Functionally Modified Zeolite Powders for Delivering Antibacterial Performance to Cellulosic Paper

Zeolite powders were first treated with hydrochloric acid, then reacted with sodium chloride, and sodium zeolite (Na-Zeolite) powders were obtained. Further Antibacterial zeolite powders were prepared by loading metal ions such as, Ag⁺ and Zn²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺and Cu²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺and Zn²⁺, through ion exchange. The powders were characterized by minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC), SEM/EDXA and XRD. Antibacterial paper with antibacterial zeolite powders as filler was fabricated. The results demonstrated that MIC of loading (Ag⁺+Zn²⁺) zeolite was 125ppm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . MIC of loading (Ag⁺+Cu²⁺+Zn²⁺) zeolite was 62.5ppm against Candida albicans and Aspergillus Niger. By adding 6% of (Ag⁺+Zn²⁺), (Ag⁺+Cu²⁺), and (Ag⁺+Cu²⁺+Zn²⁺) antibacterial zeolite powders, respectively, antibacterial paper were prepared; and the antibacterial rate of these papers against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Aspergillus Niger for 4h is close to 100%.