Pagán-Pagán, Nataira M.

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    Sulfonated polymer metal nanocomposite membranes with bacterial disinfection activity in water
    (2018-05) Pagán-Pagán, Nataira M.; Suleiman-Rosado, David; College of Engineering; Tarafa Vélez, Pedro J.; Bogere, Moses N.; Montalvo Rodríguez, Rafael R.; Acevedo Rullán, Aldo; Department of Chemical Engineering; Cortés Figueroa, José E.
    This study describes the synthesis and characterization of sulfonated poly(styreneisobutylene- styrene) (SIBS) polymer nanocomposite membranes, which show antibacterial properties useful for the inactivation of Enterococci and Escherichia coli (E. coli) pathogenic bacteria present in surface waters, particularly when cupric (Cu2+) and ferric (Fe3+) counter-ions were cross-linked to the membrane. The antibacterial evaluation of copper-exchanged and ironexchanged sulfonated SIBS was carried out by assaying the presence of Enterococci and E. coli bacteria after the membranes were brought into contact with bacteria suspensions. Overall, the cell viability results obtained suggested that Enterococci was more susceptible to inactivation than E. coli and that copper-exchanged sulfonated SIBS successfully inactivated most of both pathogenic bacteria. It was found that copper-exchanged sulfonated SIBS was more selective to E. coli and iron-exchanged sulfonated SIBS was more selective to Enterococci bacteria although the extent of inactivation varied depending on the water source, treatment time, the water sample volume and initial concentration of the bacteria suspensions. Moreover, it was observed that the inactivation of E. coli was strongly influenced by the degree of sulfonation, since it was found to be dependent on the quantity of the Cu2+ exchanged in the copper-exchanged sulfonated SIBS membrane. The physico-chemical properties of copper-exchanged and iron-exchanged sulfonated SIBS were influenced by the exposure to bacteria suspensions nevertheless, the antibacterial properties of the membranes were not compromised since, with reusable membranes, nearly 0% cell viability was obtained.