Green synthesis of biocidal silver-activated charcoal nanocomposite for disinfecting water

<div><p>We report for the first time the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using West Indian cherry (<i>Malpighia emarginata</i>) extract known for its high vitamin C content. UV–visible spectroscopy, powder X ray diffraction (PXRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis were used to characterise silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles thus synthesised exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria such as <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and gram-positive bacteria such as <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. The antimicrobial property of nanoparticles thus synthesised was applied in the production of silver-activated charcoal nanocomposite towards fabrication of antimicrobial water filtration columns. The microbial filtration efficiency of the nanocomposite was found to be higher compared to virgin activated charcoal even with reusage.</p></div