Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Silica from Padma River Sand and Its Bactericidal Activity Against S. aureus and E. coli

Mainly because of overuse and misuse, especially in the 3 rd world countries, antibiotic resistance becomes a major concern. Using antibiotic carriers having inherent bactericidal activities could be a key to solve this problem. The present research concentrates on the synthesis of silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 ) from Padma River sand utilizing various organic and inorganic acids via chemical precipitation method and to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the prepared nano‐silica against S. aureus and E. coli . Three samples of silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 ) were extracted from river sand utilizing sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and acetic acid respectively and hence characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) which ensured the successful formation of silica nanoparticles. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by disk diffusion assay. Nano silica extracted through acetic acid route showed better antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli . Herein, we report the bactericidal activity of the nano‐silica synthesized from Padma River sand using acid catalyst for the first time.