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.