Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Membrane Modified with Ag/GO Composite for Water Purification System

Abstract

Silver nanoparticle-modified graphene oxide (Ag/GO) was reliably prepared by using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of citric acid capping agent via a simple wet chemistry method. This rapidly formed Ag/GO composite exhibited good dispersity in a solution containing hydrophilic polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Subsequent electrospinning of this precursor solution resulted in the successful formation of nanofibers without any notable defects. The Ag/GO-incorporated PAN nanofibers showed thinner fiber strands (544 ± 82 nm) compared to those of GO-PAN (688 ± 177 nm) and bare-PAN (656 ± 59 nm). Subsequent thermal treatment of nanofibers resulted in the preparation of thin membranes to possess the desired pore property and outstanding wettability. The Ag/GO-PAN nanofiber membrane also showed 30% higher water flux value (390 LMH) than that of bare-PAN (300 LMH) for possible microfiltration (MF) application. In addition, the resulting Ag/GO-PAN nanofiber membrane exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). Furthermore, this composite membrane exhibited outstanding anti-fouling property compared to the GO-PAN nanofiber membrane in the wastewater treatment. Therefore, the simple modification strategy allows for the effective formation of Ag/GO composite as a filler that can be reliably incorporated into polymer nanofiber membranes to possess improved overall properties for wastewater treatment applications.

Current Status and Advancement of Nanomaterials within Polymeric Membranes for Water Purification

“…71 An improvement of the GO−PAN nanofiber membrane was reported by Jang and co-workers, where silver nanoparticles were added into GO to prepare a composite. 72 In their work, the composite of silver nanoparticles and graphene oxide (Ag/GO) was electrospun with hydrophilic polyacrylonitrile (PAN), resulting in the successful formation of nanofibers. 72 The authors of this work evaluated the water purification performance of the Ag/GO-PAN nanofiber membrane and found that the membrane had thinner fiber strands as well as smaller pore sizes compared to bare PAN, an observation that could be due to the miscibility of the GO-based nanofillers and the polymer as shown in Figure 2.…”

“…72 In their work, the composite of silver nanoparticles and graphene oxide (Ag/GO) was electrospun with hydrophilic polyacrylonitrile (PAN), resulting in the successful formation of nanofibers. 72 The authors of this work evaluated the water purification performance of the Ag/GO-PAN nanofiber membrane and found that the membrane had thinner fiber strands as well as smaller pore sizes compared to bare PAN, an observation that could be due to the miscibility of the GO-based nanofillers and the polymer as shown in Figure 2. Their findings additionally demonstrated that the Ag/GO-PAN membrane displayed enhanced antibacterial potency, heightened water permeability, and enhanced antifouling effectiveness when compared to the unmodified PAN nanofiber membrane.…”

Efficacy of Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes on Fouling Mitigation: A Review

“…122 Instead of making thin film nanocomposites, Jang et al fabricated PAN nanofiber membranes with GO and silver NPs, which gave a better flux than TFN membranes. 123 In the synthesis procedure in which Ag + reduced to Ag NPs, GO is reduced to rGO simultaneously. This hydrophobic membrane exhibited contact inhibition mechanisms for amplified sterilization for E. coli and S. aureus.…”

“…Instead of making thin film nanocomposites, Jang et al fabricated PAN nanofiber membranes with GO and silver NPs, which gave a better flux than TFN membranes . In the synthesis procedure in which Ag + reduced to Ag NPs, GO is reduced to rGO simultaneously.…”

A comparative investigation of the synergistic correlation (mechanical-hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity vs. structural behaviors) of a series of surface-metalized polyacrylonitrile fibers by silver nanoparticles (AgPAN): An in-situ surface metallization protocol

“…Jang et al proposed that the good miscibility between the silver/graphene oxide “Ag/GO” and PAN nanofibers is as a detectable factor for enhancing wetting. 65 Pan 66 and Chen 67 an antibiofouling forward osmosis (FO) membrane and a reusable/ant-toxicity membrane by facial chemical activation/metallization approaches of PAN-based nanofibers under electrospinning conditions in the presence of Ag NPs and Myoporum. bontoids Ag/g-C 3 N 4 , respectively, which were as stabilizer/reinforcement agents.…”