Nanoparticle carbon molecules prevent bio-fouling

DURHAM, NC — Engineers at Duke University have found that spherical carbon molecules known as “buckyballs” hinder the ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to accumulate on membranes used to filter water in treatment plants, according to a March 5 Duke University news release.
According to the engineers, coating pipes and membranes with these nanoparticles may prove to be an effective strategy for addressing biofouling.
So-Ryong Chae, post-doctoral fellow in Duke’s environmental and civil engineering department, explains in the release: “Just as plaque can build up inside arteries and reduce the flow of blood, bacteria and other microorganisms can over time attach and accumulate on water treatment membranes and along water pipes. As the bacteria build up on these surfaces, they attract other organic matter, creating a biofilm that slowly builds up over time.
“The results of our experiments in the laboratory indicate that buckyballs may be able to prevent this clogging, known as biofouling. The only other options to address biofouling are digging up the pipes and replacing the membranes, which can be expensive and inconvenient.”
Results of Chae’s experiments were published March 5 in the Journal of Membrane Sciences.
The researchers concluded that because buckyballs are one of the most widely used nanoparticles, additional research is needed to determine if they have any detrimental effects on humans or the environment. Buckyballs are named after the spherical geodesic domes designed by architect R. Buckminster Fuller.

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