Inhibition of bacterial adhesion on cellulose acetate membranes containing silver nanoparticles

• Published in: Cellulose (London) 2015-12, Vol.22 (6), p.3895-3906
• Main Authors: Andrade, Patricia Fernanda, de Faria, Andreia Fonseca, Quites, Fernando Júnior, Oliveira, Silvana Ruella, Alves, Oswaldo Luiz, Arruda, Marco Aurélio Zezzi, Gonçalves, Maria do Carmo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy; Biofouling; Bioorganic Chemistry; Cellulose acetate; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Crystal structure; Cyclodextrins; Dispersion; E coli; Energy costs; Field emission microscopy; Glass; Image detection; Membranes; Microscopy; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Natural Materials; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Plates (structural members); Polymer Sciences; Silver; Sustainable Development; Thermal degradation; Wastewater treatment; Water purification; Water treatment
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-015-0752-6

Membrane fouling is one of the major drawbacks that changes polymeric membrane performance. Biofouling has a series of effects, such as to reduce membrane permeability, to increase energy costs and to decrease membrane lifetime. Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes, containing different amounts of β-cyclodextrin stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNP-β-CD), were prepared by dispersing the pre-synthesized nanoparticle (28 nm mean diameter) in CA casting solution. These membranes were obtained by phase-inversion process, in order to achieve both antibacterial properties and biofouling resistance. The typical crystal structure of the AgNP-β-CD, before and after being dispersed in CA membranes, was detected by X-ray diffraction. Field emission electron microscopy images showed membranes with finger-like morphology and atomic force microscopy images showed the presence of nanoparticles in the membrane top surface. The results indicated that the presence of AgNP-β-CD did not influence the membrane thermal degradation but increased the water flux through the membrane. The antibacterial activity of the membranes containing AgNP-β-CD (CA-Ag) was evaluated against E . coli and S . aureus using the plate count method. The results showed that almost 100 % of the E . coli and S . aureus viable cells were inhibited after 12 h of contact with CA-Ag membranes. In addition, the CA membranes were able to prevent more than 90 % E . coli biofilm formation. Based on the results, CA membranes prepared with AgNP-β-CD can be potentially applied as anti-biofouling filtration membranes for water treatment and wastewater recovery.