Anthony, Eric T. 0000-0002-1367-6136Ojemaye, Mike O. 0000-0002-4038-7639Okoh, Omobola O. 0000-0003-3372-1958Okoh, Anthony I. 0000-0002-9770-085X2026-02-222026-02-222022-05-31Anthony TE; Ojemaye O; Okoh OO; Okoh A (2022): Influence of different Ag/ZnO heterostructures on the removal efficiency of multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium harboring multiple resistance genes from tap water: Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy, 10.1002(13925). https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13925http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/3800The adsorption efficiency of different Ag/ZnO heterostructures was investigated for the removal of multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium (MDR_EF) harboring multiple resistance genes from tap-water. The concentration of the precursors influences the microstructures of the adsorbents; however, it did not significantly affect the adsorption efficiency. The maximum adsorption capacity, qe, (34.11 CFU/g), was obtained for Ag1Zn3.5. The kinetic studies revealed that Ag1Zn1 and Ag1Zn2 adsorbents agreed to the pseudo-first-order kinetic equation and adsorbents Ag2Zn1, Ag3.5Zn1 and Ag1Zn3.5 agreed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. Initial tap-water pH range was beneficial for the adsorption and the pH of the treated tap-water was within the WHO tap water recommendation (6.5–8.5), whereas the effect of ionic strength, anionic and cationic interference was insignificant in the adsorption of MDR_EF onto the different heterostructure. Interestingly, the MDR_EF could retain its cell membrane integrity and resistance genes, suggesting that surface adsorption was the primary mechanism for the removal.enadsorptionAg/ZnO heterostructuresantibiotic resistance bacteriainnersphere complexationArticle