Novel Utilization of Bauxite-Treated Fly Ash-Based Ceramics for its Antibacterial Activity.

Nowadays the increased generation of fly ash from thermal power plants is a major concern to our society due to its harmful impact on environment. To utilize this waste in a useful way, we have developed a novel ceramic material which was produced by treating fly ash with bauxite during sintering process. The developed ceramic material acquired increased hardness because of enhanced mullite content during the process with an additional property of reducing pathogenic bacterial growth by more than 90%. The mechanism of their antibacterial action was studied by TEM image analysis of the bacterial cross section. Mullite content and the crystallinity of mullite have increased with increasing concentration of bauxite during sintering process. A maximum of ~ 31% increase in mullite phase was obtained for 50% w/w bauxite and thus increased the hardness which was measured by LEICA Vickers hardness tester. The structural composition of the developed ceramics materials and the surface texture were evaluated by FTIR studies and FESEM micrographs, respectively. This work highlights a sustainable approach of using fly ash in developing antimicrobial ceramics in an eco-friendly way having a vast potential to be used in the bacteria prone area like hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]