Investigation of Drinking Water Disinfection Performance Using Silver Nanoparticles

The usual hazard of drinking water disinfection methods (by products and drug-resistant strains of bacteria) has prompted research on new methods for disinfection. One of these methods is applications of silver nanoparticles on different surfaces (metal, plastic and polymer). Anti-bacterial effect of silver had been known for a long time, but advances in nanotechnology was improved the efficiency of disinfection with silver. However, due to the harmful effects of silver in water, silver should be non-removable on a coated surface and it leaks into the water should be evaluated [1]. Part of Shiraz drinking water are provided from surface water resources (Doroudzan Dam), but chlorination of water can produce trace amounts of byproducts such as trihalomethanes (THMs). Therefore, it is necessary to use alternative methods such as nanoparticles. In this research, effect of silver nanoparticles which coated on polyurethane foams (PU) in drinking water was investigated. Polyurethane (PU) is one of the most attractive synthetic elastomers and is extensively used in biomedical applications due to its good biocompatibility and mechanical properties [2].