Technology for the production of silver-containing membrane filters with bacteriostatic properties

Silver (Ag) is used in agriculture for water disinfection, plant and animal protection, and the treatment of organic waste. Producing membrane filters containing silver requires a technology that ensures the stability of obtaining powder with a narrow particle size distribution. The authors conducted the study to develop and test a technological chain for the production of silver-containing membrane filters. The authors have designed an automated control system for the plasma atomization process, ensuring control over pressure, wire feed rate, temperature, gas, and water flow. The article presents a functional diagram for controlling the plasma torch. An antibacterial powder with a fraction size of 160 to 200 μm was obtained from corrosion-resistant steel 316L with 0.2% Ag using powder metallurgy at a temperature of 1000 to 1200°C, from which a porous membrane filter was fabricated. Tests conducted using the “disk method” revealed a clearly defined zone of inhibition of Pseudomonas spp. growth with a diameter of 10 to 13 mm, confirming the contact mechanism of bacteriostasis achieved by introducing 0.2% Ag into the 316L steel matrix. The key research outcome is the production of filters with stable and reproducible permeability (averaging 25.3 μm²), combining the functions of mechanical filtration and antimicrobial protection. The developed technology opens up prospects for their application in water treatment systems for the needs of agriculture and other industries. Further research will focus on evaluating the durability of the bactericidal action under real operating conditions and expanding the range of tested microorganisms.

1. Fastovets I.A., Verkhovtseva N.V., Pashkevich E.B. et al. Silver nanoparticles: toxic effect on exposure and interaction with higher plants. Agrochemistry and Ecology Problems. 2017;1:51-62. (In Russ.)

2. Yamanaka M., Hara K., Kudo J. Bactericidal actions of a silver ion solution on Escherichia coli, studied by energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy and proteomic analysis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2005;71(11):7589-7593. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.71.11.7589-7593.2005

3. Quah B., Musante C., White J.C. et all. Phytotoxicity, uptake, and accumulation of silver with different particle sizes and chemical forms. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 2015;17:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3079-1

4. Perfileva A.I., Graskova I.A., Nozhkina O.A. et al. Current aspects of the use of chemically synthesized compounds of silver nanoparticles in animal husbandry and agrochemistry. Russian Nanotechnologies. 2019;14(9-10):85-93. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21517/1992-7223-2019-9-10-85-93

5. Egorov I.A., Egorova T.V., Zheukhin I.A. et al. Colloidal silver in growing broiler chickens. Ptitsevodstvo. 2013;4:17-20. (In Russ.)

6. Jung W.K., Koo H.C., Kim K.W. et all. Antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of the silver ion in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2008;74(7):2171-2178. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02001-07

7. Piskaeva A.I., Dyshlyuk L.S., Sidorin Yu.Yu. Cluster silver influence on pathogenic microflora of agro-industrial organic waste. Food Processing: Techniques and Technology. 2016;41(2):132-140. (In Russ.)

8. Umbetova S., Utegulov N., Olzhabayeva A. et all. Relevance of wastewater termination for irrigation of forage crops and wood plantings. Izdenister Natigeler. 2024;1(101):166-182. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.37884/1-2024/17

9. Liao K.H., Ou K.L., Cheng H.C. et al. Effect of silver on antibacterial properties of stainless steel. Applied Surface Science. 2010;256(11):3642-3646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.01.001

10. Junping Y., Wei L. Antibacterial 316L stainless steel containing silver and niobium. Rare Metal Materials and Engineering. 2013;42(10):2004-2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1875-5372(14)60015-1

11. Yang S.M., Chen Y.C., Pan Y.T., et al. Effect of silver on microstructure and antibacterial property of 2205 duplex stainless steel. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 2016;63:376-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2016.03.014

12. Fazullin D.D., Mavrin G.V. Antibacterial properties of microfiltration membranes modified by silver nitrate. Membrany i membrannye tehnologii. 2019;9(1):47-53. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.1134/S2218117218060056

13. Gorbenko A.D., Kaplan M.A., Konushkin S.V., et al. Effect of silver and heat treatment on properties of 03Kh17N10M2 austenitic steel wire. Izvestiya. Ferrous Metallurgy. 2023;66(5):544-553. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17073/0368-0797-2023-5-544-553

14. Sevostyanov M.A., Sergienko K.V., Baikin A.S., et al. Device for producing metal powder: Patent of the Russian Federation, No. 2749403;2021.

15. Zelensky V.A., Tregubova I.V., Ankudinov A.B., et al. Production of porous material from silver powders. Scholarly Notes of Transbaikal State University. Series: Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Technology. 2013;3(50):35-42. (In Russ.)