Surface modified polymeric membranes to reduce (bio)fouling: A microbiological study using E. coli

Nidal Hilal, Victor Kochkodan, Laila Al-Khatib, Tetyana Levadna

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Membrane (bio)fouling is the main problem during an operation of membrane elements for water treatment processes. In an attempt to reduce a bio(fouling) affinity, commercial polyvinilidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membranes (Millipore) were surface modified via photoinitiated graft polymerisation with quatemized 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl metacrylate (gDMAEM) or 2-acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as functional monomers. Membranes with different degrees of modification were obtained by varying the time of polymerisation and concentration of the monomer solution. Another set of PVDF membranes was modified using interfacial polymerisation between polyethyleneimine (PEI) and toluene diisocyanate. The affinity of modified membranes to biofouling was studied using E. coli bacteria. It was found that membrane samples modified with gDMAEM as well as with PEI have a strong bactericide effect towards E. coli. The possible mechanism of antimicrobial action of modified membranes has been discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)293-300
Number of pages8
JournalDesalination
Volume167
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2004

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial action
  • Biofouling
  • Escherichia coli
  • Surface membrane modification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering

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