Synthesis And Characterization of Modified Silica Gel Supported Silver Nanoparticles using Batch Studies for Disinfection of Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus for Drinking Water

AgNPs were synthesised using Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract as a reducing agent in an AgNO3 solution. The synthesized AgNPs solution was characterized and used for the synthesis of modified silica gel (MSG)-supported AgNPs (MSG-AgNPs). After being treated with HCl, the grounded Filagot teff straw was calcined for 2 h at 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C. The sol-gel method was used to create the silica gel, and NaOH solution was used to treat it. An 80.4% SG yield with a 99.39% purity and the largest surface area (807.163 m2/g) were obtained at 700 °C and were chosen for additional analysis. Trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS)/ethanol/hexane was then added to SG at volume/vol ratios of 15/25/100, 25/25/100, 35/25/100, and 50/25/100. A modified SG mixture of TMCS/ethanol/hexane with a maximum surface area of 510.4 m2/g was produced at 25/25/100 (vol/vol) of the mixture. Using the sol-gel process, the AgNPs that were produced with Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract were impregnated on the MSG. Prior to impregnating AgNPs onto the MSG, several quantities of AgNPs (1.5, 3, 6, and 9 mM) were made. The solutions were then supplemented by MSG. For 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 mM solutions, the MSG-AgNPs composites had surface areas of 475.0, 457.3, 438.5, and 410.9 m2/g, respectively. Finally, batch disinfection experiments against S. aureus and E. coli were conducted. In the batch research, MSG-AgNPs impregnated with 9 mM AgNPs reduced the concentration of E. coli from 104 and 105 to 0.0 CFU/mL in 10 min and from 106, 107, and 108 to 0.0 CFU/mL in 60 min