Green synthesis of chitosan-based membrane modified with uniformly micro-sizing selenium particles decorated graphene...

In this study, selenium microparticles (SeMPs) were green-synthesized by utilizing the Terminalia catappa leaves extract as an effective reducing agent. SeMPs were then decorated onto graphene oxide (GO) with the assistance of ultrasound using the ex-situ technique to obtain the SeMPs-GO composite. SeMPs and SeMPs-GO were thoroughly characterized with modern analytical methods, whereas the antibacterial performance of the composites was evaluated via the optical density method. Particularly, SeMPs-GO held up an inhibition of 99 % against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains as well as restrained 50 % of fungal activity. SeMPs-GO was additionally incorporated onto chitosan (CTS) to collect the SeMPs-GO/CTS membrane which was characterized by similar advanced analysis methods. The antibacterial property of the membrane was determined by the inhibition zone diameter. Furthermore, the membrane exhibited good thermal and mechanical characteristics, showing no sign of degradation at a temperature below 260 °C, and a tensile strength of 38 N/mm². The swelling degree reached 148 % after 6 h of immersion in water, which was stable after 72 h (153 %). The obtained membrane can potentially be utilized for medical and food applications.