Improving antifouling ability by site-specific silver decoration on polyethylene ionomer membranes for water remediation: assessed using 3D micro computed tomography, water flux and antibacterial studies

摘要: Blending immiscible polymer blends often results in coarse microstructures due to interfacial driven coarsening. However, by introducing specific interactions between the constituents, evolving microstructure can be tailor-made. Herein, water insoluble poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) zinc salt (Surlyn) was blended with soluble polyethylene oxide (PEO) 50/50 (wt/wt) ratio construct co-continuous structures that were not possible blending PE and PEO at same fraction. By selectively etching phase (PEO), porous membranes designed well-defined as assessed using X-ray micro-computed tomography pure flux across studied systematically. In order impart an antibacterial surface, silver directly reduced on membrane surface utilizing un-neutralized carboxylic acid moieties present Surlyn reducing sites. This led uniform decoration of which enhanced antifouling properties. The presence confirmed photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). distribution morphology evaluated field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled EDAX analysis. activity a standard plate count method wherein bacterial cells direct contact decorated membranes. content sustained release from monitored inductively plasma optical spectrometry. study opens new avenues designing efficient scalable