Hybridization of physical cleaning and quorum quenching to minimize membrane biofouling and energy consumption in a membrane bioreactor

Abstract Biofouling is unwanted accumulation of microbial population on the membrane surface which limits the use of membrane bioreactor (MBR) in the market. Disruption of the biofilm formation by Quorum Quenching (QQ) by using cell entrapping beads (CEBs) is an approach with great potential to control membrane biofouling as the beads used provide not only mitigating effect on biofilm formation, by interfering Quorum Sensing, but also physical forces to detach the biofilm from the membrane surface. This research aimed to develop QQ-CEB with locally available chemicals in Pakistan and its application to evaluate the QQ effect together with physical and chemical cleaning. Various CEBs were made of different mixtures of sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and their quality was tested considering physical and biological aspects. Rhodococcus sp. BH4 and Pseudomonas putida were entrapped in the CEBs and then introduced in MBR as one of biofouling control methods along with standard backwash and chemical backwash. The CEBs made of specific concentration of PVA were proven to be more durable and helpful in mitigating biofouling as compared to that of sodium alginate. An MBR operated with PVA-alginate QQ CEBs together with chemical backwash showed the best performance without deterioration of effluent quality.

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Membrane biofouling retardation and improved sludge characteristics using quorum quenching bacteria in submerged membrane bioreactor

Journal of Membrane Science ◽

10.1016/j.memsci.2015.02.011 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 483 ◽

pp. 75-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Tahir Maqbool ◽

Sher Jamal Khan ◽

Hira Waheed ◽

Chung-Hak Lee ◽

Imran Hashmi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Quorum Quenching ◽

Sludge Characteristics ◽

Submerged Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Membrane Biofouling

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Membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment: A review of microbial quorum sensing and quenching to control membrane biofouling based on engineering quorum quenching bacteria

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202019404026 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 194 ◽

pp. 04026

Author(s):

Xinmeng Jiao ◽

Kang Xie ◽

Liping Qiu

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Quorum Sensing ◽

Membrane Fouling ◽

Membrane Bioreactor ◽

Membrane Surface ◽

Quorum Quenching ◽

Membrane Bioreactors ◽

Practical Application ◽

Membrane Biofouling ◽

New Strategy

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is a kind of reputable and prospective technology for wastewater treatment and reformation applications. However, membrane fouling caused by the formation of biofilm on the membrane surface, especially biofouling, is a major obstacle that limits the energy-saving operation and maintenance of the membrane bioreactor (MBR). Microbial communication (known as Quorum Sensing (QS)) is the cause of this fouling phenomenon. A new strategy called Quorum Quenching (QQ) seems to have been successfully used for biological pollution control in wastewater treatment MBR. This review summarizes the latest findings regarding membrane fouling, QS mechanisms and QQ applications. We discussed the opportunities for further practical application of self-cleaning engineering QQ bacteria in MBR.

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