fa <span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Optima"><span style="color:black"><b>Objective:</b> The objective of this research was focused on the development of new organoclay based composite that serves as both antibacterial and dye removing agent for the treatment of microbial and dyes contaminated water from the source.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Optima"><span style="color:black"><b>Material and Methods:</b> The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the kaolinite was improved through acid treatment. Chlorhexidine- loaded zinc- kaolinite was prepared via adsorption of chlorhexidine acetate (0.5 mmol/L) on zinc-kaolinite. The composites were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The antibacterial assays of the composites were conducted against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) using disc diffusion technique (DDT), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Optima"><span style="color:black"><b>Results: </b>The CEC value of the acid treated kaolinite (Kaot₂) was improved from 9.26 <u>+</u> 0.82 to 13.43<u>+</u>1.61 meq/100g, the morphology of the composite remains intact and indicate the presence of Zinc (Zn) after formulation. The target composite (Chx-Zn-Kaot₂) shows its effectiveness against <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>S. typhi</i> showing the inhibition zones of 26 mm and 1.5 mm respectively. Similarly, MIC, with 120 mg/mL inhibit both organisms while MBC revealed that the target composite, 60 mg/mL kills <i>S. aureus</i> and 120 mg/mL kills <i>S. typhi</i> respectively. </span></span></span></span><br> <b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:">Conclusion:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"> The formulated target composite is a good candidate for the treatment of drinking water contaminated with such microorganisms and can be able to remove substantial content of dyes.</span></span></span> Antibacterial, Dye removal, Modified Kaolinite, Contaminated water, Water treatment 76 88 http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-25-37&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 Mustapha Isah mustyeeser029@gmail.com 10031947532846002081 10031947532846002081 Yes Department of Biochemistry, Sokoto State University, PMB 2134, Sokoto State, Nigeria Abubakar B. Shagari bawashagari@gmail.com 10031947532846002082 10031947532846002082 No Department of Biochemistry, Sokoto State University, PMB 2134, Sokoto State, Nigeria Hizbullah M. Usman muhammadhiz04@gmail.com 10031947532846002083 10031947532846002083 No epartment of Microbiology, Sokoto State University, Sokoto State, Nigeria