Résumé
Polymer electrolyte membranes play very crucial role in wastewater treatment, particularly for precise extraction of selective ion through selectrodialysis (SED). This study focuses on the synthesis of a crosslinked anion exchange membrane (AEM) suitable for the removal of hazardous ions having anti-microbial property. First, a copolymer of PAN-co-PVI was prepared from acrylonitrile (AN) and 1-vinyl imidazole (VI). The copolymer was then quaternized by reaction with alkyl halides subsequently crosslinked by diamines and AEM was prepared. The overall hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity was tailored by varying the chain length of both alkylating agents and diamino crosslinkers. The antimicrobial performance analysis of the membrane reveals that the C18-crDAH membrane, with long alkylated chains and extended crosslinking, demonstrates superior biocidal activity against microorganisms such as E. coli, B. subtilis, and P. aeruginosa confirmed by the FE-SEM analysis. C18-crDAH also tackles exquisitely against biofouling by both types of bacteria (E. coli, 98.487 %; P. aeruginosa, 95.18 %). Furthermore, C18-crDAH exhibits excellent hazardous ion (F− and NO3−) removal and desalination through SED using the simulated feed with varied concentration of F− (5–10 ppm) and NO3− (50–100 ppm) in presence of NaCl (2000 ppm). The high flux for F− and NO3− recovery (~80 % with F− and ~ 96 % with NO3−) in their individual mixture with NaCl is achieved. Again, a ~ 88 % F− and ~ 94 % NO3− is removed with 7 × 10−5 mg. cm−2. min−1 and 3.5 × 10−4 mg. cm−2. min−1 respective ion flux (Ji) from the mixture of F− (10 ppm) and NO3− (100 ppm).
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•Preparation of polyacrylonitrile-co-poly vinylimidazole based crosslinked AEM•Dual effect of alkylating agent and crosslinker on modulation of hydrophobicity•Antimicrobial efficacy against E. coli, B. subtilis, and P. aeruginosa•Membrane surface charge, hydrophobicity and roughness induced biocidal property.•Hazardous ion sequestration (F− and NO3−) along with desalination