Incorporation of Benzalkonium Chloride to Improve the Antimicrobial Properties of Lignocellulosic Material
AIChE Annual Meeting
2016
2016 AIChE Annual Meeting
Student Poster Sessions
Undergraduate Student Poster Session: Food, Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnology
Monday, November 14, 2016 - 10:00am to 12:30pm
TEMPO nanofibrillated cellulose (TNFC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and lignin were applied as nanoscale carrier molecules for benzalkonium chloride (BZK), a well-known organic biocide. The resulting hybrid suspension was analyzed for biocidal activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and dried for scanning electron microscopy analysis using a solvent exchange and freeze drying technique. The results indicate that there is slow release of BZK in suspension, which is desirable for long-term antimicrobial activity. Instant biocidal activity can be achieved with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.116 M BZK-TNFC hybrid suspension. Lignin and CMC used in complex with BZK to create a 0.046 M BZK-Lignin and 0.046 M BZK-CMC suspension demonstrated increased antimicrobial activity with longer exposure times. Initial concentrations of E. coli were 3.1 x 10-6 and 0.5 x 10-6, while 24 hour exposure at 37° C resulted in complete inhibition of bacteria.