Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membrane for Bactericidal Anti-Fouling. 1. Preparation and Characterization of TiO2 Nanoparticle Self-Assembled Aromatic Polyamide Thin-Film-Composite (TFC) Membrane

Abstract

Hybrid organic/inorganic reverse osmosis (RO) membranes composed of aromatic polyamide thin films underneath titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanosized particles have been fabricated by a self-assembly process, aiming at breakthrough of biofouling problems. First, positively charged particles of the colloidal TiO₂ were synthesized by a sol−gel process, and the diameter of the resulting particles in acidic aqueous solution was estimated to be ≈2 nm by analyzing the UV−visible absorption characteristics with a quantum mechanical model developed by Brus. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) further confirmed the formation of the quantum-sized TiO₂ particles (∼10 nm or less). The TiO₂ particles appeared to exist in the crystallographic form of anatase as observed with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern in comparison with those of commercial 100% rutile and commercial 70:30% anatase-to-rutile mixture. The hybrid thin-film-composite (TFC) aromatic polyamide membranes were prepared by self-assembly of the TiO₂ nanoparticles on the polymer chains with COOH groups along the surface. They showed improved RO performance in which the water flux even increased, though slightly. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) exhibited the TiO₂ nanoparticles well adsorbed onto the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated quantitatively that a considerable amount of the adsorbed particles were tightly self-assembled at the expense of the initial loss of those that were loosely bound, and became stabilized even after exposure to the various washing and harsh RO operating conditions. The antibacterial fouling potential of the TiO₂ hybrid membrane was examined and verified by measuring the viable numbers and determining the survival ratios of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a model bacterium, both with and without UV light illumination. The photocatalytic bactericidal efficiency was remarkably higher for the TiO₂ hybrid membrane under UV illumination, compared to that of the same membrane in darkness, as well as those for the neat membranes under either light condition.