Researchers Develop Antibacterial Nanofiber Membranes for Water Filtration

Researchers fabricated composite nanofiber membranes by incorporating green-synthesized silver, zinc oxide, and copper oxide nanoparticles into polyacrylonitrile fibers through electrospinning. The resulting materials were tested for surface morphology, mechanical properties, and antibacterial performance.

Silver nanoparticles were produced by photoreduction, while zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using sumac fruit extract. All nanoparticles were characterized before being loaded separately into polyacrylonitrile solutions for electrospinning.

Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the presence and distribution of nanoparticles within the fibers. Mechanical testing showed that nanoparticle addition increased the strength of the plain polyacrylonitrile membranes.

All three composite membranes exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli. The silver nanoparticle-loaded version produced the strongest bactericidal effect among the tested samples. The membranes were also evaluated for nanoparticle release and filtration capability with contaminated drinking water.

Researchers concluded that the composites could be suitable for water disinfection applications based on the observed performance.

“By considering the excellent results of nanofibrous composites, they can therefore be recommended for water disinfection applications.”