Chemical Sciences Journal

Novel Synthesis of Nay Zeolite from Rice Husk Silica: Modification with Zno and Zns for Antibacterial Application

Abstract

Tarek M Salama, Ibraheem O Ali, Hosni A Gumaa, Mohamed A Lateef and Mostafa F Bakr

Zeolite Y in the sodium form (NaY) was synthesized using amorphous silica ash derived from waste rice husks under hydrothermal conditions. Structural characterization of NaY before and after modification with ZnO and ZnS has been done using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption-desorption at -196 °C, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The effects of the Na2O/SiO2 and Si/Al ratios, aging temperature and crystallization time on the optimized synthesis of NaY were thoroughly investigated. Thus the regulated Na+ impurity concentration in the starting hydrogel was found to act as a template-assisted synthesis of zeolite NaY by the potential incorporation of Al atoms into the zeolite framework. Results of surface analyses indicate that the interactions of ZnO and ZnS with NaY zeolite are distinguishable and thus the higher interaction is observed for the latter. While ZnII has experienced electrostatic bonding interaction with the framework oxygen atoms, creation of mesopores in NaY due to local destruction of the zeolite lattice around the growing ZnS particles was evidenced. Wonderfully, ZnS/NaY exhibited a high performance in prohibiting the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and negligible from P. Aeruginosa, and these important features make it a potential candidate as an antimicrobial agent for controlling implant-related infections.