Investigation of the Antibactrial Effect of Cement Matrix Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Some of the nanoparticles such as zinc oxide have a significant antibacterial activity that can be used in removal of pathogenic organisms in certain water resources application. This study was specifically undertaken to investigate the use of cement matrix modified with Zinc oxide nanoparticles to prevent the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus. The results showed that ZnO nanoparticles with the size lower than 20 nm were dispersed well in the cement matrix. Results also showed that inhibitory effect against gram-negative bacterium of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was higher than gram-positive bacterium of Bacillus cereus. Also, confinement of ZnO nanoparticles by cement materials reduced the photocatalytic activity slightly. Based on the preparation of antibacterial formulation of cement matrix containing ZnO nanoparticles, concrete surfaces with ZnO nanoparticles can be used in a wide range of aquatic environments for prevention of pathogenic bacterial growth.