Growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi inhibited by fractal silver nanoparticles supported on zeolites

Silver nanoparticles were dispersed on clinoptilolite zeolite. These materials were evaluated as biocides for Escherichia colt and Salmonella typhi. Ag-zeolites were shown to be efficient in eliminating both E. colt and S. typhi present in nutritive media. Particularly, E. colt was eliminated at very short times. In the presence of a zeolite free of silver, bacteria use the zeolite to reproduce rapidly. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.