LCD television waste 'could help prevent bacterial infections'

Published: 21-Jun-2010

PVA can be transformed into an antimicrobial substance that destroys infections


The fastest growing waste in the EU could soon be helping to combat hospital infections, according to scientists at the University of York.

Researchers at the University's Department of Chemistry have discovered a way of transforming polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is a key element of television sets with liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, into an antimicrobial substance that destroys infections such as Escherichia coli and some strains of Staphylococcus aureus

.

The York research team had earlier found a method of recovering PVA from television screens and transforming it into a substance that, due to its compatibility with the human body, could be suitable for use in tissue scaffolds that help parts of the body regenerate. It could also be used in pills and dressings that are designed to deliver drugs to particular parts of the body.

Dr Andrew Hunt, of the York Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, said: ‘The influence of LCDs on modern society is dramatic: it is estimated that 2.5 billion LCDs are approaching the end of their life, and they are the fastest growing waste in the European Union.

‘But we can add significant value this waste. By heating then cooling the PVA and then dehydrating it with ethanol we can produce a high surface area mesoporous material that has great potential for use in biomedicine.

‘Now we have gone a step further by enhancing its antimicrobial properties through the addition of silver nanoparticles, with the result being that it can destroy bacterial infections such as E.coli. Potentially, it could be used in hospital cleaning products to help to reduce infections.’

The project's next steps will be to test the PVA-based substance against commercial compounds to determine relative effectiveness, and to secure approval from regulatory agencies regarding the suitability of silver nanoparticles for human health applications.

The research is a development from a long-term project, funded by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board, examining the problems posed by LCD waste, in which the University of York is a partner.

You may also like