1
|
Filice S, Scuderi V, Libertino S, Zimbone M, Galati C, Spinella N, Gradon L, Falqui L, Scalese S. Sulfonated Pentablock Copolymer Coating of Polypropylene Filters for Dye and Metal Ions Effective Removal by Integrated Adsorption and Filtration Process. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911777. [PMID: 36233077 PMCID: PMC9570310 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we coated polypropylene (PP) fibrous filters with sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC) layers and tested them for the removal of cationic organic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB), and heavy metal ions (Fe3+ and Co2+) from water by adsorption and filtration experiments. Some of the coated filters were irradiated by UV light before being exposed to contaminated water and then were tested with unirradiated filters in the same adsorption and filtration experiments. Polymer-coated filters showed high efficiency in removing MB from an aqueous solution in both absorption and filtration processes, with 90% and 80% removal, respectively. On the other hand, for heavy metal ions (Fe3+ and Co2+), the coated filters showed a better removal performance in the filtration process than for the adsorption one. In fact, in the adsorption process, controlled interaction times allow the ionic species to interact with the surface of the filters leading to the formation and release of new species in solution. During filtration, the ionic species are easily trapped in the filters, in particular by UV modified filters, and we observed for Fe3+ ions a total removal (>99%) in a single filtration process and for Co2+ ions a larger removal with respect to the untreated filter. The mechanisms involved in the removal of the contaminants processes were investigated by characterizing the filters before and after use by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Filice
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada n.5, 95121 Catania, Italy
| | - Viviana Scuderi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada n.5, 95121 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Sebania Libertino
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada n.5, 95121 Catania, Italy
| | - Massimo Zimbone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Clelia Galati
- STMicroelectronics Stradale Primosole 50, 95121 Catania, Italy
| | | | - Leon Gradon
- Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Warynskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Luciano Falqui
- Plastica Alfa SpA, Zona Industriale, C.da S.M.Poggiarelli, 95041 Caltagirone (CT), Italy
| | - Silvia Scalese
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada n.5, 95121 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.S.); (S.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Filice S, Sciuto EL, Scalese S, Faro G, Libertino S, Corso D, Timpanaro RM, Laganà P, Coniglio MA. Innovative Antibiofilm Smart Surface against Legionella for Water Systems. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050870. [PMID: 35630315 PMCID: PMC9144790 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila contamination of water systems is a crucial issue for public health. The pathogen is able to persist in water as free-living planktonic bacteria or to grow within biofilms that adhere to and clog filters and pipes in a water system, reducing its lifespan and, in the case of hospital buildings, increasing the risk of nosocomial infections. The implementation of water management is considered to be the main prevention measure and can be achieved from the optimization of water system architecture, notably introducing new materials and strategies to contrast Legionella biofilm proliferation and so prolong the water system functionality. In this research, we propose a new smart surface against L. pneumophila biofilm formation. This is based on an innovative type of coating consisting of a sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC, commercially named Nexar™) deposited on top of a polypropylene (PP) coupon in a sandwich filter model. The covering of PP with s-PBC results in a more hydrophilic, acid, and negatively charged surface that induces microbial physiological inhibition thereby preventing adhesion and/or proliferation attempts of L. pneumophila prior to the biofilm formation. The antibiofilm property has been investigated by a Zone of Inhibition test and an in vitro biofilm formation analysis. Filtration tests have been performed as representative of possible applications for s-PBC coating. Results are reported and discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Filice
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (S.S.); (S.L.); (D.C.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Emanuele Luigi Sciuto
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Silvia Scalese
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (S.S.); (S.L.); (D.C.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Giuseppina Faro
- Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Catania, Via S. Maria La Grande 5, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Sebania Libertino
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (S.S.); (S.L.); (D.C.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Domenico Corso
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (S.S.); (S.L.); (D.C.); (M.A.C.)
| | - Rosario Manuel Timpanaro
- Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Pasqualina Laganà
- Regional Reference Laboratory of Clinical and Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Torre Biologica 3p, AOU ‘G. Martino’, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, S.N.C., 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Maria Anna Coniglio
- Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IMM), Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy; (S.F.); (S.S.); (S.L.); (D.C.); (M.A.C.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of Clinical and Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Via Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Antimicrobial s-PBC Coatings for Innovative Multifunctional Water Filters. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25215196. [PMID: 33171674 PMCID: PMC7664665 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological contamination is a typical issue in water treatment. Highly concentrated microbial suspensions in a water flow may cause filter occlusion and biofilm formation, affecting the lifespan and quality of water purification systems and increasing the risk of nosocomial infections. In order to contrast the biofilm formation, most of the conventional strategies rely on the water chemical modification and/or on the use of filters functional coatings. The former is unsafe for huge chemicals spilling required; therefore, we focus on the second approach and we propose the use of a sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC, commercially named Nexar™) as innovative multifunctional coating for improving the performance of commercial water filters. S-PBC-coated polypropylene (PP) samples were tested against the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The covering of PP with s-PBC results in a more hydrophilic, acid, and negatively charged surface. These properties avoid the adhesion and proliferation attempts of planktonic bacteria, i.e., the biofilm formation. Inhibition tests were performed on the as-modified filters and an evident antibacterial activity was observed. The results point out the possibility of using NexarTM as coating layer for filters with antifouling properties and a simultaneous ability to remove bacteria and cationic dyes from water.
Collapse
|
4
|
Sikorska E, Gac JM, Gradoń L. Performance of a depth fibrous filter at particulate loading conditions. Description of temporary and local phenomena with structure development. Chem Eng Res Des 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2018.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|