Antibacterial and Hydrophilic Characteristics of Poly(ether sulfone) Composite Membranes Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Grafted with Hydrophilic Polymers

An ultrafiltration membrane with antibacterial effectiveness and high water flux was prepared from poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles grafted with poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP- g -ZnO) and poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone- co -acrylonitrile) (P(VP-AN)- g -ZnO). The PES membrane did not exhibit antibacterial activity, whereas the PES membranes containing more than 0.5 wt % of ZnO nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity, regardless of the polymer grafted onto the ZnO. The solute rejection measured with the PES/P(VP-AN)- g -ZnO membrane was nearly identical to that measured with the PES membrane. The water flux of the PES membrane involving polymer-grafted ZnO nanoparticles was higher than that of the PES membrane containing pristine ZnO nanoparticles when the ZnO concentration in the membrane was fixed, The PES/PVP- g -ZnO and the PES/P(VP-AN)- g -ZnO membranes exhibited nearly identical water flux. Membranes exhibiting antibacterial effectiveness, improved water flux, and antifouling characteristic without changes in solute rejection could be produced by incorporating P(VP-AN)- g -ZnO.