Effects of Particle Morphology on the Antibiofouling Performance of Silver Embedded Polysulfone Membranes and Rate of Silver Leaching

Abstract

Herein we report the effects of particle morphology on the antibiofouling performance and silver leaching of silver embedded polysulfone (PSf) membranes. Composite PSf membranes were incorporated with three silver particles with different size and shape: microparticle (mAg), nanoparticle (npAg), and nanowire (nwAg). Biofouling of a control and Ag-embedded PSf membranes were monitored in a direct observation system, and bacterial antiadhesive property was observed only with membranes incorporated with nanoscale Ag particles, i.e., npAg and nwAg. Ag leaching experiments indicate that Ag release from composite membrane during filtration did not corroborate with Ag dissolution, suggesting liberation of whole Ag particles. mAg-PSf registered the highest Ag release despite the slowest dissolution kinetics of mAg, which accounted for its lack of antiadhesion property despite similar antimicrobial activities. Overall, the study highlights the role of particle morphology in regulating Ag leaching and thus in contr...