AWWA MTC50239

In an effort to gain a better understanding of the kinetics and dynamics of the molecular interaction of surfactants with organics adsorbed on a membrane surface, adsorption and desorption studies were investigated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Thin films (1500-2000A) of cellulose acetate were cast on zinc selenide internal reflection elements. Model compounds representative of bacterial EPS were allowed to adsorb on the thin CA films from flowing solution. Each adsorbed film was then treated with a solutiuon of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), an anionic surfactant widely employed commercially as a membrane-cleaning agent. The model EPS organics included: the acidic protein albumin; the neutral polysaccharide dextran; the acidic polysaccharide alginic acid and the plant polysaccharide gum arabic, and its associated protein component. Also inlcuded in the study was the cationic quaternary amine, benzalkonium chloride. Includes 5 references.