TY - JOUR
T1 - Cellulose nanocrystal-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles via microwave assisted method for biofouling control in membrane distillation
AU - Mpala, Tshepiso J.
AU - Serepa-Dlamini, Mahloro Hope
AU - Etale, Anita
AU - Richards, Heidi
AU - Nthunya, Lebea N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Biofouling in membrane distillation (MD) severely impacts the process performance and significantly reduces membrane lifespan. Herein, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), mainly to improve their antibacterial properties. The synthesis of CNC-capped AgNPs was conducted via microwave assisted methods, where CNCs acted both as reducing and capping agents of AgNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the successful synthesis of unevenly distributed AgNPs, markedly exhibiting an average diameter of 13.3 ± 3.94 nm. The antibacterial activity of CNC-capped AgNPs was assessed via minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Embedment of CNC-capped AgNPs on the PVDF membrane was performed via the phase-inversion technique, where tap water was used as coagulating agent. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of pristine PVDF and CNC/AgNP-modified PVDF membrane was assessed via disc diffusion and cell viability. Five different strains of bacteria were tested including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. In comparison to unmodified PVDF membrane, the CNC/AgNP-modified PVDF membrane exhibited strong antibacterial activity, largely because of a decrease in the number of live cells (up to 98 %) following contact with the modified membrane. These results indicate the potential application of CNC/AgNP-modified PVDF membrane toward mitigation of biofouling in MD and other membrane-based water purification processes.
AB - Biofouling in membrane distillation (MD) severely impacts the process performance and significantly reduces membrane lifespan. Herein, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), mainly to improve their antibacterial properties. The synthesis of CNC-capped AgNPs was conducted via microwave assisted methods, where CNCs acted both as reducing and capping agents of AgNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the successful synthesis of unevenly distributed AgNPs, markedly exhibiting an average diameter of 13.3 ± 3.94 nm. The antibacterial activity of CNC-capped AgNPs was assessed via minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Embedment of CNC-capped AgNPs on the PVDF membrane was performed via the phase-inversion technique, where tap water was used as coagulating agent. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of pristine PVDF and CNC/AgNP-modified PVDF membrane was assessed via disc diffusion and cell viability. Five different strains of bacteria were tested including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. In comparison to unmodified PVDF membrane, the CNC/AgNP-modified PVDF membrane exhibited strong antibacterial activity, largely because of a decrease in the number of live cells (up to 98 %) following contact with the modified membrane. These results indicate the potential application of CNC/AgNP-modified PVDF membrane toward mitigation of biofouling in MD and other membrane-based water purification processes.
KW - Antibacterial membranes
KW - Green synthesis
KW - Silver nanoparticles
KW - Thermophiles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143496969&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105028
DO - 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105028
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85143496969
SN - 2352-4928
VL - 34
JO - Materials Today Communications
JF - Materials Today Communications
M1 - 105028
ER -