Factors affecting pattern fidelity and performance of a patterned membrane

• Pattern fidelity depends on the molecular weight and concentration of polymer.
• Pattern fidelity depends on the hydrophobicity of replica mold and polymer solution.
• The longer the pattern height, the greater the water flux in a patterned membrane.
• The microbial deposition greatly decreased on the patterned membrane with longer pattern height.

Membranes with a patterned surface have become attractive for the mitigation of biofouling in membrane processes for water and wastewater treatment. However, previous studies have paid little attention to factors affecting pattern fidelity in the preparation of patterned membranes. Here, we examined several parameters such as the molecular weight and concentration of the polymer in the dope solution which might affect the pattern fidelity of prism-patterned membranes. Greater pattern fidelity was achieved as the molecular weight of the polymer decreased and its concentration increased. Pattern fidelity was also dependent on the work of adhesion of the replica mold and the polymer solution. In the crossflow filtration test, deposition of the GFP tagged P. aeruginosa PAO1 was decreased on the patterned membranes with a higher pattern height. The mechanisms involved in the preparation of patterned membranes with different fidelities were also investigated.