Study of the antimicrobial and antifouling properties of different oxide surfaces.
Membrane separation processes find applications in an array of fields as they use far less energy and chemical agents than competing processes. However, a major drawback of membrane technology is that biofilm formation alters membrane performances. Preventing biofilm formation is thus a pivotal challenge for larger-scale development of membrane processes. Here, we studied the comparative antibacterial activities of different inorganic membranes (ceramic and zeolite-coated ceramic with or without copper exchange) using several bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis). In static conditions, alumina plates coated with Cu-exchanged zeolite showed significant bactericidal activity. In dynamic mode (circulation of a contaminated nutrient medium), there was no observable bacterial adhesion at the surface of the Cu-exchanged material. These results confirm the antifouling properties of the Cu-mordenite layer due to both the increased hydrophilicity and antibacterial properties of the active layer.Tests performed with tubular filtration membranes (without copper exchange) showed a significant decline in membrane hydraulic properties during filtration of culture media containing bacteria, whereas copper-exchanged membranes showed no decline in hydraulic permeability. Filtration tests performed with concentrated culture media containing spores of B. subtilis led to a significant decrease in membrane hydraulic permeabilities (but less so with Cu-exchanged membranes). The surfaces showed less effective global antifouling properties during the filtration of a concentrated culture medium due to competition between bacterial growth and the bactericidal effect of copper. Analyses of copper leached in solution show that after a conditioning step, the amount of copper released is negligible.
Laboratoire de Génie des procédés-environnement-agro-alimentaire (GEPEA), UMR CNRS 6144, Université de Nantes, Saint Nazaire, France. walid.blel@univ-nantes.fr.
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W
Blel
Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) UMR CNRS 7361, Université de Strasbourg, Université de Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France.
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L
Limousy
Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) UMR CNRS 7361, Université de Strasbourg, Université de Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France.
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P
Dutournié
Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) UMR CNRS 7361, Université de Strasbourg, Université de Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, France.
A
A
Ponche
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des MATériaux de Bretagne (LIMATB-EA 4250), Université de Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France.
A
A
Boucher
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des MATériaux de Bretagne (LIMATB-EA 4250), Université de Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France.
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M
Le Fellic
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003300:Copper
Bacterial growth investigation; Biofilm; Copper ion exchange; Mordenite membrane; Water permeability
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