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Synergistic Prevention of Biofouling in Seawater Desalination by Zwitterionic Surfaces and Low‐Level Chlorination
Author(s) -
Yang Rong,
Jang Hongchul,
Stocker Roman,
Gleason Karen K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201304386
Subject(s) - biofouling , fouling , materials science , seawater , reverse osmosis , chlorine , desalination , chemical engineering , membrane , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , metallurgy , ecology , biochemistry , engineering , biology
Smooth, durable, ultrathin antifouling layers are deposited onto commercial reverse osmosis membranes without damaging them and they exhibit a fouling reduction. A new synergistic approach to antifouling, by coupling surface modification and drinking‐water‐level chlorination is enabled by the films' unique resistance against chlorine degradation. This approach substantially enhances longer‐term fouling resistance compared with surface modification or chlorination alone, and can reduce freshwater production cost and its collateral toxicity to marine biota.