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Maintaining Antibacterial Activity against Biofouling Using a Quaternary Ammonium Membrane Coupling with
Jingqiu Sun1,2, Ben Zhang1, Boyang Yu1
1State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100085, China.
Environmental Science & Technology
|January 11, 2023
Summary
This study introduces an electrically conductive membrane with quaternary ammonium (QA) compounds that uses electrorepulsion and QA inactivation to prevent bacterial biofouling. This synergistic approach significantly reduces membrane fouling and enhances water flux.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Chemical-free antibacterial modification is crucial for mitigating membrane biofouling.
- Bacterial accumulation on surfaces can shield antibacterial agents, limiting long-term effectiveness.
- Persistent biofouling remains a significant challenge in membrane applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synergistic effect of electrorepulsion and quaternary ammonium (QA) inactivation on maintaining antibacterial activity.
- To develop and evaluate an electrically conductive QA membrane (eQAM) for biofouling mitigation.
- To provide a long-lasting strategy for preventing membrane biofouling.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an electrically conductive QA membrane (eQAM) via pyrrole polymerization with QA compounds.
- Utilizing electrokinetic force for preventing bacterial adhesion and promoting cell detachment.
- Employing electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance to characterize bacterial accumulation and detachment mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Cathodic eQAM prevented *Escherichia coli* cell adhesion and accelerated detachment, especially for inactivated (dead) cells.
- A significant reduction in dead cells (81.2%) and live cells (49.9%) was observed on the eQAM surface.
- Electrorepulsion was identified as the primary driver for cell detachment, while QA inactivation minimized adhesion capacity.
- Synergistic effect led to a >20% promotion in final normalized water flux due to significantly declined membrane fouling.
Conclusions:
- The synergistic combination of electrorepulsion and QA inactivation provides a highly effective strategy against membrane biofouling.
- eQAM demonstrates a unique and long-lasting approach to maintaining membrane performance.
- This method offers a promising solution for persistent biofouling challenges in various membrane applications.
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