Facile fabrication of Anti-biofouling polyaniline ultrafiltration membrane by green citric acid doping process

This study aimed to enhance the anti-biofouling property of the polyaniline (PANI) based ultrafiltration (UF) membrane by utilizing its self-acid doping ability. A naturally derived biodegradable agent, citric acid, was doped to the membrane by filtering at 1 bar. Acid doping increased the hydrophilicity, made the surface nearly electroneutral, and imparted biocidal characteristics to the membrane. Biofouling was simulated by filtering a suspension of E.coli and S.aureus through the membranes. Most fouling on the doped membrane was reversible and easily removed by simple washing, leading to a high flux recovery ratio. The SEM images taken after filtration and washing steps showed that the modified membrane surface was free of bacteria while many bacteria accumulated on the pristine membrane surface. The doped membrane was stored in 1 M NaCl solution for up to five months. A tiny amount of citric acid was lost from the membrane, and at the end of storage, the flux, rejection, and antibacterial activity values did not change, demonstrating the antibacterial agent's stability. The protocol proposed in this study is fast, simple, facile, and easily scalable for large-scale production. Using a green antibacterial agent and its loading with a one-step process without consuming chemicals or functionalizing the support makes the proposed method environmentally friendly.