The antibacterial activity of 21 nm TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and particles modified with Garcinia zeylanica (G. zeylanica) against Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in the presence and absence of light. Surface modification of TiO2 NPs with the adsorption of G. zeylanica extract, causes to shift the absorption edge of TiO2 NPs to higher wavelength. TiO2 NPs, G. zeylanica pericarp extract showed significant bactericidal activity which was further enhanced in contact with the TiO2 modified G. zeylanica extract. The antimicrobial activity was enhanced in the presence of TiO2 NPs modified with G. zeylanica and with longer contact time.

Key words: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; silver nanoparticles; antimicrobial activity

This investigation identified that ion-exchange chromatography can efficiently remove iron from the leaching of ilmenite by HCl. The strong basic anionic-exchange resin IRA 410 Cl is capable of retaining the negatively charged iron chloro complex from 20% HCl leachate of ilmenite. Oxidative conversion of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ facilitates the iron exchange to the resin, resulting in an iron-free solution of titanium oxychloride (TiOCl₂). This can be directly used to produce synthetic rutile. The procedure is relatively simple and generates little acid waste.