Method for inhibiting microbial growth in liquid nutrients

1. A method for inhibiting growth of microbes in a liquid, comprising the steps of;

a. providing a container for holding a liquid having a pH equal to or greater than about 2.5, said container having an internal surface having a polymeric layer thereon, said polymeric layer having an ion sequestering agent provided on at least a portion of said internal surface for removing designated metal ions from said liquid to inhibit growth of said microbes, said metal-ion sequestering agent comprises derivatized nanoparticles comprising inorganic nanoparticles having an attached metal-ion sequestrant, wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 200 nm and the derivatized nanoparticles have a stability constant greater than 10 10 with iron (III), said metal-ion sequestering agent is immobilized in said polymeric layer and comprises 0.1 to 50.0% by weight of the polymeric layer, and the polymeric layer contacts the liquid contained therein and is permeable to water;

b. filling said container with said liquid in an open environment;

c. closing said container with said liquid contained therein; and

d. shipping said container for use of said liquid without any further processing of said container containing said liquid.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said container is positioned so that said sequestering agent contacts said liquid.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said container comprises a bottle and cap assembly.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said bottle is made of a plastic material.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said sequestering agent is provided on the internal surface of said cap.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said bottle is made of a material that includes said sequestering agent.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said liquid has a pH equal to or greater than about 4.