Zn²⁺-exchange kinetics and antimicrobial properties of synthetic zirconium umbite (K₂ZrSi₃O₉.H₂O)

Coleman, Nichola J., Lewis, Samantha P., Mendham, Andrew P. and Trivedi, Vivek (2010) Zn²⁺-exchange kinetics and antimicrobial properties of synthetic zirconium umbite (K₂ZrSi₃O₉.H₂O). Journal of Porous Materials, 17 (6). pp. 747-753. ISSN 1380-2224 (Print), 1573-4854 (Online) (doi:10.1007/s10934-009-9346-8)

Abstract

Zirconium umbite, K(2)ZrSi(3)O(9)center dot H(2)O, is a microporous framework ion exchanger whose potential as a carrier for Zn(2+) ions in antimicrobial formulations has not yet been investigated. Accordingly, batch Zn(2+)-exchange kinetics of synthetic zirconium umbite (K-UM) and the subsequent antimicrobial action of the zinc-bearing phase (Zn-UM) against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are reported. Nonstoicheiometric over-exchange of Zn(²) for K(+) was observed and attributed to hydrolysis and complexation reactions of Zn(²⁺) within the umbite framework. The exchange process, which was described by a simple pseudo-first-order model (k (1) = 2.69 x 10(-4) min(-1), R (2) = 0.992), did not achieve equilibrium within 120 h at 25 A degrees C, by which time the uptake of zinc was found to be 1.04 mmol g(-1). The minimal bactericidal concentrations of Zn-UM for E. coli and S. aureus were found to be > 10 g cm(3) and < 1.0 g cm(3), respectively.

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