Preparation of controlled nano-MgO and investigation of its bactericidal properties

Nano-MgO is a good bactericide but with strong alkalinity in water due to its rapid hydrolysis. To control its hydrolysis rate and keep its bactericidal properties, we synthesized nano-MgO microspheres using chitosan–alginate system in this study. The synthesized nano-MgO release-controlled microspheres (nMgO-RCM) were with 0.98–1.20 mm of particle sizes. Also, their embedding ratio and loading percentage was 63.52% and 12.27%, respectively. Based on the characterization results, nano-MgO was only observed on surface of the nMgO-RCM. Its release rate from the nMgO-RCM could be controlled by the chitosan–alginate system, and the observed rate constant (kobs) increased from 0.0289 h−1 to 0.0358 h−1 with the increment of the dosage from 10 mg L−1 to 80 mg L−1. Furthermore, the nMgO-RCM could maintain pH value lower than 8.5 and colony counts less than 20 CFU mL−1 for at least 120 h.

► A chitosan–alginate system could efficiently control nano-MgO release into water.
► Using controlled released nano-MgO microspheres could keep pH lower than 8.5.
► Bactericidal property of nano-MgO was not inhibited by chitosan–alginate system.