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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
Published on: June 21, 2022
A novel strategy for water disinfection with a AgNPs/gelatin sponge filter
Feng Wei1, Xiaole Zhao1, Chao Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
Abstract:
Disinfection of bacteria in water with sustainable and energy-efficient methods is still a great challenge. Herein, a novel gelatin sponge with embedded AgNPs is fabricated via freeze-drying using gelatin as the reducing agent to synthesize AgNPs in situ. UV-vis spectroscopy, HRTEM, XRD, and XPS characterization prove the formation of AgNPs with an average size of 8.55 ± 0.35 nm. TEM and SEM images confirm the even distribution of AgNPs throughout the AgNPs/gelatin sponges. The composite sponge has a low bulk density of 20 ± 3.5 mg/cm3 and a pore size of 6.2 ± 1.5 μm. The AgNPs/gelatin sponges exhibit excellent antibacterial performance to E. coli in water, probably by destroying their cell membranes. The porous AgNPs/gelatin composite sponges are promising filter materials for water disinfection. The removal rate of AgNPs/gelatin composite sponges on E. coli reached almost 100%. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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