Fabrication of Poly(Butylene Succinate) Composite Films with Silver Doped ZSM-5: Effect of Silver ZSM-5 on Antibacterial Activity and Biodegradable Behavior

Abstract

This work was focused on the effects of filler concentration on the antibacterial activity and biodegradable behavior of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) composite films containing silver exchanged zeolite ZSM-5 (SZSM-5). The composite films were prepared by chill roll cast film extrusion, by varying the silver zeolite content from 0.5 to 4 %wt. The silver content in zeolite was examined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The morphology and crystal structure of silver zeolite were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, respectively. The incorporation of silver did not influence the zeolite morphology and its crystal structure. The antibacterial action of composite films was investigated against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The results revealed that the PBS composite films containing SZSM-5 showed 99.9% of bacterial reduction. The optimal SZSM-5 content in PBS composite films was 0.5%wt because it was the lowest concentration that showed high efficiency of antibacterial behavior. In case of biodegradable ability, PBS composite films incorporated with 0.5%wt of SZSM-5 exhibited the degradation after three-month of soil burial test, although they exhibited slower rate than neat PBS films. The SEM micrographs of the films after soil burial test displayed the cavity on film surface, indicating the biodegradable properties of the films. PBS composite films incorporated with 0.5%wt of SZSM-5 showed the potential to be used as the food packaging.