PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL VISCOSE-BASED ACTIVATED CARBON-FIBER SUPPORTING SILVER

Viscose-based activated carbon fiber supporting silver (ACF(Ag)) was p repared by pretreatment, carbonization, activation, vacuum impregnatio n and decomposition processes. The ACF(Ag) was characterized by silver content, silver particle size, distribution and antibacterial propert ies. It was confirmed that the presence of silver decreased the specif ic surface area of the ACF. The silver content and the surface morphol ogies of the ACF(Ag) were dependent on initial concentration of AgNO3 solution, immersion time and decomposition temperature, of which AgNO3 content was the most important factor. Factors influencing the resist ance to attrition of the ACF(Ag) were also discussed in this paper. Th e ACF(Ag) containing as low as 0.065 wt% of silver exhibited strong an tibacterial property against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureu s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.