Plasma deposition of silver nanoparticles on ultrafiltration membranes: antibacterial and antibiofouling properties

CRUZ, MERCEDES CECILIA; WOLF, MARCUS; SCHMITTGENS, RALPH; CASTRO VIDAURRE, ELZA; RAJAL, VERONICA

Aachen

Conferencia; 6th IWA Specialist Conference on Membrane Technology for water and wastewater treatment; 2011

International Water Association

Trabajo aceptado para su presentación en formato poster. Adjunto abstract extendido.Abstract: The use of membranes for water purification is increasing, yet the microbiologicalcontamination (biofouling) of polymeric membranes and associated decrease inmembrane flux reduce the efficacy of the process. Unwanted effects includeincreasing manufacturing and energy costs, destruction of membranes, reduction inoperating life times, and secondary contamination of water by the metabolic productsof microorganisms . To reduce the incidence of biofouling, ultrafiltrationmembranes have been synthesized with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) in their matrix. In this work a new vacuum-based method for nanocomposite thin filmfabrication is used to deposit Ag-NP on the membrane surface.Commercial membranes were activated with low temperature plasma with differentgases (Ar and O2), then a thin polymer film of Poly(methyl metacrylate) (PMMA) wasdeposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) and finallysubjected to silver nanoparticle deposition by gas flow sputtering (GFS). Thesemodifications were made to pursue the final objective of improving the efficiency ofthe water disinfection process and develop membrane systems that are lesssusceptible to biofouling due to the bactericidal activity of the deposited Ag-NP.