This study focuses on a greener approach to synthesizing activated carbon by carbonizing Platamus occidentalis tree fibers (TFSA) with 98% H2SO4 at 100 °C. The resulted TFSA was employed as an effective adsorbent for copper ions in aqueous media, yielding copper decorated TFSA (Cu@TFSA). The successful adsorption of copper onto the TFSA was proven through extensive characterization techniques. Herein, the TEM and XPS showed that copper nanoparticles were formed in situ on the TFSA surface, without the use of additional reducing and stabilizing agents nor thermal treatment. The surface areas of TFSA and Cu@TFSA were 0.0150 m2/g and 0.3109 m2/g, respectively. Applying the Cu@TFSA as an antimicrobial agent against Escherica coli ( E. coli) and Salmonella resulted in the potential mitigation of complex secondary pollutants from water and wastewater. The Cu@TFSA exhibited outstanding antimicrobial activity against E. coli and Salmonella in both synthetic and raw water samples. This demonstrated a complete growth inhibition observed within 120 min of exposure. The bacteria inactivation took place through the destruction of the bacteria cell wall and was confirmed by the AFM analysis technique. Cu@TFSA has the potential to be used in the water and wastewater treatment sector as antimicrobial agents.
Keywords: activated carbon; antimicrobial properties; copper; functional materials; nanocomposites; water treatment.