Do ZnO and Al2O3 Nanoparticles Improve the Anti-Bacterial Properties of Cellulose Acetate-Chitosan Membrane?

Biofouling, due to the existence of bacteria in water, becomes one of the barriers in cellulose acetate (CA) membrane applications. Although chitosan has been incorporated into CA membranes, its antimicrobial activity has not been improved significantly yet. In this study, cellulose acetate-chitosan membranes were prepared by modification using ZnO and Al2O3 nanoparticles during phase separation method. The membranes were then characterized in term of water permeability, and surface morphology. The anti-bacteria property was examined by using gram-negative bacteria. Modification of cellulose acetate-chitosan membranes with ZnO and Al2O3 nanoparticles have not shown optimal results where no clear zones around the membrane are visible