Antimicrobial properties of chemically modified activated carbons derived from date palm seeds

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microbes has intensified the search for alternative antimicrobial agents.This study explored the potential of activated carbon (AC) derived from date palm seeds (ACDS), a sustainable and readily available agricultural waste product, and its chemically modified derivatives as effective antimicrobial solutions.AC was modified with thiourea (ACDS@Tu) and dithiooximide (ACDS@DTO) to introduce functional groups capable of interacting with microbial cell components.The antimicrobial efficacy of ACDS, ACDS@Tu, and ACDS@DTO was evaluated against a panel of Gram -positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi using the agar well diffusion method.The results demonstrated that ACDS@DTO exhibited significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity compared with pristine ACDS and ACDS@Tu, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus mutans, with inhibition zones comparable to those of the standard antibiotic ampicillin.This enhanced activity is attributed to electron-donating functional groups (amide, thiol, and amine) on the surface of ACDS@DTO, which likely interact with the microbial cell walls and membranes, leading to disruption and cell death.FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of these functional groups, highlighting the successful modification of the ACDS.These findings suggest that chemically modified activated carbons, especially ACDS@DTO, hold promise as potential antimicrobial agents for various applications.