title: Biofouling Mitigation in Forward Osmosis Using Graphene Oxide Functionalized Thin-Film Composite Membranes.
abstract: Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging membrane process with potential applications in the treatment of highly fouling feedwaters. However, biofouling, the adhesion of microorganisms to the membrane and the subsequent formation of biofilms, remains a major limitation since antifouling membrane modifications offer limited protection against biofouling. In this study, we evaluated the use of graphene oxide (GO) for biofouling mitigation in FO. GO functionalization of thin-film composite membranes (GO-TFC) increased the surface hydrophilicity and imparted antimicrobial activity to the membrane without altering its transport properties. After 1 h of contact time, deposition and viability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells on GO-TFC were reduced by 36% and 30%, respectively, compared to pristine membranes. When GO-TFC membranes were tested for treatment of an artificial secondary wastewater supplemented with P. aeruginosa, membrane biofouling was reduced by 50% after 24 h of operation. This biofouling resistance is attributed to the reduced accumulation of microbial biomass on GO-TFC compared to pristine membranes. In addition, confocal microscopy demonstrated that cells deposited on the membrane surface are inactivated, resulting in a layer of dead cells on GO-TFC that limit biofilm formation. These findings highlight the potential of GO to be used for biofouling mitigation in FO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.|School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perreault
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.|School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.|Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University , PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.
authors.forename: Mercy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ude
authors.affiliation: Strategic Water Infrastructure Laboratory, School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Long D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Nghiem
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States.
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elimelech
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006108:Graphite; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009995:Osmosis; D010087:Oxides; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite