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Antibacterial and Antifouling Properties of Membranes

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Membranes for Water Treatment and Remediation

Part of the book series: Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials ((MHFNN))

Abstract

Population explosion, industrial activities and climate change have induced the global crisis of water scarcity. To overcome this problem, need for better water and wastewater management is endorsed. Membrane-based treatment technologies are finding their way for these applications. Advantages of using membranes over conventional treatment technologies includes its high selective nature, its separation capacity at molecular level, its simple operation techniques, its ability to recover valuable components separated, its low energy demand, technology being environment friendly, and its easy scalability. Although membrane-based treatment has many advantages, the major drawback is its fouling behaviour that greatly reduces membrane efficiency. Deposition of particles like colloids, proteins, bacterial cells, oils etc. retained either at the membrane surface or inside the pore causes fouling. These greatly reduce membrane flux which might be temporary or permanent. Temporary fouling can be restored by back washing but when membranes become permanently fouled, the efficiency of the membrane cannot be restored. Many technologies are applied like surface coatings with antibacterial or antifouling materials, use of ceramics instead of polymers, zwitterionic coatings etc. to increase antifouling behaviour of the membranes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India

    Priyankari Bhattacharya

  2. Department of Environmental Studies, Centre for Distance and Online Education, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, 700091, India

    Priya Banerjee

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  1. Priyankari Bhattacharya
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  2. Priya Banerjee
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Correspondence to Priyankari Bhattacharya .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, India

    Ashok Kumar Nadda

  2. Department of Environmental Studies, Centre for Distance and Online Education, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Priya Banerjee

  3. University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India

    Swati Sharma

  4. Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivière, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada

    Phuong Nguyen-Tri

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Bhattacharya, P., Banerjee, P. (2023). Antibacterial and Antifouling Properties of Membranes. In: Nadda, A.K., Banerjee, P., Sharma, S., Nguyen-Tri, P. (eds) Membranes for Water Treatment and Remediation. Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9176-9_10

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