Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water
Here, multifunctional heterogeneous ion-exchange metal nanocomposite membranes were prepared for surface water desalination and bacterial inactivation under low-pressure (0.05 MPa) filtration conditions. Ultrafiltration (UF) heterogeneous ion exchange membranes (IEMs) were modified with different co...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/4/843 |
| _version_ | 1797618537521479680 |
|---|---|
| author | Fulufhelo Hope Mudau Francis Hassard Machawe Mxolisi Motsa Lueta-Ann De Kock |
| author_facet | Fulufhelo Hope Mudau Francis Hassard Machawe Mxolisi Motsa Lueta-Ann De Kock |
| author_sort | Fulufhelo Hope Mudau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Here, multifunctional heterogeneous ion-exchange metal nanocomposite membranes were prepared for surface water desalination and bacterial inactivation under low-pressure (0.05 MPa) filtration conditions. Ultrafiltration (UF) heterogeneous ion exchange membranes (IEMs) were modified with different concentrations of AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CuSO<sub>4</sub> solutions using the intermatrix synthesis (IMS) technique to produce metal nanocomposite membranes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the metal nanoparticles (MNPs) (Ag and Cu) were uniformly distributed on the surface and the interior of the nanocomposite membranes. With increasing metal precursor solution concentration (0.01 to 0.05 mol·L<sup>−1</sup>), the metal content of Ag and Cu nanocomposite membranes increased from 0.020 to 0.084 mg·cm<sup>−2</sup> and from 0.031 to 0.218 m·cm<sup>−2</sup> respectively. Results showed that the hydrodynamic diameter diameters of Ag and Cu nanoparticles (NPs) increased from 62.42 to 121.10 nm and from 54.2 to 125.7 nm respectively, as the metal precursor concentration loaded increased. The leaching of metals from metal nanocomposite membranes was measured in a dead-end filtration system, and the highest leaching concentration levels were 8.72 ppb and 5.32 ppb for Ag and Cu, respectively. The salt rejection studies indicated that ionic selectivity was improved with increasing metal content. Bacterial filtration showed higher antibacterial activity for metal nanocomposite membranes, reaching 3.6 log bacterial inactivation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:15:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd9d623aab364a78b6f7add46fa5ff67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:15:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd9d623aab364a78b6f7add46fa5ff672023-11-16T22:50:41ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-02-0115484310.3390/polym15040843Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity WaterFulufhelo Hope Mudau0Francis Hassard1Machawe Mxolisi Motsa2Lueta-Ann De Kock3Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1709, South AfricaInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1709, South AfricaInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1709, South AfricaInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1709, South AfricaHere, multifunctional heterogeneous ion-exchange metal nanocomposite membranes were prepared for surface water desalination and bacterial inactivation under low-pressure (0.05 MPa) filtration conditions. Ultrafiltration (UF) heterogeneous ion exchange membranes (IEMs) were modified with different concentrations of AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CuSO<sub>4</sub> solutions using the intermatrix synthesis (IMS) technique to produce metal nanocomposite membranes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the metal nanoparticles (MNPs) (Ag and Cu) were uniformly distributed on the surface and the interior of the nanocomposite membranes. With increasing metal precursor solution concentration (0.01 to 0.05 mol·L<sup>−1</sup>), the metal content of Ag and Cu nanocomposite membranes increased from 0.020 to 0.084 mg·cm<sup>−2</sup> and from 0.031 to 0.218 m·cm<sup>−2</sup> respectively. Results showed that the hydrodynamic diameter diameters of Ag and Cu nanoparticles (NPs) increased from 62.42 to 121.10 nm and from 54.2 to 125.7 nm respectively, as the metal precursor concentration loaded increased. The leaching of metals from metal nanocomposite membranes was measured in a dead-end filtration system, and the highest leaching concentration levels were 8.72 ppb and 5.32 ppb for Ag and Cu, respectively. The salt rejection studies indicated that ionic selectivity was improved with increasing metal content. Bacterial filtration showed higher antibacterial activity for metal nanocomposite membranes, reaching 3.6 log bacterial inactivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/4/843heterogenous ion exchange membranesultrafiltrationsilver nanoparticlescopper nanoparticlesintermatix synthesissurface water treatment |
| spellingShingle | Fulufhelo Hope Mudau Francis Hassard Machawe Mxolisi Motsa Lueta-Ann De Kock Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water Polymers heterogenous ion exchange membranes ultrafiltration silver nanoparticles copper nanoparticles intermatix synthesis surface water treatment |
| title | Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water |
| title_full | Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water |
| title_fullStr | Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water |
| title_short | Multifunctional Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Membranes for Ion and Microbe Removal in Low-Salinity Water |
| title_sort | multifunctional heterogeneous ion exchange membranes for ion and microbe removal in low salinity water |
| topic | heterogenous ion exchange membranes ultrafiltration silver nanoparticles copper nanoparticles intermatix synthesis surface water treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/4/843 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fulufhelohopemudau multifunctionalheterogeneousionexchangemembranesforionandmicroberemovalinlowsalinitywater AT francishassard multifunctionalheterogeneousionexchangemembranesforionandmicroberemovalinlowsalinitywater AT machawemxolisimotsa multifunctionalheterogeneousionexchangemembranesforionandmicroberemovalinlowsalinitywater AT luetaanndekock multifunctionalheterogeneousionexchangemembranesforionandmicroberemovalinlowsalinitywater |