Preparation and characterization of antibacterial polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane

The aim of this study is to develop a polyethersulfone (PES) nanocomposite membrane with antimicrobial activity for using in food industries. For this purpose, PES ultrafiltration membranes were prepared via phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation technique. Then silver nanoparticles were coated on the PES membrane surface by immersion in the colloidal silver solution that synthesized by chemical reduction of silver nitrate salt. Surface properties of the prepared PES membranes were examined by AFM and FESEM analysis and the amounts of coated silver and silver ion release from nanocomposite surface were determined by atomic absorption. The ultrafiltration performance of nanocomposite membrane was evaluated by a cross flow flat sheet UF membrane unit. The results indicated that coating PES membranes with nano silver the water permeation flux decreased from 8.85 to 5.55 kg/hr.m2, and the AFM images indicated that RMS of the coated membrane were decreased from 15.07 to 7.2 nm. This result confirms flux decrease of the nano silver coated membrane. Also, the quantity of silver ion release in the permeate and retentate streams was 12.3 and 12 μg/lit.hr, respectively

Keywords:

ultrafiltration membrane , silver , polyethersulfone (PES) nanocomposite , nanoparticles synthesis , phase inversion