SYNTHESES AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NOVEL POLYURETHANE IONOMERS

This study is concerned with the removal of Staph aureus from water by polyurethaneionomers. All the samples are quaternary ammonium salts which possess a positive chargeon the surface. The ratio of the soft segment to diisocyanate and chain extender is 1:2:1and the ionization degree is 100%. The ionomers strongly capture microbial cells on theirsurfaces in a living state and the hydrophilicity of polymer matrix used in the studyenhanced the affinity of the polymer for bacterial cells. The adhesion of the microorganismto polymer was due mainly to electrostatic interaction between them. The calculation ofthe viable cell count showed that D value for Staph.aureus is not proportional to the nitro-gen concentration. The microorganism capture ability of pyridinium-containing polymer isgreater than that of piperazine based samples.