An antimicrobial nanofibrous membrane for nonpressure driven filtration is reported. m-Aramid as an N-halamine precursor was dissolved in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and the m-aramid nanofibrous membrane was formed using an electro-spinning process. The morphology of the m-aramid membrane was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mean pore size, pore size distribution and liquid permeability of the m-aramid membrane were determined using a capillary flow porometer. The antimicrobial efficacy of the m-aramid membrane was performed by nonpressure driven filtration. The chlorinated m-aramid membrane showed excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The chlorine lost after filtration could be regained upon rechlorination.

-Poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide), m-aramid has no adjacent α-hydrogen of a nitrogen-halogen bond causes dehydrohalogenation. This fact proposes that m-aramid is one of good antimicrobial precursors. To enhance the surface area of m-aramid, electrospinning was employed. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) was conducted to inspect the morphology change of m-aramid. The surface area of regular and electrospun m-aramid was calculated. Swatch test was applied to measure antimicrobial activity of the samples. The results showed that within 10 min contact time the electrospun m-aramid inactivated Escherichia coli KCTC 1039 (Gram-negative bacteria) with 8 log reductions.