Silver nanoparticles in natural zeolites incorporated into commercial coating: antibacterial study

In this study, silver nanoparticles on chabazite, clinoptilolite, and clinoptilolite-stilbite natural zeolites were synthesized. The nanomaterials were incorporated into commercial coatings and afterward, the antibacterial activity was carried out. The zeolites were exposed to the activation step before the ion-exchange process with the precursor. The optical properties of the nanoparticles were studied through UV–Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy. Morphological and structural parameters were analyzed through TEM microscopy. The particle size of about 2–20 nm with spherical approach morphologies was obtained. Using XPS spectroscopy, the silver oxidation state was determined. The obtained nanomaterials showed antibacterial activity after their incorporation into the coatings. For this analysis, the Kirby-Bauer method was performed, studying the material against E. coli ATCC 25,922, K. pneumoniae ATCC 25,955, and K. pneumoniae ESBL + bacteria.