Facile preparation of hydrophillic and anti-biological fouling support membranes for forward osmosis processes

Abstract

This report documents the final year project of a student from Nanyang

Technological University. In this project, the author compared a charged polyelectrolyte

and silver nanoparticle modified polysulfone forward osmosis membrane to an un-modified

polysulfone forward osmosis membrane. The membranes were compared for their

hydrophobicity via the contact angle test and were tested for their anti-bacterial efficiency.

From the results and observations obtained from this series of tests, it was noted that a

charged polyelectrolyte can increase a membrane’s hydrophobicity. There was a 10%

decrease in contact angle. It was also noted that silver nanoparticles do indeed have anti-

bacterial properties, and thus can reduce bio-fouling in forward osmosis membranes.