Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Embedded Electrospun PAN Nanofiber Thin-Film Composite Forward Osmosis Membrane to Enhance Performance and Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

Enhancing antimicrobial activity is an effective strategy to mitigate membrane biofouling. In this study, an antimicrobial electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber mat decorated with in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was developed as support for a thin-film composite forward osmosis (FO) membrane. Effects of AgNPs on the physicochemical properties, water flux, reverse salt flux, and antimicrobial activity of the FO membrane were investigated, and also the antimicrobial mechanism was explored. Results showed AgNPs were monodisperse in the nanofibers, and the Ag/PAN nanofiber support (Ag/PAN-NFS) had a scaffoldlike structure which could reduce internal concentration polarization. The Ag/PAN-NFS supported thin-film nanocomposite (Ag/PAN-TFN) FO membrane demonstrated outstanding hydrophilicity, resulting in high water fluxes in both FO and PRO modes. The Ag/PAN-TFN FO membranes, even the one with the lowest silver content of 0.5 wt %, exhibited excellent antibacterial activities for E. coli (96%) and S. aureus (92%), which was mainly due to the Ag + -species released into the solution.

Novel Polyvinyl Butyral/Monoacylglycerol Nanofibrous Membrane with Antifouling Activity

“…Materials benefiting from antifouling properties prevent the accumulation of biofilms on their surfaces either by repelling microorganisms or affecting the microbial biofilm structure (via steric repulsion or nanoscale rough topography), whereas antimicrobial coatings evince bacteriostatic or bactericidal activity by releasing an antimicrobial compound [ 26 ]. The most often surface-modified nanofibrous membranes applied in water treatment are prepared from polyvinylidene fluoride and its copolymers; nevertheless, the cellulose acetate or polyacrylonitrile are also widely used [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. A comprehensive review on polymers for fabrication of nanofibrous membranes for water treatment is available in the literature [ 31 ].…”

Complex organic fouling and effect of silver nanoparticles on aquaporin forward osmosis membranes

“…Diffraction peaks at 12, 18, 23 and 26° are typical for amorphous polymers [41]. The appearance of a new diffraction peak at 38° (Figure 10) corresponds to the (111) plane of the face-centred cubic structure of metallic silver particles [42]. The results exhibited in Figure show that the attachment of the nanoparticles to the membrane did not affect the ability of the aquaporin channels to transfer water, i.e.…”

An Overview of the Water Remediation Potential of Nanomaterials and Their Ecotoxicological Impacts

“…Self-sustained hydrophilic nanofiber supports have been investigated for construction of the TFC FO membranes [55]. With a particular scaffold-like structure, the nanofiber support optimally lowers the internal concentration polarization (ICP) and raises water flux.…”

“…This strategy has been previously applied for various applications with respect to wound dressings [56] and water filtration [57]. For FO water treatment, Pan et al [55] synthesized a TFC FO membrane based on an antibiofouling Ag nanoparticle-incorporated nanofibrous support layer, that could offer an improved water flux and reduce biofouling and ICP, Figure 5a-e. The as-formed FO membrane provides a remarkable bactericidal effect for E. coli (96%) and S. aureus (92%), thanks to release of Ag + -species into the solution.…”