Metal oxides nanocomposite membrane for biofouling mitigation in wastewater treatment

Abstract These days our one of the major challenges is the treatment of polluted wastewater produced by the growing population and industrial activities. The conventional wastewater treatment methods are costly and need to be more advanced. For this reason, membrane technology has been used as an effective wastewater treatment method for many decades due to its high removal power, selectivity, and permeability properties. Biofouling causes a serious concern related to membrane permeability, shortens membrane life, and selectivity. Polymeric membranes are widely used in wastewater treatment due to their good pore-forming ability, higher flexibility, and relatively low costs but are limited to their hydrophobicity property and more susceptible to fouling. Metal oxides nanomaterials are widely used in the formation of polymer nanocomposite membranes because of their hydrophilicity, larger surface area, pore channels, and high toxicity towards pathogenic micro-organisms. In this review, we have discussed the factors affecting membrane biofouling and their conventional and current treatment methods with their limitations. We have also referred to the use of metal oxide nanomaterials, as an antibacterial agent, for the fabrication of polymer nanocomposite membranes and discuss their antibacterial activity with antibiofouling behavior.