A novel strategy for water disinfection with a AgNPs/gelatin sponge filter

Disinfection of bacteria in water with sustainable and energy-efficient methods is still a great challenge. Herein, a novel gelatin sponge with embedded AgNPs is fabricated via freeze-drying using gelatin as the reducing agent to synthesize AgNPs in situ. UV-vis spectroscopy, HRTEM, XRD, and XPS characterization prove the formation of AgNPs with an average size of 8.55 +/- 0.35 nm. TEM and SEM images confirm the even distribution of AgNPs throughout the AgNPs/gelatin sponges. The composite sponge has a low bulk density of 20 +/- 3.5 mg/cm(3) and a pore size of 6.2 +/- 1.5 gm. The AgNPs/gelatin sponges exhibit excellent antibacterial performance to E. coil in water, probably by destroying their cell membranes. The porous AgNPs/gelatin composite sponges are promising filter materials for water disinfection. The removal rate of AgNPs/gelatin composite sponges on E. coil reached almost 100%.