Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan Filtration Membranes with Enhanced Antimicrobial Properties

The results of a study of chitosan membranes exhibiting enhanced antimicrobial properties are described in this work. It has been shown that a promising approach to imparting antibacterial and antifungal properties to filtration membranes containing chitosan in a water-insoluble base chemical form is their modification with nanocluster silver. Various nanocluster silver preparations have been compared to identify the sample exhibiting the highest antimicrobial activity. Water-resistant chitosan membranes with the addition of various amounts of nanocluster silver from the Argovit preparation have been synthesized and tested for antimicrobial activity against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mold and yeast-like fungi. It has been found that the membranes modified with nanocluster silver exhibit high antimicrobial activity and can be used to purify biological products synthesized by membrane methods from pathogenic bacteria and fungi.