Surface microstructure drives biofilm formation and biofouling of graphene oxide membranes in practical water treatment
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Tian, Long
Zhou, Peng
Su, Zhaoyang
Graham, Nigel
Yu, Wenzheng
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Significant progress has been made previously in the research and development of graphene oxide (GO) membranes for water purification, but their biofouling behavior remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the biofilm formation and biofouling of GO membranes with different surface microstructures in the context of filtering natural surface water and for an extended operation period (110 days). The results showed that the relatively hydrophilic and smooth Fe(OH)3/GO membrane shaped a thin and spatially heterogeneous biofilm with high stable flux. However, the ability to simultaneously mitigate biofilm formation and reduce biofouling was not observed in the weakly hydrophilic and wrinkled Fe/GO and H–Fe(OH)3/GO membranes. Microbial analyses revealed that the hydrophilicity and roughness distinguished the bacterial communities and metabolic functions. The organic matter-degrading and predatory bacteria were more adapted to hydrophilic and smooth GO surfaces. These functional taxa were involved in the degradation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and improved biofilm heterogeneity. In contrast, the weakly hydrophilic and wrinkled GO surfaces had reduced biodiversity, while unexpectedly boosting the proliferation of EPS-secreting bacteria, resulting in increased biofilm formation and aggravated biofouling. Moreover, all GO membranes achieved sustainable water purification during the entire operating period.
Date Issued
2024-07-09
Date Acceptance
2024-06-20
Citation
Environmental Science and Technology, 2024, 58 (27), pp.12281-12291
ISSN
0013-936X
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
12281
End Page
12291
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Science and Technology
Volume
58
Issue
27
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 American Chemical Society. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38939969
Subjects
biofilm structure
Engineering
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
FLUX
graphene oxide membrane
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
microbial community
MORPHOLOGY
NANOFILTRATION
NATURAL ORGANIC-MATTER
Science & Technology
surface microstructure
surfacewater purification
Technology
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2024-06-28