Preparation, electrochemical characterization and antibacterial study of polystyrene-based magnesium–strontium phosphate composite membrane

The electrochemical characterizations of polystyrene-based magnesium–strontium phosphate (MSP) composite membrane have been worked on, as a function of membrane thickness, porosity and moisture content etc. Polystyrene-based magnesium–strontium phosphate composite membrane was characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and antibacterial studies. The membrane was found to be crystalline in nature with uniform arrangement of particles, no sign of visible cracks and shows excellent inhibitory results against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The membrane potentials of inorganic membrane were measured with uni-univalent electrolytes solution using saturated calomel electrodes and followed the order LiCl > NaCl > KCl, thus, the membrane was found to be cation selective. Membrane potential data have been used to calculate transport number, mobility ratio, distribution coefficient, charge effectiveness, and also to derive the fixed-charge density which is a central parameter governing the membrane phenomena by utilizing the Teorell, Meyer, and Sievers method. The order of surface charge density for uni-univalent electrolytes solution was found to be LiCl < NaCl < KCl. - Graphical abstract: Plots of membranes potential (mV) versus − log C2 (mol/l) at different concentrations of KCl electrolyte solution for polystyrene-based MSP composite membranes prepared at different pressures of 100–160 MPa. Highlights: ► The membrane was found to be crystalline in nature. ► Membrane potential of electrolytes followed the order LiCl > NaCl > KCl. ► The order of surface charge density was found to be LiCl < NaCl < KCl. ► The membrane show excellent results against E. coli and P. aeruginosa bacteria.