Open Access Conference Proceedings

This paper investigates the antimicrobial effect of geopolymer composites with metal microparticles (metal powder). The geopolymer matrix was modified with silver, copper, or nickel microparticles in the concentration of 1, 2, 3, or 4 %. The indirect observation included the leaching test, the Kirby-Bauer method, and the cultivating bacteria in a bioreactor with a geopolymer. The direct observation and analysis of bacterial growth were based on the print bacteria from the geopolymer surface on an agar plate or fluorescence assessment of bacterial viability with microscopy (so-called LIVE/DEAD™ BacLight™ bacterial viability Kit). Two types of bacteria cells were tested, Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Micrococcus luteus (gram-positive). Our study aims to verify and compare different geopolymer composites' antimicrobial activity methodologies. Moreover, we uncovered the influence of the metal microparticle concentration (1-4%) as an additive in the geopolymer matrix.

Keywords: Geopolymer, antimicrobial activity, metal microparticle, silver, copper, nickel

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