Abstract:
Modern industrialisation has led to the discharge of massive quantities of lethal contaminants into
freshwater systems which require innovative treatment methods. However, most of the current
treatment methods are both costly and contribute to environmental destruction in the form of
discharge or deforestation of raw material procurement. The aim of this research is to provide a
biodegradable and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment by utilising highly crystalline
Pithophora cellulose. A compact cellulose membrane was prepared by combining it with silver
nitrate solution and using the in-situ method for the generation of silver nanoparticles which was
then tested for its filtration using vacuum filtration to evaluate its volumetric flux and understand
the porous nature of the membrane. Antimicrobial testing of the membrane was also conducted
through disk diffusion method using E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The Pithophora cellulose-silver
nanocomposite membrane was found to have excellent filtration properties due to its complex fibre
network while the silver ions provide antimicrobial properties that are comparable to conventional
antibiotic
