Preparation of single-walled carbon nanotubes/polyvinylchloride membrane and its antibacterial property

Fangbo Zhao, Feng Qiu, Xiaohui Zhang, Shuili Yu, Han Shin Kim, Hee Deung Park, Satoshi Takizawa, Peng Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) ultrafiltration membranes were modified by blending with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to improve the membranes' antibacterial property. Both modified and control samples were characterized for pore structure, roughness, hydrophilicity, permeability and mechanical properties. The membranes' antibacterial property was accessed with Escherichia coli as the model microbes by several methods. It was found that, after being blended with SWCNTs, the surface roughness of the modified membrane increased. Also, the surface hydrophilicity was improved. The membrane flux increased accordingly. But the membrane elongation decreased obviously with the SWCNTs addition. The modified membranes did not show the antibacterial property as expected in this research. There was no bacterial inhibition circle around the SWCNTs/PVC membrane coupons in the culture plates. There were no morphological differences of the cells on the control and the modified membranes. Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide stain test showed that there were more than 90% living bacterial cells which could grow on the SWCNTs/PVC membranes. This study suggests that the polymer wrapping may reduce the SWCNTs' antibacterial property greatly.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2275-2283
Number of pages9
JournalWater Science and Technology
Volume66
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Antibacterial property
  • Membrane
  • Polymer
  • Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
  • Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology

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