AWWA MTC50238

AWWA MTC50238 Effect of Adsorbed Surfactant on bacterial Attachment at an Aqueous-Polymer Membrane Interface as Determined by Attenuated total Reflection Fourier Transform infrared Spectrometry and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy
Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 01/01/1999

Bold, Richard M.;Ishida, Kenneth P.;Ridgway, Harry F.

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This paper describes how adsorbed organic layers influence bacterial attachment in membrane biofouling. Experiments have focused on the physical and chemical interactions that occur at the aqueous-solid interface between adherent bacteria and membrane surfaces. The degree of attachment of Mycobacterium isolate BT 12-100 on a cellulose acetate (CA) thin film preconditioned with the detergent Zwittergent 3-16 was measured. Mycobacterium BT12-100 is one of the predominant organisms recovered from fouled WF 21 membranes. Molecular adsorption data from the aqueous-polymer interface was obtained by attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, while visual data of adherent bacterial cells was obtained by Nomarski differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC). Both measurements were made in situ and in real time. Includes 5 references.