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Poly(ether sulfone)-based ultrafiltration membranes using chitosan/ammonium chloride to enhance permeability and antifouling properties

Polymer Journal volume 54, pages 525–537 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

The presence of microorganisms on filtration membranes can cause biofouling phenomena. In this study, poly(ether sulfone)- (PES)-based functional ultrafiltration membranes were developed by employing chitosan (CS) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) as antibacterial agents to enhance antibiofouling properties. A PES membrane was prepared using the phase inversion method and then immersed in CS/NH4Cl solutions containing different NH4Cl concentrations to form composite membranes. The membrane antibiofouling properties were evaluated using Kirby Bauer and total plate counting methods. The structures and properties of the composite membranes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, SEM-EDX, porosity and hydrophilicity measurements, and tensile tests. The addition of NH4Cl increased the antibiofouling properties of the membranes, where maximum bacteria-killing ratio (%BKR) values of 99.2 and 83.3% were observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. The addition of CS/NH4Cl not only modified the morphological structure of the PES membrane but also increased its hydrophilicity (water contact angle from 82.3 to 64.4°), porosity (49.6 to 70%), and mechanical strength (0.57 to 8.7 MPa). The results from performance tests, compared with other similar membrane systems, firmly suggest that the synthesized membranes are promising for water and wastewater purification through the ultrafiltration method.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by World Class Professor (WCP) Program Scheme B (2021) by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fundamental Research Grants (273/UN40.LP/PT.01.03/2021), Intellectual Property Right-Oriented Research Grant (674/UN40.LP/PT.01.03/2021), and FPMIPA-UPI Research Grant (1060/UN40/PT.01.02/2021). Support from the Center of Excellence in Materials and Plasma Technology (CoE M@P Tech), Thammasat University, Thailand, to P.O. is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Indonesia University of Education, Setiabudhi 229, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia

    Fitri Khoerunnisa, Marthini Sihombing, Mita Nurhayati, Hari Agung Triadi, Hendrawan Hendrawan & Amelinda Pratiwi

  2. Research Unit for Clean Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bandung, 40135, Indonesia

    Fitri Dara & Muhamad Nasir

  3. School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia

    Eng-Poh Ng

  4. School of Bio-Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Bangkok, Pathum Thani, 12121, Thailand

    Pakorn Opaprakasit

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  1. Fitri Khoerunnisa
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Contributions

FK: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing–Original Draft, Funding Acquisition MS: Investigation, Formal Analysis MN: Writing–Original Draft, Visualization, Investigation FD: Investigation HAT: Investigation, Formal Analysis MN: Resources Hendrawan: Writing–Review & Editing AP: Investigation E-PN: Resources PO: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing–Review & Editing, Supervision.

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Correspondence to Fitri Khoerunnisa or Pakorn Opaprakasit.

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Khoerunnisa, F., Sihombing, M., Nurhayati, M. et al. Poly(ether sulfone)-based ultrafiltration membranes using chitosan/ammonium chloride to enhance permeability and antifouling properties. Polym J 54, 525–537 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-021-00607-7

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