Influence of Deposition Parameters of TiO2 + CuO Coating on the Membranes Surface Used in the Filtration Process of Dairy Wastewater on Their Functional Properties

A novel approach of the deposition of two-component coating consisting of TiO2 and CuO on polymer membranes by MS-PVD method was presented in this work. This confirmed the possibility of using thin functional coatings for the modification of polymer membranes. The influence of technological parameters of the coating deposition on the membrane’s structure, chemical composition and functional properties (hydrophilic, photocatalytic and bactericidal properties) were analyzed using SEM. Model microorganism such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis have been used to check the antibacterial properties. The results indicated that doping with CuO highlights the potential of bactericidal efficiency. The surface properties of the membranes were evaluated with the surface free energy. For evaluating photocatalytic properties, the UV and visible light were used. The filtration tests showed that polymer membranes treated with two-component TiO2 + CuO coatings have a permeate flux similar to the reference material (non-coated membrane). The obtained results constitute a very promising perspective of the potential application of magnetron sputtering for deposition of TiO2 + CuO coatings in the prevention of biofouling resulted from the membrane filtration of dairy wastewater

Plazmowa depozycja antybakteryjnych powłok srebra i miedzi na powierzchni polipropylenu

This paper addresses the issue of plasma treatment of the surface of polypropylene (PP) using sputtering of silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) and their oxides with MS-PVD in order to impart antimicrobial activity. It was found that plasma treatment of PP with Cu and Ag based layers allows to provide excellent antimicrobial properties due to a constant release of metal ions. The samples of PP treated with Cu and CuO were characterized by highest antimicrobial properties and stability of the coatings. The most stable and least effective coating against bacteria was Ag-PP sample. In turn, AgO-PP was characterized by the lowest stability in aqueous conditions and strong antimicrobial activity. It was found that leaching of metal ions from the surface of treated PP even in exceptional levels plays a crucial role in bactericidal activity.Niniejsza praca dotyczy plazmowej obróbki powierzchni polipropylenu (PP) przy użyciu miedzi (Cu) i srebra (Ag) oraz ich tlenków. Powłoki Cu, CuO, Agi AgO, wytworzone na powierzchni PP metodą rozpylania magnetronowego MS-PVD, zbadano pod względem morfologii, składu, stabilności i właściwości antybakteryjnych. Materiały powierzchniowo zmodyfikowane przy użyciu Cu i CuO charakteryzowały się najsilniejszymi właściwościami przeciwbakteryjnymi i najmniejszą stabilnością i trwałością w środowisku wodnym. Powłoka AgO wykazywała najmniejszą stabilność w warunkach wodnych i silną aktywność przeciwbakteryjną, natomiast powłoka Ag wykazywała największą stabilność, a zarazem najsłabsze działanie przeciwbakteryjne. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że uwalniane z naniesionych powłok jony, nawet w niewielkim stężeniu, wykazują silne działanie antybakteryjne

Microfiltration Membranes Modified with Silver Oxide by Plasma Treatment

Microfiltration (MF) membranes have been widely used for the separation and concentration of various components in food processing, biotechnology and wastewater treatment. The deposition of components from the feed solution and accumulation of bacteria on the surface and in the membrane matrix greatly reduce the effectiveness of MF. This is due to a decrease in the separation efficiency of the membrane, which contributes to a significant increase in operating costs and the cost of exploitative parts. In recent years, significant interest has arisen in the field of membrane modifications to make their surfaces resistant to the deposition of components from the feed solution and the accumulation of bacteria. The aim of this work was to develop appropriate process parameters for the plasma surface deposition of silver oxide (AgO) on MF polyamide membranes, which enables the fabrication of filtration materials with high permeability and antibacterial properties