Preparation and performance of silver nanoparticle incorporated polyetherethersulfone nanofiltration membranes

Studies on the preparation of nanofiltration (NF) membranes with silver nanoparticle (Ag-Np) were conducted. The membranes were synthesized with different concentrations of Ag-Np by the phase inversion method, using 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvent and deionized water as the coagulant. Ag-Np was prepared by the simple chemical reduction method. The formation, structure, morphology and size of Ag-Np were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Polyetherethersulfone/Ag-Np flat-sheet membranes were prepared by the phase inversion method and investigated in terms of compaction, pure water flux, water content, hydraulic resistance, molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), porosity, hydrophilicity and mechanical properties. The morphology of the membranes was studied by SEM. The elemental composition of the membranes was evaluated by energy dispersive x-ray (EDX). Performance of the membranes was evaluated by mono and divalent metal ion rejection studies. Antibacterial activity studies of the membranes were evaluated by the Muller-Hinton disk diffusion method, against the gram negative (bacterium) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the gram positive bacterium of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The results revealed that the incorporation of Ag-Np increases the performance of the membranes.