Antibacterial silver treatments on polymeric membranes for fouling control and disinfection in water filtration

Over the past several decades, a lot of emerging contaminants have been detected in water and wastewater effluents. Their release should be minimized since their presence in the environment can result in toxic effects for water and human life. Many differ- ent technologies have been used to remove contaminants from drinking water; among them, filtration is one of the most commonly used methods. This study investigated the antibacterial capability of silver water filters and their potential application in the reduction of bacterial fouling and proliferation in water treatment. Poly(ether sulfone) membranes commonly used in water filtration were coated with silver nanoparticles synthesized via the in situ photoreduction method. The morphology of the coating and the distribu- tion of silver clusters were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The amount of silver on the surface was quantified by thermog- ravimetric analysis, and the silver released from the substrate was analyzed through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The antibacterial capability of the silver-treated filters was demonstrated through microbiological tests defined for the specific applica- tion on Escherichia coli, as the representative coliform bacterium and pathogenic microorganism commonly associated with contami- nated drinking water.