Bacterial cellulose-graphene oxide composite membranes with enhanced fouling resistance for bio-effluents management

Bacterial cellulose composites hold promise as renewable bioinspired materials for industrial and environmental applications. However, their use as free-standing water filtration membranes is hindered by low compressive strength, fouling, and poor contaminant selectivity. This study investigates the potential of bacterial cellulose-graphene oxide composites membranes for fouling resistance in pressure-driven filtration. Graphene oxide dispersed in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-400) is incorporated as a reinforcing filler into 3D network of bacterial cellulose using an in-situ synthesis method. The effect of graphene oxide on in situ fermentation yield and the formation of percolated-network in the composites shows that the optimal membrane properties are reached at a graphene oxide loading of 2 mg/mL. The two-dimensional graphene oxide nanosheets uniformly dispersed into the matrix of bacterial cellulose nanofibers via hydrogen-bonded interactions demonstrated nearly twofold higher water flux (380 L m⁻² h⁻¹) with a molecular weight cut-off ranging between 100-200 KDa and a sixfold increase in wet compression strength than pristine BC. When exposed to synthetic organic foulants and bacterial rich feed solutions, the composite membranes showed more than 95% flux recovery. Additionally, the membranes achieved over 95% rejection of synthetic natural organic matter and bacterial rich solutions, showcasing their enhanced fouling resistance and selectivity.