Bacterial contamination in water
purification systems is generating
significant concern as a global health issue. In this paper, we describe
fabricating antibacterial povidone-iodine-conjugated cross-linked
polystyrene resins (i.e., P(St-DVB-NVP)-I2) and investigating
them as antimicrobial agents for water decontamination. Comprehensive
antibacterial tests showed that the addition of povidone-iodine to
polystyrene resins resulted in strong antibacterial activity against
pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the as-synthesized P(St-DVB-NVP)-I2 was confirmed to have hydrophobicity and favorable biocompatibility.
We then examined the possibility of using P(St-DVB-NVP)-I2 as an antibacterial filter for water treatment and found that it
could efficiently remove bacteria from water. An analog experiment
demonstrated that the capability of P(St-DVB-NVP)-I2 for
water bacterial decontamination was not influenced by the presence
of mineral ions in the water. Most significantly, we confirmed the
potential reusability of P(St-DVB-NVP)-I2 through a recycling
test. This method of creating an antibacterial resin by building a
conjugation of cross-linked polystyrene with povidone-iodine is safe,
cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, and the resin shows
promise for use in water purification filters.
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