Silver Modified PI Membrane with Enhanced Antifouling Properties

To improve antifouling and antibacterial properties of the polyimide (PI) membrane, silver particles are grafted on the membrane surface via a three-step modification route. The reaction mechanism is confirmed by Fourier Transform infra-red analysis (FTIR) and physical characterizations of the modified PI membranes. The anti-biofouling performance is evaluated by disk diffusion test and bacterial suspension immersion experiment. The antifouling effect of the silver-modified membranes is also assessed in the bovine serum albumin (BSA) aqueous solution. Both the anti-biofouling and antifouling properties of the membrane are greatly improved by the silver modification. Effects of the thermal treatment temperature on the property and silver stability of modified PI membrane are also investigated systematically.