Effective bactericidal performance of silver-decorated titania nano-composites.

Transition metal oxide based disinfectants offer an effective approach for water purification. The present discovery found that silver (Ag) decorated titania (TiO(2)) nano-composites displayed high potency at 2.5 ppm within 4 h co-incubation, proved to be effective at 100% inactivation. The composite disinfectant was effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, found in drinking water. The mechanism of action is through nanocomposite catalysed photocatalytic oxidation and possible depolarization of the bacterial outer membrane, resulting in disinfection under visible-light conditions.