Garlic-based phenolic nanopowder as antibiofouling agent in mixed-matrix membrane

The mixed matrix membrane has been developed in this work by using cellulose acetate as a membrane matrix and garlic-based phenolic nanopowder as an anti-biofouling filler. The membrane prepared using the phase inversion method, utilizing dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent. Three variation of garlic extract (GE) nanopowder concentration of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% were used, respectively. The mixed matrix membranes were tested their final thickness, morphology by using SEM, tensile strength, elasticity, clean water flux, and bacterial adhesion. Anti-biofouling activities of the garlic extract nanopowders were confirmed from the Escherichia coli bacterial adhesion, which 32 cells adhered in the pristine membrane surface, whereas nanopowder concentration of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% mixed matrix membranes show 9, 12 and 10 cells adhered in the membrane surface, respectively. The phenolic compounds in the mixed matrix membranes were able to inhibit bacterial growth and potentially used for a safe and non-toxic tool for food processing, including juice clarification.