Inhibition of biofouling by modification of forward osmosis membrane using quaternary ammonium cation.
In the operation of the forward osmosis (FO) process, biofouling of the membrane is a potentially serious problem. Development of an FO membrane with antibacterial properties could contribute to a reduction in biofouling. In this study, quaternary ammonium cation (QAC), a widely used biocidal material, was conjugated with a silane coupling agent (3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride) and used to modify an FO membrane to confer antibacterial properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated that the conjugated QAC was successfully immobilized on the FO membrane via covalent bonding. Bacterial viability on the QAC-modified membrane was confirmed via colony count method and visualized via bacterial viability assay. The QAC membrane decreased the viability of Escherichia coli to 62% and Staphylococcus aureus to 77% versus the control membrane. Inhibition of biofilm formation on the QAC modified membrane was confirmed via anti-biofilm tests using the drip-flow reactor and FO unit, resulting in 64% and 68% inhibition in the QAC-modified membrane against the control membrane, respectively. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified membrane in reducing bacterial viability and inhibiting biofilm formation, indicating the potential of QAC-modified membranes to decrease operation costs incurred by biofouling.
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Dong 5, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea E-mail: heedeung@korea.ac.kr.
Kang-Hee
KH
Park
Institute of Green Manufacturing Technology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Hyun
SH
Yu
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Dong 5, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea E-mail: heedeung@korea.ac.kr.
Han-Shin
HS
Kim
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, Anam-Dong 5, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea E-mail: heedeung@korea.ac.kr.
Hee-Deung
HD
Park
D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002412:Cations; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009995:Osmosis; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002412:Cations; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds