Bio-based neem oil-loaded chitosan biocomposite membrane for potential antibacterial water filter application
- 1Corresponding author.
- 2Department of Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Abstract
Ensuring access to microbiologically safe drinking water remains a global challenge, particularly in regions affected by industrialization and environmental pollution. In this study, we developed a bio-based poly (vinyl alcohol)/chitosan (PVA/CS) biocomposite membrane incorporating neem seed oil (NSO) as a natural antibacterial additive. Membranes were fabricated via solution casting with varying NSO concentrations and systematically characterized physicochemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed successful incorporation of neem oil, which enhanced surface hydrophobicity, mechanical strength, and dimensional stability. The optimized S 3 membrane exhibited a balanced morphology, moderate swelling index (123.75 ± 0.51%), favorable water permeability (165 ± 5 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹), and strong antibacterial activity. Antibacterial filtration tests demonstrated removal efficiencies of 98.1 ± 0.6% ( Escherichia coli ), 98.8 ± 0.5% ( S. aureus ), and 97.6 ± 0.7% ( P. aeruginosa ), corresponding to a log reduction value of 1.72 ± 0.05. Moreover, the membrane maintained >90% flux recovery and >96% bacterial removal efficiency over five consecutive cycles, indicating its reusability and good short-term operational stability under the tested laboratory-scale conditions. These findings highlight neem-oil-loaded PVA/CS membranes as sustainable, and effective antibacterial filtration materials, offering a promising alternative to conventional synthetic or nanoparticle-based membranes for bacterial reduction in water.
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BibTeX
@article{rahman2026biobased,
title = {{Bio-based neem oil-loaded chitosan biocomposite membrane for potential antibacterial water filter application}},
author = {Md. Hasinur Rahman and Mst. Habiba Khatun and Md. Ibrahim H. Mondal},
journal = {Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101275},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101275},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bio-based neem oil-loaded chitosan biocomposite membrane for potential antibacterial water filter application
AU - Md. Hasinur Rahman
AU - Mst. Habiba Khatun
AU - Md. Ibrahim H. Mondal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
DO - 10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101275
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101275
AB - Ensuring access to microbiologically safe drinking water remains a global challenge, particularly in regions affected by industrialization and environmental pollution. In this study, we developed a bio-based poly (vinyl alcohol)/chitosan (PVA/CS) biocomposite membrane incorporating neem seed oil (NSO) as a natural antibacterial additive. Membranes were fabricated via solution casting with varying NSO concentrations and systematically characterized physicochemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed successful incorporation of neem oil, which enhanced surface hydrophobicity, mechanical strength, and dimensional stability. The optimized S 3 membrane exhibited a balanced morphology, moderate swelling index (123.75 ± 0.51%), favorable water permeability (165 ± 5 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹), and strong antibacterial activity. Antibacterial filtration tests demonstrated removal efficiencies of 98.1 ± 0.6% ( Escherichia coli ), 98.8 ± 0.5% ( S. aureus ), and 97.6 ± 0.7% ( P. aeruginosa ), corresponding to a log reduction value of 1.72 ± 0.05. Moreover, the membrane maintained >90% flux recovery and >96% bacterial removal efficiency over five consecutive cycles, indicating its reusability and good short-term operational stability under the tested laboratory-scale conditions. These findings highlight neem-oil-loaded PVA/CS membranes as sustainable, and effective antibacterial filtration materials, offering a promising alternative to conventional synthetic or nanoparticle-based membranes for bacterial reduction in water.
SN - 2666-8939
ER -