Evaluation of thermal and antimicrobial behavior of Montmorillonite nanoclay modified with 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole

Thermal and antimicrobial properties of hybrid synthesized compounds were evaluated in thepresent study. Hybrid structures were synthesized via two main organic and inorganic components,namely: 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and sodium Montmorillonite clay (Na+-MMT). The synthesis process took place in a direct reaction, intercalation; and the resultingmaterial was characterized. Results of scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy dispersiveX-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and small-angle X-ray scattering(SAXS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed MBT penetrationof particles into the inner space of the clay layers and interaction between the two organicand inorganic phases. Also, thermal properties of the resulting compounds were evaluated bythermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermalgravimetric (DTG). It was found thatwhile MBT sample had relatively low degradation temperature (about 250°C), the MBT-modifiedclay compound showed superior thermal stability, and in high temperatures, less weightloss as compared to MBT. Antimicrobial properties of the hybrid nano compound against fivetypes of bacteria, two types of fungus and one type of yeast were examined using well diffusionagar method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The diameter of inhibitionzone was measured and their antimicrobial potential was compared with two common antibiotics:gentamicin and rifampin. The concentration of about 1000 μg/mL of MBT-MMT showedantibacterial performance equal to 250 μg/mL of rifampin. Also, 1000 μg/mL of this materialwas required to inhibit the growth of important bacteria.