A comprehensive review on surface modified polymer membranes for biofouling mitigation

Biofouling is a major problem in environmental membrane separations because it leads to higher operating pressures, more frequent chemical cleaning, shortened membrane life, and compromised product water quality. The paper presents an overview on fabrication and properties of low-biofouling composite membranes for pressure-driven membrane processes. At first, biofouling phenomena and membrane surface properties which affect membrane biofouling have been discussed and the main objectives for the development of composite membranes for biofouling mitigation have been outlined. Thereafter the recent studies on the preparation of low-biofouling composite membranes using interfacial polymerization, surface grafting, coating of a protective layer and surface modification with nanoparticles have been critically summarised. Confocal images of the membrane surface after P. aeruginosa PAO1 growth: initial NF-90 membrane (a) and the LbL modified composite membranes with poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate)/poly(hexamethylene biguanide (b) [Display omitted] •An overview on fabrication and properties of low-biofouling composite membranes.•Biofouling phenomena on the membrane surface have been discussed.•Fabrication studies on low-biofouling composite membranes have been surveyed.•So far, none of the modified membranes were able to completely prevent biofouling.•A removable antifouling layer is of special interest for biofouling mitigation.