title: Antibiofilm effect enhanced by modification of 1,2,3-triazole and palladium nanoparticles on polysulfone membranes.
abstract: Biofouling impedes the performance of membrane bioreactors. In this study, we investigated the antifouling effects of polysulfone membranes that were modified by 1,2,3-triazole and palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. The modified membranes were evaluated for antibacterial and antifouling efficacy in a monoculture species biofilm (i.e., drip flow biofilm reactor, DFR) and mixed species biofilm experiment (i.e., aerobic membrane reactor, AeMBR). 1,2,3-triazole and Pd nanoparticles inhibited growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The decrease in bacterial growth was observed along with a decrease in the amount of total polysaccharide within the monoculture species biofilm matrix. When the modified membranes were connected to AeMBR, the increase in transmembrane pressure was lower than that of the non-modified membranes. This was accompanied by a decrease in protein and polysaccharide concentrations within the mixed species biofilm matrix. Biomass amount in the biofilm layer was also lower in the presence of modified membranes, and there was no detrimental effect on the performance of the reactor as evaluated from the nutrient removal rates. 16S rRNA analysis further attributed the delay in membrane fouling to the decrease in relative abundance of selected bacterial groups. These observations collectively point to a lower fouling occurrence achieved by the modified membranes.
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 401122, China.|King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences &Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences &Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yihui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Advanced Membrane and Porous Materials (AMPM), Physical Sciences &Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Luis Francisco
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Villalobos
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 401122, China.
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Advanced Membrane and Porous Materials (AMPM), Physical Sciences &Engineering Division (PSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Klaus-Viktor
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Peinemann
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences &Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences &Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Pei-Ying
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Hong