Tannic Acid-chitosan Strengthened Cellulose Filter Paper for Water Disinfection via Formation of Silver Nanoparticles

Materials containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are of great interest for household uses, including drinking water disinfection. Although various Ag-containing materials are available, the development of low-cost, reusable, and durable systems is a challenge in water disinfection. Herein, we developed a low-cost, reusable, and durable cellulose filter paper (CFP) containing AgNPs decorated with a tannic acid (TA) and chitosan (CS) matrix (CFP-CSTAAg). The formation of CFP-CSTAAg composite was confirmed by FTIR, and XRD techniques. The formation of CSTAAg composite on CFP greatly improved the mechanical performance. CFP-CSTAAg is driven by gravity of 100 ml of a water sample containing Staphylococcus aureus for 30 min. The composite showed 99 % killing efficiency of bacteria as the bacteria cells did not pass through composite. The low-cost CFP-CSTAAg composite was reusable, providing a 98 % bacteria-killing capacity after five treatment cycles. The product’s properties make reusable CFP-CSTAAg composite a promising filter for durable water disinfection as it is a low-cost material and eco-friendly.