Due to the scarcity of clean water, scientists worldwide are keen to develop cost-effective, non-toxic and eco-friendly water disinfection systems. Achieving proper disinfection without creating harmful byproducts for removing or inactivating waterborne pathogens is the main challenge. In this respect, polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites find wide applications in water storage, food packaging material, transportation, medicine, and so forth. The addition of nanoparticles such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into PS enhances its mechanical properties, gas barrier properties, thermal stability, and so forth. This study reports the development of PS-AgNPs composite using green synthesized AgNPs and waste thermocol. Firstly, the green synthesized AgNPs were prepared in different concentrations and embedded accordingly into the PS matrix. The morphology of PS-AgNPs nanocomposites was studied using Field Emission Transmission Scanning Microscopy (FESEM) and Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy (FETEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the prepared nanocomposites' surface chemical bonding and surface composition. The thermal property of the nanocomposites was investigated by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The tensile strength of the composites was also estimated. These PS-AgNPs nanocomposites showed an antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, a disease-causing gram-negative bacteria commonly found in water. Among them, the PS-AgNPs cup encapsulating 10% AgNPs showed optimum tensile strength and bacteria disinfection property. These nanocomposites have been utilized to prepare cups as a model of water tank for water storage having disinfection properties.

中文翻译：

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将废物转化为增值材料：来自废热胶和绿色合成银纳米颗粒的聚苯乙烯纳米复合材料 (PS-AgNPs) 用于水消毒应用

由于清洁水的稀缺，世界各地的科学家都热衷于开发具有成本效益、无毒和环保的水消毒系统。在不产生有害副产品以去除或灭活水源性病原体的情况下实现适当的消毒是主要挑战。在这方面，聚苯乙烯 (PS) 纳米复合材料在储水、食品包装材料、运输、医药等方面有着广泛的应用。将纳米粒子如银纳米粒子 (AgNPs) 添加到 PS 中可增强其机械性能、气体阻隔性能、热稳定性等。本研究报告了使用绿色合成的 AgNPs 和废热胶开发 PS-AgNPs 复合材料。首先，以不同浓度制备绿色合成的 AgNPs，并相应地嵌入 PS 基质中。使用场发射透射扫描显微镜 (FESEM) 和场发射透射电子显微镜 (FETEM) 研究了 PS-AgNPs 纳米复合材料的形态。傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）用于评估制备的纳米复合材料的表面化学键和表面组成。通过热重分析（TGA）研究了纳米复合材料的热性能。还估计了复合材料的拉伸强度。这些 PS-AgNPs 纳米复合材料对 表面化学键合和表面组成。通过热重分析（TGA）研究了纳米复合材料的热性能。还估计了复合材料的拉伸强度。这些 PS-AgNPs 纳米复合材料对 表面化学键合和表面组成。通过热重分析（TGA）研究了纳米复合材料的热性能。还估计了复合材料的拉伸强度。这些 PS-AgNPs 纳米复合材料对大肠杆菌，一种常见于水中的引起疾病的革兰氏阴性菌。其中，封装 10% AgNPs 的 PS-AgNPs 杯表现出最佳的拉伸强度和细菌消毒性能。这些纳米复合材料已被用于制备作为具有消毒特性的储水水箱模型的杯子。