Enhanced antibacterial profile of nanoparticle impregnated cellulose foam filter paper for drinking water filtration

Filtration is a promising water treatment method to purify drinking water. To develop highly efficient drinking water filter paper, water-resistant cellulose foam paper with a high wet strength property was fabricated using diverse metal oxide (e.g., copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver oxide (Ag₂O)) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were synthesized using the hydrothermal reaction method. Their morphological structures were studied using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The presence of coated nanoparticles on the cellulose foam filter was verified by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) methods. The antibacterial performance of different types of modified cellulose foam filters was studied against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, and B. cereus strains using the zone of inhibition test. The antibacterial profile of the cellulose foam filter impregnated with Ag₂O nanoparticles, when tested against different types of bacteria, exhibited higher antibacterial activity than the cellulose foam filter impregnated with ZnO and CuO nanoparticles.