Alkali-activated
foams are ceramic-like materials prepared at near-ambient
temperature. This study investigates them for point-of-use water disinfection,
thus providing an alternative to ceramic filters fired at a high temperature.
Alkali-activated foams with different compositions were characterized
for the porosity, mechanical strength, shrinkage, and microstructure.
The optimized foam, employing metakaolin as the raw material, was
coated with a colloidal Ag solution. The disinfection performance
and leaching behavior of the foams was followed in a continuous 10
week experiment, where clean water with a weekly pulse of contaminated
water was distributed through the foam. The average inactivation of Escherichia coli with the Ag-coated foam was 2.84
log10, which was 1.27 units higher compared to foam without
Ag. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and metagenomic
sequencing verified that foams with and without Ag were both capable
of reducing the microbial load. Furthermore, the changes induced by
the foam with Ag on the microbial community composition, antibiotic
resistome, and metal and biocide resistomes were significant. The
leached concentrations of Ag, Na, Si, and Al were in accordance with
the drinking water guidelines. Finally, a life cycle assessment indicated
the possibility of reducing the global warming potential and the total
embodied energy in comparison with a conventional ceramic filter.