Preparation, characterisation and optimisation of zinc–praseodymium inorganic antibacterial material through response surface methodology

Abstract

In this study, a Zn–Pr antibacterial white carbon black was synthesised via a sol–gel method. The Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology was applied to optimise the antibacterial product. Statistical analysis revealed that the particle size of the Zn–Pr antibacterial white carbon black was significantly affected by reaction time, reaction temperature and Zn ion concentration. The optimum reaction time, temperature and Zn ion concentration were 1.03 h, 88.64 °C and 0.05 mol L−1, respectively. The product was characterised through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis. The antibacterial properties of the Zn–Pr antibacterial white carbon black on Escherichia coli. were also investigated. The bacteriostatic rate of Zn–Pr antibacterial white carbon black was 95.24%.