Preparation and characterization of antibacterial polyacrylonitrile-based activated carbon fiber supporting Nano-ZnO

Polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based activated carbon fiber(PACF) supporting nano-ZnO(PACF/nano-ZnO) was prepared by spin, pretreatment, carbonization, and KOH chemical activation at an activation temperature of 950 A degrees C for 40 min. Nano-ZnO content, distribution and antibacterial properties of the PACF/nano-ZnO were studied. The pore structure and surface properties of the PACF/nano-ZnO were studied by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET), N-2/77 K isothermal adsorption. The specific surface area increased markedly after the activation process and it was several hundred times greater than that before the process. The PACF/nano-ZnO shows a strong adsorption for Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) and Escherichia coli(E. coli) and antibacterial activity against them. As an experimental result, antibacterial properties of PACF/nano-ZnO increased with increasing the concentration of nano-ZnO particles, which suggests it is a promising antibacterial material.