biofouling of membranes

Prevention of Membrane
Biofouling by Surface Coating
Wetsus, centre of excellence for sustainable water technology
P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands Agata Brzozowska
agata.brzozowska@wetsus.nl

Motivation
Biofouling refers to the unintentional accumulation of
organic matter at the surface. The effect of membrane
biofouling is reduction of permeability and as a consequence
of the flux. Therefore frequent application of cleaning
procedures is necessary, which increases the energy
consumption and the price of purified water. Prevention/
reduction of biomass accumulation by (reversible) surface
modification can be the solution for this problem.

Fouled membrane

Technological challenge
The aim of the project is to develop surface coatings
preventing biofilm formation on membrane surfaces. The
main focus is on the study of the antifouling properties of
polymeric brush layers formed by adsorption of complex
coacervate core micelles (C3M’s) on reverse osmosis (RO)
membranes.
Formation of Complex Coacervate Core Micelles

Experiments on model surfaces (SiO2, polystyrene) and

membrane surfaces will be carried out. Adsorption of
C3M’s, proteins, polysaccharides, bacteria, etc. will be
determined amongst others with fixed angle reflectometry.
The modified membranes will be tested both in small scale
laboratory installations and drinking water plants .

Reflectometer

www.wetsus.nl Ir. Agata Brzozowska, M.Sc., Dr. A. de Keizer, Dr. A. Zwijnenburg,

Prof.dr. M.A. Cohen Stuart, Prof.dr. W. Norde
www.wur.nl