Antibacterial Properties of Microfiltration Membranes Modified by Silver Nitrate

Abstract

The modification of a nylon microfiltration membrane with silver compounds for the disinfection of drinking water under dynamic conditions has been carried out, and the antibacterial properties of the modified membranes have been studied. It has been revealed that the initial microfiltration membrane is not capable of complete removal of microorganisms from water. It has been determined that membrane modification with the silver compounds leads to the complete disinfection of the water. In this case, the modification does not lead to a significant decrease in the specific productivity of the membranes. Insoluble silver salts are distributed on the membrane surface in the form of particles from 0.1 to 5 μm. Depending on the type of the silver compound used for the treatment of membranes, the silver content ranges from 5.11 to 9.06 wt %. The most uniform distribution of silver over the entire membrane surface and the maximum content are achieved by treating the membrane with an AgNO₃ solution.