Macrococcus bovicus was locally isolated from soil and used in the green synthesis of nano-scaling silver (NSAg). It was immobilized on a sodic-montmorillonite clay (MMT1) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-modified montmorillonite (MMT2) which was also calcined at 300 °C (MMT3). The NSAg clays were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffractometry, surface area measurement, UV-Vis spectrometry, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and thermogravimetric analysis. NSAg was confirmed to be included in the interparticular cavities of the clay sheets and its mechanical stability was evidenced. The antimicrobial activity of the NSAg-modified clays was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans using the cup plate and the plate count techniques. The antimicrobial activity of the NSAg clays was confirmed and attributed to the caging of NSAg in MMT cavities. MMT3 was found to inhibit the microbial growth to as high as 65 % as observed from the plate count method. Graphical Abstract Scheme of the biosynthesis of nano-scaling Ag and its immobilization and antimicrobial application.
Transparent glasses were prepared from processed nepheline syenite-magnesite mixtures. Incorporation of TiO 2 in the base glasses changes the glass colour from white to amber or dark brown. Translucent porcelainous glass ceramics with white, creamy and a variety of bluish colorations were obtained in glasses containing non-magnetic nepheline syenite. However, dark marblelike glass ceramics were developed in glasses containing middling and tailing nepheline syenite. Aluminium diopside [Ca(Mg,Al)(Si,Al) 2 O 6 ], nepheline, forsterite, magnesium titanate MgTi 2 O 5 and hematite were developed by heat treatment of these glasses. SEM micrographs tend to show fine and uniform bulk with increasing Fe 2 O 3 contents in the parent glass ceramic samples, however addition of TiO 2 enhances nucleation and the microstructure becomes of evenly good uniform fine structure in the sample with lowest iron content.
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