Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial application of silver nanoparticle embedded composite cryogels

Water treatment applications; they consist of processes that desalination, softening, removals of dissolved organic matter, color, particle and microorganism. In traditional treatment processes, microorganisms cause thick film layer on the membrane to be used and not enough treatment. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), known to stop bacterial growth due to their superior antibacterial properties even at low concentrations due to their contact with microorganisms, are used for water disinfection. Membrane production with a combination of AgNPs and polymers has started to attract attention in recent years due to advanced optics, conductivity and antibacterial properties. The ability of AgNP to exhibit its antibacterial effect depends on the property of this material to be homogeneously dispersed in the polymer. In this study, Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate), Poly(HEMA-GMA), cryogels were synthesized as solid support. In order to gain antibacterial properties to synthesized cryogels, AgNPs of different sizes were embedded in cryogels. These structures have been used as a kind of antibacterial filter in the purification of water obtained from natural sources used as drinking and using water in the local region. Particle Size analysis was used to determine the size of synthesized AgNPs. Swelling test, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Elemental Analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and surface area (BET) analysis were performed for characterization of cryogels. [Display omitted] •The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were embedded in Poly(HEMA-GMA) cryogels.•Cryogels were characterized on a large scale.•All cryogels showed antibacterial effect for drinking-using waters.