Bacteria-Built Filter Resists Biofouling

Jan-20-19 An innovative new graphene-based membrane that resists bacteria fouling was built using bacteria.

A common problem with water filters is that their membranes will lose efficiency as they become fouled by microorganism buildup. To help prevent such biofouling, the team from the University of Washington turned to the Gluconacetobacter hansenii bacteria, which produces cellulose nanofibers in water when fed a sugary substance. Those fibers were incorporated with graphene oxide flakes as they were growing, resulting in a strong and stable ultrafiltration membrane made of graphene oxide and a bacterial nanocellulose.

The membrane is then treated to kill the builder bacteria and remove the oxygen, which makes the membrane reactive to light—a characteristic that can be used to kill bacteria that become trapped in it.

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[GRAPHENE-INFO.COM]
[SOURCE.WUSTL.EDU]

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