Sulfonated Poly(Styrene-Isobutylene-Styrene) Membranes with Counter-Ion Substitution for the Inactivation of Pathogens in Water
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 9
Abstract
In this study, we explore the use of sulfonated poly(styrene-isobutylene-styrene) (SIBS) polymer membranes for the inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) in surface waters, particularly when cupric () and ferric () counter-ions were cross-linked to the sulfonic domains of the membrane. The antibacterial evaluation of copper-exchanged and iron-exchanged sulfonated SIBS was carried out by assaying the presence of E. coli and E. faecalis after the membranes were brought into contact with bacterial suspensions from certified bacterial strains and water samples from a natural surface water source. Overall, the cell viability results obtained suggest that copper-exchanged sulfonated SIBS successfully inactivated both pathogenic bacteria. Although the extent of inactivation varied depending on the water source, treatment time, and initial population of bacterial suspension, copper-exchanged sulfonated SIBS was more selective to E. coli and iron-exchanged sulfonated SIBS was more selective to Enterococci bacteria. It was also observed that the inactivation of E. coli was strongly influenced by the degree of sulfonation (DS) since it was found to be dependent on the quantity of the exchanged. Finally, the membranes showed roughness changes upon exposure to the bacterial suspensions; however, they continued to be effective upon reuse.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (Cooperative Agreement No. 2015-00043). We would like to thank Amarillys Avilés and Liliana Villanueva for performing the bacteriological experiments and Dr. Maritza Pérez for her advice and assistance. We are also grateful to Dr. Rafael Montalvo for providing the certified bacteria.
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Received: Sep 20, 2020
Accepted: Apr 6, 2021
Published online: Jun 28, 2021
Published in print: Sep 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Nov 28, 2021
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