Biofouling potentials of microporous polysulfone membranes containing a sulfonated polyether-ethersulfone/polyethersulfone block copolymer: correlation of membrane surface properties with bacterial attachment

Multivariate methods were used to identify relationships between bacterial attachment (biofouling potential), water transport, and the surface properties of nine modified polysulfone (MPS) membranes comprising blends of polysulfone (PS) with a sulfonated polyether-ethersulfone/polyethersulfone block copolymer. The topology of the microporous MPS membranes, including surface roughness, surface height, pore size and pore geometry were determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and digital image analysis. Other measurements included relative surface hydrophobicity by captive bubble contact angle, surface charge (i.e., degree of sulfonation) by uranyl cation binding, wt% solids, porosity, membrane thickness, water flux, and the affinity of membranes for a hydrophilic Flavobacterium and hydrophobic Mycobacterium species. The mycobacteria attached best to the MPS membranes, but the attachment of both organisms was inversely correlated with the mean aspect ratio of pores, suggesting that irregular or elliptic pens discouraged attachment. Multivariate regression analyses identified the pore mean aspect ratio, mean surface height, PS content, and the n-methylpyrrolidone +propionic acid (NMP-PA) solvent concentration as influential factors in Mycobacterium attachment, whereas membrane thickness, surface roughness, pore mean aspect ratio, porosity, and the mean pore area/image area ratio influenced Flavobacterium attachment. Cluster analyses revealed that Mycobacterium attachment was associated with hydrophobic determinants of the MPS membranes, including PS content, wt% solids, and air bubble contact angle. In contrast, Flavobacterictm attachment was primarily associated with membrane thickness and charge (i.e., uranyl cation binding or degree of sulfonation). Membrane flux was inversely correlated with surface hydrophobicity and PS content, but (in contrast to cell attachment) positively correlated with most pore geometry parameters including the mean aspect ratio, suggesting that pore geometry can be optimized to minimize cell attachment and maximize water transport. Other variables influencing water flux included the NMP-PA solvent concentration and membrane roughness. The results should facilitate the design of novel microporous PS membranes having reduced biofouling potentials and greater water fluxes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.