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Effects of Rare Earth Doping on Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc Oxide
Nanoparticles for Antifouling Application
Nur Basirah Binti Zakaria
Supervisor: Dr. Wan Rafizah Binti Wan Abdullah
Bachelor of Technology (Environment)
School of Ocean Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Biofouling is currently a significant concern due to its potential to cause negative
impacts towards environment. The problem which arises from unwanted microbe
growth on submerged surface can be overcome with the use of antifouling agent. This
study investigated the potential antimicrobial activity of ZnO doped with 0.2 and 1.0
mole% of selected rare earth doping elements (Pr, Er, and Ce) against Gram positive
(E.coli) and Gram negative bacteria (S.aureus). Synthesis process was completed via
modified citrate gelation and solid state sintering method. The findings from
antibacterial susceptibility test using agar well diffusion technique showed that the
synthesized Pr, Er and Ce doped ZnO powder exhibited bactericidal properties against
S.aureus. In addition, photodegradation test under UV irradiation revealed that the
suspension of 2 g/L of doped ZnO has excellent photocatalytic inactivation of E.coli
and S.aureus bacteria. ZnO doped with 1.0 mol% Er demonstrated the highest
antibacterial activity and photocatalytic efficiency.
68 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2019