Fabrication of anti-biofouling and antibacterial polysulfone membrane via impregnation of silver nanoparticles

Authors

  • Maryam Ayub Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Syed Zeeshan Haider Naqvi Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Waseem Ahmad Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Maaz Arif Central Park Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Khaleeq Ahmad Saqib Avicenna International Medical University, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
  • Abdul Hameed Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Naeem Ali Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Nabeel Ahmad Department of Chemical Engineering, Comsats University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05025

Keywords:

Anti-biofouling, Polysulfone membrane, silver nanoparticles, Wastewater treatment

Abstract

Biofouling is amongst the paramount complications in membrane filtration systems, which are used to purify wastewater. It increases the price tag on processes, whereas decreases the membrane permeability and period efficiency. Utilizing the strong attributes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antibacterial agents, mycological originated AgNPs were evaluated in the study. Development of polysulfone membrane (Psf) infused with AgNPs for wastewater treatment, having antibacterial along with antifouling properties were included in the study. Several water-drainage microbial insulates, e.g, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella choleraesuis, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus appeared to be restrained against AgNPs of concentration 50-500 ppm. The AgNPs impregnated Psf ultrafiltration membranes reduced the bacterial count (cfu/cm2) at the 7th, 21st, 30th and 45th day of experimentation in contrast to standard Psf membrane. The efficacy of this anti-biofouling was confirmed by employing FTIR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization techniques. Within FTIR, in addition to characteristic highs of Psf layer, a new top at 687 cm-1 showing a -CH=CH- pattern in the cis transfiguration was also present, proving the particular degradation of membrane on account of biofouling. The SEM images confirmed that AgNPs tried their best to hinder biofouling, hence, AgNPs proved to be a beneficial solution for restraining the biofilm expansion and increasing membrane life.

Keywords: Anti-biofouling, Polysulfone membrane, silver nanoparticles, Wastewater treatment

Author Biography

Syed Zeeshan Haider Naqvi, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.

Assistant Professor, IMBB, UOL, Lahore.

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Published

2023-02-22

How to Cite

Ayub, M., Naqvi, S. Z. H., Ahmad, W., Arif, M. M., Saqib, K. A., Hameed, A., Ali, N., & Ahmad, N. (2023). Fabrication of anti-biofouling and antibacterial polysulfone membrane via impregnation of silver nanoparticles. Journal of the Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 50(2). https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05025

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 2 (2022): Journal of the Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers

Section

Articles

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