Development of microbial sensing membranes

Recent efforts aimed at minimizing membrane fouling have emphasized an increasing demand for on-line monitoring in an effort to accurately predict membrane performance. To this end, an in situ bacterial monitoring system was developed that is integrated within the membrane. Because the target is bacterial monitoring, organic matter fouling must be controlled to avoid interference/masking of bacterial sensing as well as to prevent permeability loses. Combining bacterial monitoring with a membrane designed for fouling control is a novel and unique concept.

The project produced a fouling-resistant membrane by attaching a stimuli-responsive polymer film on the surface. A temperature decrease caused the film to Fig. 4. Mycobacterium parafortuitum recoveries on the membrane-based biosensor as a function of antibody (38.5 Â 10À3 mg/ml) immobilization time. Error bars represent + one standard deviation of the mean. M. parafortuitum (1 Â 106 cell/ml) was added to the membrane-based sensor and incubated for 30 min.