Synthesis of activated carbon loaded nanosilver and study of water corrosion resistance and antimicrobial properties

This study evaluates the efficacy of silver-loaded activated carbon in reducing microbial growth in water treatment systems, particularly addressing the risk of E. coli proliferation turning activated carbon into a secondary source of contamination. Silver-loaded activated carbon was synthesized via an impregnation-calcination method. We systematically examined how variations in silver nitrate concentration, calcination temperature, and duration influence the structural integrity and nanosilver particle distribution of the activated carbon, with a focus on enhancing water corrosion resistance and antimicrobial properties. Characterization revealed a uniform distribution of 5–60 nm nanosilver particles on activated carbon. Increases in silver nitrate concentration, calcination duration, and calcination temperature led to a reduction in both surface area and pore volume of the carbon. The optimal conditions for maximizing water corrosion resistance were established as 0.01 mol/L silver nitrate, 60 min of calcination at 800 °C, and a silver loading of 0.28 wt%, which resulted in a minimal silver loss of 4.8 %. Under these conditions, the silver-loaded activated carbon demonstrated a 90 % reduction in microbial growth, measured after 480 min, starting from an initial microbial load of 106 CFU/mL.