Novel Utilization of Bauxite‐Treated Fly Ash‐Based Ceramics for its Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

Nowadays the increased generation of fly ash from thermal power plants is a major concern to our society due to its harmful impact on environment. To utilize this waste in a useful way, we have developed a novel ceramic material which was produced by treating fly ash with bauxite during sintering process. The developed ceramic material acquired increased hardness because of enhanced mullite content during the process with an additional property of reducing pathogenic bacterial growth by more than 90%. The mechanism of their antibacterial action was studied by TEM image analysis of the bacterial cross section. Mullite content and the crystallinity of mullite have increased with increasing concentration of bauxite during sintering process. A maximum of ~ 31% increase in mullite phase was obtained for 50% w/w bauxite and thus increased the hardness which was measured by LEICA Vickers hardness tester. The structural composition of the developed ceramics materials and the surface texture were evaluated by FTIR studies and FESEM micrographs, respectively. This work highlights a sustainable approach of using fly ash in developing antimicrobial ceramics in an eco‐friendly way having a vast potential to be used in the bacteria prone area like hospitals.

Electrical and dielectric properties of TiO2 and Fe2O3 doped fly ash

“…The sample was cooled at a rate of 15 • C/min in the same atmospheric condition within the furnace. After cooling, the samples were ground in an agate mortar to a fine powder form and finally stored at room temperature for different analyses (Kumar et al 2001;Mansou 2005;Sultana et al 2012). The samples prepared for characterization work, i.e.…”

Literature review: Electrodialytic remediation and potential environmental applications of oil fly ash

“…Fly ash uses have been documented for making zeolites, for ceramic products including glass ceramic and bricks and briquettes (Amrhein et al, 1996;Barbeiri et al, 1999;Baspinar et al, 2010;Han et al, 2012;Kim & Kim, 2004;Sola et al, 2011;Sultana et al, 2012;Tao et al, 2011;Teixeira et al, 2010;Xu et al, 2012;. Fly ash can also be used as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of nitrogen oxides (NO x ), sulfur oxides (SO x ), organic compounds, metal ions, mercury, and dyes (Ahmaruzzaman, 2010;Chang et al, 2009;Dahlan et al, 2011;Estevinho et al, 2007;Gao et al, 2010;Kannan et al, 2010;K.…”

Novel porous Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2bone grafting materials: Formation and characterization

“…Sultan et al 15 prepared bauxite-based mullite-rich hard ceramic systems by mixing fly ash with different concentrations of bauxite. The test of antimicrobial activity of the prepared bodies revealed activity against both pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.…”