Abstract:

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are increasingly being incorporated in a variety of products, textiles, and in healthcare, mainly due to their antibacterial properties. The present study investigated the antimicrobial efficiency and colour changes of floor covering loaded with colloidal silver nanoparticles via a simple and cost-effective method. The influences of colloidal concentration on antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as laundering durability were studied. The results of the silver-treated floor covering (nylon 6 piles) with 50 - 100 ppm dilution exhibited outstanding antimicrobial efficiency and indicated a 99.42% reduction in Staphylococcus aureus and a 79.25% reduction in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the bioactivity of Ag-NPs was maintained even after ten washings. The removal of silver nanoparticles in wastewater was investigated by UV–visible spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX were employed to confirm the presence of nano silver on the surface. The results indicated that Gram positive bacteria are more tolerant to silver than Gram negative bacteria. An appropriate antimicrobial agent deposited on floor covering can prevent unpleasant odours and growth of pathogenic microorganisms.