Effect of light irradiation on the antibacterial activity of compounded papers containing wasted tea leaves

Abstract

The endurance of the antibacterial properties of compounded papers containing wasted green tea leaves needs to be examined before considering these papers for long-term use. Hence, compounded papers containing 60 wt% wasted green tea leaves were irradiated for 1-200 h using a xenon lamp to examine the effect of irradiation on antibacterial properties of the paper. Irradiation for 20 h (cumulative ultraviolet dose at 365 nm, 6.67 × 106 J/m2) or longer was found to greatly increase the antibacterial activity of the paper to a level at which no bacterial cell was confirmed to be viable. The paper was also covered with various glass filters and irradiated for 1 h. Irradiation exclusively with visible rays did not significantly affect the antibacterial activity of the paper, whereas irradiation exclusively with ultraviolet rays, even for a short time, greatly increased the antibacterial activity. © 2010 The Japan Wood Research Society.