Inhibition of bacterial attachment to polyethersulfone membranes using aminophenol compounds in static and continuous flow systems.

Biofouling is the most challenging problem associated with membrane-based filtration technology. Biofouling deteriorates membranes used in filtration process and decreases the efficiency of membrane productivity used in separation fields, thus increasing the technology cost of membrane-based filtration process. Several approaches exist to control biofouling; membrane surface modification has recently been used to resist bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. In this study, the poly(ethersulfone) (PES) membrane was modified by three different poly(aminophenol) as bacterial anti-attachment compounds. Each one of poly(2-aminophenol), poly(3-aminophenol), and 4-aminophenol oligomers, was incorporated separately. In this test, two bacterial strains; Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), were used through both static and continuously flowing fluid bacterial suspension systems to evaluate the bacterial anti-attachment performance of the modified PES membranes. The results indicated that the brush-like structured layer of poly(3-aminophenol) can resist bacterial attachment under static conditions. In addition, poly(2-aminophenol) gave better impedance of bacterial attachment in the continuously flowing fluid system. This work revealed up to 90% reduction of attached bacteria on modified membranes under static condition and up to 62% under continuously flowing condition.