Bismuth Oxide Nanoparticles: A Bactericide That Targets The Treatment Of Contaminated Water

Abstract

Water is considered the center of all human activity. Currently, this natural resource presents a high degree of pollution due to the growing demand and overpopulation. The existing environmental crisis has generated concern in the nations globally. The latter is causing an urgent need to search for new technologies for water management, treatment, and conservation. Nowadays, the progress in nanotechnology represents a tempting alternative for the treatment and eventual recovery of contaminated water. The application of bismuth oxide particles has become an interesting water treatment method. Their photocatalytic and photooxidative activity while interacting with organic compounds has shown bactericidal functionality, which has been acknowledged recently in the literature. This research has been built in an extensive experimental campaign based on the evaluation of the bactericidal capacity of bismuth oxide nanoparticles in water samples obtained from wastewater. The wastewater came from “San Vicente de Lacas”, an Andean community in the highlands of Ecuador. The synthesis methodology applied was a green synthesis type. As a biological agent mint extract from Mentha arvensis was used. On the other hand, bismuth nitrate was used as a metal ion. The main outcome of this research was a substantial decrease in the number of colonies present in the enriched agars. The latter was evidenced as the exposure time to sunlight increased in the presence of the nanoparticles.  In addition, it was observed that the pH and turbidity levels were also altered when exposed to sunlight. Therefore, this research confirms the photocatalytic bactericidal activity of bismuth oxide nanoparticles.