Enhanced hydrophilicity and antibacterial efficacy of in-situ silver nanoparticles decorated Ti₃C₂T_x/Polylactic acid composite membrane for real hospital wastewater purification

This study investigates the integration of Ti₃C₂T_x (MX) and Ag/Ti₃C₂T_x (Ag/MX) nanocomposites into polylactic acid membranes to enhance hydrophilicity and impart antibacterial properties, targeting hospital wastewater treatment. MX and silver nanoparticles are known for their hydrophilicity and antimicrobial capabilities, were synthesized and incorporated into PLA; a green polymer. The impact of nanocomposite concentration on the membrane's chemical structure, morphology, and overall performance were characterized using various PLA membrane properties and to evaluate the nanocomposite's performance in enhancing pure water flux and antibacterial efficacy. The pure water permeability increased from 1512 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ to 3108 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ in PLA/AgMX4 compared to PLA. Furthermore, a total bacteria count (TBC) rejection of up to 97 % was obtained using the PLA/AgMX4 membrane. The results demonstrated significant improvements in PLA/AgMX membranes compared to pristine PLA, showing a large potential for hospital wastewater treatment.