicated that the liberation of zinc ions increased from 1.5 parts per million (ppm) at a concentration of 1% to 6.0 ppm at a concentration of 4%. Furthermore, the liberation of manganese ions varied between 2.0 ppm and 6.7 ppm, whereas that of magnesium ions ranged from 1.8 ppm to 5.5 ppm. The biofilm inhibition, as shown by OD570 values, decreased dramatically from 0.85 at 1% to 0.40 at a concentration of 4%. Bacterial viability tests revealed that at a 1% ion concentration, the proportion of damaged cells rose to 60%, while the proportion of viable cells decreased from 70% to 40%. Furthermore, these results indicate that higher ion concentration amplifies the antibacterial activity of the composites, making them very efficient in inhibiting biofilms and deactivating microorganisms. Conclusions of the research suggest that ion-modified zeolite composites might be advantageous for antimicrobial applications in various environments prone to microbial contamination.

Keywords

• zeolite composites
• antimicrobial activity
• zinc ions
• manganese ions
• magnesium ions
• biofilm inhibition