Antibacterial pitch-based activated carbon fiber supporting silver

Pitch-based activated carbon fiber (ACF) supporting silver (ACF(Ag)) was prepared by pre-oxidization, carbonization, activation, immersion and decomposition processes. The structures, surface photographs and functional groups of the ACF and the ACF(Ag) were investigated. The ACF exhibited increased oxygen-containing functional groups and decreased BET specific surface areas after supporting silver particles. The ACF(Ag) with C-OH, C=O, -COOH and -COOAg groups showed strong adsorption and antibacterial activity against E. coli, which suggests it is a promising antibacterial material. However, ways of controlling the distribution of silver-particle size should be found before any practical application. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.