Immobilization of Bi2O3 nanoparticles on the cellulose fibers of paper matrices and investigation of its antibacterial activity against E-coil in visible light

Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles of diameters in the range of 30 to 100 nm have been immobilized on the cellulose fibers of the paper matrices by a facile single step in situ method. These paper matrices were employed to study the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli in visible light. The Bi2O3 contents in the paper matrices were varied from 0 to 5 wt% and its effect on the antibacterial activity has been investigated. It has been observed that the paper matrices with 5 wt% Bi2O3 could inhibits a complete E. coil growth in 9 h of visible light exposure with an initial bacterial count of 431 x 10(5) CFU mL(-1). The structural and microstructural characterization of the 131203 nanoparticles and the paper matrices were carried out by FESEM, XRD and FTIR etc.