Silver release from polypyrrole matrix in well water

• Silver species were immobilised onto microstructured polypyrrole films.
• The effect of hydrodynamic conditions on the silver release in well water was studied.
• A disinfection process was accelerated when the electrode speed is increased.
• A faster release of Ag species was obtained when a potential step was applied.

Polypyrrole (PPy) films constituted by hollow rectangular microtubes were electrosynthesised from a salicylate (Sa) solution on 316L stainless steel (316L SS) electrodes. The covered electrodes were dipped in AgNO3 solution achieving the immobilisation of silver species. After this, they were rotated at different speeds and silver transport from the PPy matrix to well water under open circuit potential (OCP) condition was studied. The results indicate that the diffusion process of silver from the polymeric matrix is accelerated when the electrode speed is increased. The disinfection process of well water contaminated with Escherichia coli was also analysed for the electrode covered with PPy/Ag films. A faster release of Ag species was obtained when a potential step was applied. The microtubular morphology of the polymer does not suffer any alteration during the experiments.