Shungite is used in water filters that remove Escherichia coli from water. The mechanism and spectrum of the antibacterial activity of shungite are not precisely known. In this study, shungite and its dried water extract were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and iodometry. The dried residue of the water extract of shungite was relatively poor in carbon (28.1% in the rock vs 0.5% in the residue), silica (23.9% in the rock vs 0.3% in the residue) and potassium (1.14% vs 0.05%), but rich in sulfur (1.6% vs 21.6%) and some metals, including iron (1.4% vs 10%), aluminum (2.1% vs 5%) and nickel (0.02% vs 1.14%). The survival of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Streptococcus uberis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in shungite water was measured. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus uberis did not survive for 24 hours in 3:7 shungite water extract, while Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae survived as well as in distilled water. Neutralization of pH did not abolish the bactericidal effect. However, in the presence of nutrients, shungite water did not show bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.