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I would like to introduce myself as D.Gangadharan, completed my Post Graduation in Chemistry at P. S. G. College of Arts and Science, under Bharathiar University, India. I joined Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR) for my Doctoral dissertation on "Synthesis of biocidal polymers for disinfection of water" under the guidance of Dr.P.S.Anand.

My research objective was to develop biocidal polymer materials for the disinfection of water. The work started with the synthesis of copolymer beads containing hydantoin functional group loaded with chlorine for their disinfection property. In a new attempt chloromethylated styrene based copolymer was reacted with diethanolamine repeatedly to obtain dendritic type functional groups for water disinfection. The reduction in bacterial count was observed with increase in contact time and increase in chain length.

Copolymer beads containing chelating groups were synthesized and loaded with selected metal ions which formed a polymer-metal complex on the polymer matrix. In case of chelating copolymer beads containing groups loaded with silver, copper and zinc ions the activity of the chelating copolymer beads varied with concentration of metal ions and among all silver loaded beads showed better activity against the bacteria tested.

In another study methacrylic acid copolymer beads were used as a solid support for anchoring silver nano particles on the copolymer beads. The methacrylic acid copolymer beads containing silver nanoparticles showed 99.9% reduction for all the bacterial cultures tested within 4 hours of contact time. Formation of copper micro particles on a chelating copolymer beads were achieved by chemical reduction method. Particle size of copper micro particle was found to be in the range of 1.7 -3.5 µm. The chelating functional group formed a stable solid support for anchoring the copper particles on the copolymer beads. The tested bacterial cultures showed 99% reduction in six hours of contact time. The copolymer beads synthesised are characterized with FTIR spectra, UV-VIS spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, CHN analysis, EDX, Optical microscopy and Powder XRD.This research work was supported by Senior Research Fellowship from CSIR, India.

During my research period in CSMCRI, I was also involved in developing speciality polymers for the removal of arsenic from the ground water and development of a field test kit for arsenic. This research work was supported by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Clean Technology Division, India.