Positively-charged polyethersulfone nanofibrous membranes for bacteria and anionic dyes removal

Given the complexity of pollutants in wastewater, development of facile and effective multifunctional materials, which can not only kill bacteria but also remove dyes from wastewater, is in high demand. Herein, a facile strategy for the preparation of positively-charged nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) is reported via the combination of electrospinning and in-situ cross-linked polymerization of poly ([2-(methacryloyloxy)-ethyl] trimethyl ammonium chloride) (PMETAC) in poly (ether sulfone) (PES) solution. The quaternary ammonium salt polymer of PMETAC enabled the NFMs with positive charge to kill bacteria and remove anionic dyes. The antibacterial tests including agar plate counting and live/dead staining indicate that the NFMs show strong antibacterial ability with bacterial killing ratios of nearly 99% for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as remarkable recyclability towards killing bacteria. The dyes adsorption experiments show that the NFMs exhibit high adsorption capacity for anionic dyes up to 208 mg g^-1 for Congo Red (CR) and good reusability toward CR. Impressively, the membrane adsorption column test indicates that the CR dye removal ratio is up to 100% for the first time, and that is still as high as 96.5% for the third time with a fresh dye solution. Given the above advantages, such fascinating NFMs may provide new perspectives in the exploitation of multifunctional membrane materials for complex water remediation.