Evaluation of cellulolytic degradation resistance of ZIF-8 reinforced bacterial cellulose membranes for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Cellulosic membranes are well known for their susceptibility to microbial degradation by enzymatic hydrolysis. In this study, bacterial cellulose membranes are improved by incorporating ZIF-8 particles to enhance their durability under exposure to various microorganisms. The antimicrobial effect of ZIF-8 has been investigated against various bacterial and fungal species. In addition, the degradation of the membranes was evaluated in cellulolytic bacteria-rich soil to exhibit the behaviour of the membranes under extreme conditions. The experimental results indicated that ZIF-8 extends the lifetime of the membranes and enhances their durability in cellulose-degrading environments. The inhibitory role of ZIF-8 particles in enzymatic hydrolysis reactions was further investigated through inhibition kinetics experiments using cellulase enzymes secreted by these microorganisms. ZIF-8 particles inhibited cellulose degradation in the presence of cellulase enzymes, slowing the degradation rate by a factor of 2 to 4.4. Finally, the effect of ZIF-8 on membrane separation performance was evaluated through water permeation tests. The results indicated that incorporation of ZIF-8 into the bacterial cellulose enhances the fluxes by increasing water permeation up to twofold compared to the neat bacterial cellulose membrane.