Antimicrobial activity of polymeric surfactants blending with zinc oxide nanoparticles derived from Electric Arc Furnace Dust

Abstract

The biological activities of poly (ethylene glycols) (PEG) that esterified with lauric acid or myristic acid were enhanced by mixing with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) derived as of hazardous trash Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD) which formed through steel fabrication using sodium hydroxide (NaOH). A diverse temperature was applied to characterize and examine the prepared polymeric surfactants those possess characteristics of surfactant and polymer together. The surface properties were measured and worked out. The hydrodynamic particle diameter normally maximized as the surfactant carbon numbers increased and at blending with ZnO-NPs as exhibited in the dynamic light scattering (DLS) statistics due to aggregation of molecules. The antimicrobial action against different microorganisms of all such designed structures was assessed and assigned. The results plain that, all such engineered nonionic polymeric surfactants possess good surface criteria and biological activity and blending them with ZnO-NPs to obtain polymeric surfactant nanocomposites for enhancing their biological activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staph. aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli), yeast (Candida albicans) and microalga (Chlorella Vulgaris).