Fouling resistant coating for filtration membranes and methods of producing and using same
A conformal coating that resists fouling by waterborne contamination in aquatic environments, a method for fabricating the coating, and a filter having such a coating are disclosed. The coating comprises a hydrophilic polymer and a surfactant wherein the surfactant undergoes a phase change upon exposure to a saline solution. Also disclosed are in situ methods for regenerating anti-fouling filters having the fouling resistant coating.
1. A filtration membrane, comprising:
a membrane comprising coated pores, said pores coated with a coating solution comprising:
N-erucyl-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methyl ammonium chloride (EMHAC),
wherein the concentration of EMHAC in said coating solution is greater than 20 wt %; and
polydopamine, said coating solution comprising less than 1% polydopamine;
such that the thickness of the resulting coating is less than or equal to 20 nm.
2. The filtration membrane of claim 1 , wherein said membrane is selected from the group consisting of an ultrafiltration membrane, a microfiltration membrane, a nanofiltration membrane, a reverse osmosis membrane, a mesh filter or a media filter.