Electroactive membranes (EMs) that simultaneously function as electrodes and filters have successfully mitigated biofouling with low energy consumption. Furthermore, EMs can significantly reduce operating costs by decreasing the need for membrane cleaning steps, considering that these steps account for about 33% of the operating costs. Most EMs have the configuration of a spiral wound membrane module where the membrane serves only as a working electrode in the feed stream. This configuration requires a separate counter electrode to close the electrical circuit, which causes low-packing density and limits the practical application of EMs. To address its drawbacks, this study aims to develop patterned electroactive membranes (PMs), where both working and counter electrodes are placed on the same surfaces, and to evaluate the antifouling potential of PMs. We hypothesize that interdigitated patterns formed by the working and counter electrodes can exhibit excellent antifouling performance with low energy consumption by shortening electrode spacing and partially covering membrane surfaces. We fabricate the PMs in two ways, namely inkjet printing of a carbon nanotube ink and laser-induced graphitization of polymeric films (i.e., polyimide and polyethersulfone) using a CO<sub>2</sub> laser cutter. We determined that a laser power of 4.2 W and a laser scan rate of 3.5 in s<sup>-1 </sup>be the optimal fabrication condition minimizing the electrical resistance of the scribed electrodes. We also tested the adsorption of a model foulant (i.e., bovine serum albumin, BSA) for microorganisms on the laser scribed surfaces and found out that BSA is too hydrophilic for the fouling test. Thus, for future experiments, we will identify appropriate new model foulants and then perform electrically antifouling tests, varying coverages of the patterns that partially cover membrane surfaces.

Interdigitated electrodes on polymeric membrane surfaces to control biofouling

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ACS Fall 2022

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