Incorporation of oleic acid-modified Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles into thin film composite membranes for enhanced antifouling and antibacterial properties

In this study, [email protected] acid (OAc)/polyamide (PA) thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization with dispersing hydrophobic [email protected] core-shell nanoparticles in trimesoyl chloride (TMC) solutions. The [email protected] nanoparticle structure and interactions between OAc and TMC were confirmed by TEM, XPS and FTIR. Surface morphology, roughness, chemical composition, hydrophilicity and charges of the synthesized membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR, contact angle and zeta potential analyses. The results showed that incorporating the [email protected] nanoparticles into the PA layer improved chemical and physical properties of the TFN membranes. Compared with the nanoparticle-free TFC membrane, the [email protected]/PA TFN membrane showed a considerably higher salt rejection, and a lower flux decline rate when tested with filtration of BSA solution as a model foulant and a higher flux recovery with water flush. In addition, the [email protected]/PA TFN membrane showed excellent antibacterial performance against E. coli and S. aureus.