Characterization Adsorption and Antibacterial Properties of Silver-Modified Kaolinite Clay from Kwi, Plateau State Nigeria

Abstract

Clay samples from Kwi, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria was purified and characterized using XRF, FT-IR and XRD. Silver-modified clay was prepared in order to develop an antibacterial and adsorptive material. The modified and purified clays were tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriae, pseudomonas aureus and salmonella typha by microbiological test as well as adsorptive properties against Chromium (III), Nickel (II), and Lead(II) from leather ternary effluent. From the results the silica content (SiO2) was found to be 56.12%, followed by alumina (Al2O3) 23.90%, iron (III) oxide 2.31% among others. The X-Ray diffraction studies showed that the clay deposit consist predominantly of kaolinite with d-spacing of 7.14639Å and 3.57632Å respectively and traces of quartz with d-spacing of 3.34520Å as well as orthoclase. The FT-IR spectral analysis of the clay samples reveals wave number and absorption band at 3688.02 and 3618.58cm-1 which arise from the internal surface OH group indicative of kaolinite and also deformation band at 1003.02 and 910.43cm-1. Results have shown a strong antimicrobial activity of the Ag modified clay, which considerably inhibited the growth of ordinary microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The Ag-clay reacted positively to organisms that had hitherto shown resistance to common antibiotic drugs. Also upto 64% of Cr ions and 94% of Ni ions were removed from ternary wastewater by Ag-modified and purified clays respectively. The results have confirmed the strong anti-bacterial activity of Silver ion.