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Biocatalytic polymeric membranes to decrease biofilm fouling and remove organic contaminants in wastewater: a review

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Abstract

The presence of recalcitrant contaminants in wastewater is major challenge to decrease pollution and associated health issues. As a consequence, membrane technologies have recently attracted industrial attention, yet a major setback of membrane employment is membrane fouling which leads to frequent discarding of membrane modules. More than 45% of all membrane fouling cases are caused by biofilms that are resistant to antimicrobial agents. Here we review polymeric membranes with antifouling properties, with focus on surface properties, fabrication, characterization, biocatalysis using enzymes and application towards the removal of dyes, phenol, pesticides and fertilizers. Nano-engineered fabrication of polymeric membranes allow to decrease fouling by 80–90%. Immobilized oxidoreductases in polymeric membranes allow 65–98% removal contaminants in wastewater.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the SRM Institute of Science and Technology for help in carrying out the research.

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Correspondence to Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar or Vinoth Kumar Vaidyanathan.

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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George, J., Anand, S.S., Senthil Kumar, P. et al. Biocatalytic polymeric membranes to decrease biofilm fouling and remove organic contaminants in wastewater: a review. Environ Chem Lett 20, 1897–1927 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01413-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-022-01413-0

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