Aluminium silicate (clinoptilite, perlite and bentonite) modified with silver as catalyst and antibacterial agent

Selections of freely available Bulgarian aluminium silicates were investigated for theirab initio catalytic and bactericidal potential for large-scale industrial and biotechnological application. Combination analyses of X-ray diffraction, atomic emission spectroscopy, IR and UV-VIS molecular spectrophotometry were used to dissect the properties of these solid-state “glassy” materials. A correlation is made between structural positioning, spacing and silver metal coverage of the particular silicate support (and its catalytic potential) in respect of the form of silver present. The bactericidal effect is demonstrated on sulphatereducing bacteria, which occurs widely in sediment and contaminated water with decay organic material. All data indicate an assuredness of the tested materials as a “platform technology” for adaptation and future industrial scale-up.