Synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of cationic microfiltration membranes coated with ZnO/CS/Ag2O nanoparticles for S. aureus removal from water

Articles in Press

Authors

School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In the present study, the surface modification of polymeric microfiltration (MF) membranes was done to develop cheap water disinfection systems for areas that suffer from a lack of access to drinking water. Two strategies have been used to remove bacteria. Their capture occurs through the electrostatic interaction of bacteria with the cationic surface of the membrane and the antibacterial effects of zinc oxide/chitosan/silver oxide nanocomposite, which is much cheaper compared to silver nanoparticles used in previous reports. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microfiltration, with an average pore size of 450 nm, was modified through the polymerization of polydopamine (PDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI), and the incorporation of ZnO/CS/Ag2O nanoparticles. The nanoparticles and membranes were analyzed through various characterization methods such as XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, EDAX, contact angle, zeta potential and antibacterial tests. The results showed that the surface modification of the membranes significantly enhanced their hydrophilicity. Moreover, no considerable reduction in water flux was detected (37% decrease in flux). The bacterial removal efficiency (S. aureus) after filtration with the modified membrane was estimated at about 99.98%, which met WHO standards for drinking water. Therefore, the modified MF membrane can be considered a platform for developing cheap gravity-driven technologies to supply safe water to people.

Keywords

Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 24 December 2023

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 June 2023
  • Revise Date: 10 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 24 December 2023

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