scholarly journals The Influence of Residual Coagulant Al on the Biofilm EPS and Membrane Fouling Potential in Wastewater Reclamation

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1056
Author(s):  
Shu Sun ◽  
Zhenhao Zhao ◽  
Xiaochun Cui ◽  
Mingxin Huo ◽  
Zhi Geng

Biofouling is inevitable in wastewater reclamation when using membrane technology. In particular, the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from biofilm is a major contributor to biofouling. Coagulation is critical in the process of reusing wastewater before membrane treatment, and residual coagulants (e.g., Al salts) are able to alter the characteristics of the biofilm EPS. However, the distribution of residual Al across varying biofilm EPS fractions and its effect on the membrane fouling potential resulting from biofilm EPS remains unclear. We found that 34% of the residual Al was present in the soluble EPS (S-EPS), 26% in the loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) and 40% in the tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS). Moreover, compared with the control groups, the residual Al in biofilm induced more biofilm formation and more EPS formation. Al reduced the zeta potential and increased the hydrophobicity of the EPS. These changes induced a significant rise in the membrane fouling potential of S-EPS and LB-EPS. This work provides coagulation support for wastewater reclamation using membrane technology.

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-279
Author(s):  
Xiurong Si ◽  
Ding Ding ◽  
Jianhua Zhou ◽  
Zhangwei Cao

This paper mainly investigates the inhibitory effect and mechanism of vanillin on mixed-culture biofilm formation, and discusses the feasibility of controlling membrane fouling with vanillin. The biofilms were cultured under static conditions and a microfluidic chamber, respectively. The results show that vanillin can effectively inhibit the microbial adhesion and biofilm formation; the inhibition rate increases with the vanillin concentration. After 12h treatment with 300mg/L vanillin, the inhibition rate of biofilm formation reached 85.34%. Besides, vanillin can mitigate bacterial adhesion by reducing the microbial secretion of exoprotein and exopolysaccharide, exhibit an inhibitory effect on the expression of N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs), but had no effect on environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA). After being treated with 300mg/L vanillin, exoprotein, exopolysaccharide and AHLs decreased by 28.48%, 17.23% and 46.64%, respectively. Furthermore, there is a positive correlation between the AHLs and the content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs); the AHLs-mediated quorum sensing (QS) might be related to microbial adhesion through the regulation of EPS. Finally, vanillin has a great potential in membrane fouling control. The research findings provide a good reference for biofilm control in water purification and wastewater treatment systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin W. K. Rosman ◽  
Henny C. van der Mei ◽  
Jelmer Sjollema

AbstractA major contributor to biomaterial associated infection (BAI) is Staphylococcus aureus. This pathogen produces a protective biofilm, making eradication difficult. Biofilms are composed of bacteria encapsulated in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) comprising polysaccharides, proteins and extracellular DNA (eDNA). S. aureus also produces micrococcal nuclease (MN), an endonuclease which contributes to biofilm composition and dispersion, mainly expressed by nuc1. MN expression can be modulated by sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials. We investigated the relation between the biofilm and MN expression and the impact of the application of antimicrobial pressure on this relation. Planktonic and biofilm cultures of three S. aureus strains, including a nuc1 deficient strain, were cultured under antimicrobial pressure. Results do not confirm earlier findings that MN directly influences total biomass of the biofilm but indicated that nuc1 deletion stimulates the polysaccharide production per CFU in the biofilm in in vitro biofilms. Though antimicrobial pressure of certain antibiotics resulted in significantly increased quantities of polysaccharides per CFU, this did not coincide with significantly reduced MN activity. Erythromycin and resveratrol significantly reduced MN production per CFU but did not affect total biomass or biomass/CFU. Reduction of MN production may assist in the eradication of biofilms by the host immune system in clinical situations.


2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
C. Jarusutthirak ◽  
G. Amy ◽  
D. Foss

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) has been shown to provide significant reductions of wastewater effluent organic matter (EfOM). While SAT can renovate wastewater effluent to levels commensurate with potable reuse, SAT represents only a single treatment barrier. Membrane filtration has been demonstrated to be an alternative treatment process for wastewater reclamation. However, the performance of membrane filtration is significantly constrained by membrane fouling, reducing membrane productivity in terms of flux decline. Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) is used as a primary barrier in the reclamation system to remove a complex suite of chemical and biological contaminants in wastewater. This study of membrane filtration of SAT-source waters is intended to determine the benefits of the SAT system in terms of membrane fouling reduction with membrane filtration providing a secondary barrier. Membrane treatment of SAT-recovered water provides a multiple barrier exhibiting additional organic matter removal. Moreover, the SAT system also provides for storage of reclaimed water. The synergy between SAT and membrane treatment has led to the concept of an integrated SAT-membrane system for potable reuse.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelmer Sjollema ◽  
Henny van der Mei ◽  
Colin Rosman

Abstract A major contributor to biomaterial associated infection (BAI) is Staphylococcus aureus. This pathogen produces a protective biofilm, making eradication difficult. Biofilms are composed of bacteria encapsulated in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) comprising polysaccharides, proteins and extracellular DNA (eDNA). S. aureus also produces micrococcal nuclease (MN), an endonuclease which contributes to biofilm composition and dispersion, mainly expressed by nuc1. MN expression can be modulated by sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials. We investigated the relation between the biofilm and MN expression and the impact of the application of antimicrobial pressure on this relation. Planktonic and biofilm cultures of three S. aureus strains, including a nuc1 deficient strain, were cultured under antimicrobial pressure. Results indicated that nuc1 deletion stimulates the polysaccharide production per CFU in the biofilm in in vitro biofilms. Also antimicrobial pressure of ciproflocacin, doxycycline and erythromycin resulted in significantly increased quantities of polysaccharides per CFU, but this did only coincide with significantly reduced MN activity in erythromycin. Resveratrol significantly reduced MN production per CFU but did not affect polysaccharides production. In conclusion, various antimicrobials impact the balance of eDNA, polysaccharides and MN production, all in a different way.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihide Furuichi ◽  
Shogo Yoshimoto ◽  
Tomohiro Inaba ◽  
Nobuhiko Nomura ◽  
Katsutoshi Hori

<p></p><p>Biofilms are used in environmental biotechnologies including waste treatment and environmentally friendly chemical production. Understanding the mechanisms of biofilm formation is essential to control microbial behavior and improve environmental biotechnologies. <i>Acinetobacter </i>sp. Tol 5 autoagglutinate through the interaction of the long, peritrichate nanofiber protein AtaA, a trimeric autotransporter adhesin. Using AtaA, without cell growth or the production of extracellular polymeric substances, Tol 5 cells quickly form an unconventional biofilm. In this study, we investigated the formation process of this unconventional biofilm, which started with cell–cell interactions, proceeded to cell clumping, and led to the formation of large cell aggregates. The cell–cell interaction was described by DLVO theory based on a new concept, which considers two independent interactions between two cell bodies and between two AtaA fiber tips forming a virtual discontinuous surface. If cell bodies cannot collide owing to an energy barrier at low ionic strengths but approach within the interactive distance of AtaA fibers, cells can agglutinate through their contact. Cell clumping proceeds following the cluster–cluster aggregation model, and an unconventional biofilm containing void spaces and a fractal nature develops. Understanding its formation process would extend the utilization of various types of biofilms, enhancing environmental biotechnologies.</p><p></p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazlurrahman Khan ◽  
Dung T.N. Pham ◽  
Sandra F. Oloketuyi ◽  
Young-Mog Kim

Background: The establishment of a biofilm by most pathogenic bacteria has been known as one of the resistance mechanisms against antibiotics. A biofilm is a structural component where the bacterial community adheres to the biotic or abiotic surfaces by the help of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) produced by bacterial cells. The biofilm matrix possesses the ability to resist several adverse environmental factors, including the effect of antibiotics. Therefore, the resistance of bacterial biofilm-forming cells could be increased up to 1000 times than the planktonic cells, hence requiring a significantly high concentration of antibiotics for treatment. Methods: Up to the present, several methodologies employing antibiotics as an anti-biofilm, antivirulence or quorum quenching agent have been developed for biofilm inhibition and eradication of a pre-formed mature biofilm. Results: Among the anti-biofilm strategies being tested, the sub-minimal inhibitory concentration of several antibiotics either alone or in combination has been shown to inhibit biofilm formation and down-regulate the production of virulence factors. The combinatorial strategies include (1) combination of multiple antibiotics, (2) combination of antibiotics with non-antibiotic agents and (3) loading of antibiotics onto a carrier. Conclusion: The present review paper describes the role of several antibiotics as biofilm inhibitors and also the alternative strategies adopted for applications in eradicating and inhibiting the formation of biofilm by pathogenic bacteria.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Pilar Sabuquillo ◽  
Jaime Cubero

Xanthomonasarboricola pv. pruni (Xap) causes bacterial spot of stone fruit and almond, an important plant disease with a high economic impact. Biofilm formation is one of the mechanisms that microbial communities use to adapt to environmental changes and to survive and colonize plants. Herein, biofilm formation by Xap was analyzed on abiotic and biotic surfaces using different microscopy techniques which allowed characterization of the different biofilm stages compared to the planktonic condition. All Xap strains assayed were able to form real biofilms creating organized structures comprised by viable cells. Xap in biofilms differentiated from free-living bacteria forming complex matrix-encased multicellular structures which become surrounded by a network of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Moreover, nutrient content of the environment and bacterial growth have been shown as key factors for biofilm formation and its development. Besides, this is the first work where different cell structures involved in bacterial attachment and aggregation have been identified during Xap biofilm progression. Our findings provide insights regarding different aspects of the biofilm formation of Xap which improve our understanding of the bacterial infection process occurred in Prunus spp and that may help in future disease control approaches.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 369
Author(s):  
Shengji Xia ◽  
Xinran Zhang ◽  
Yuanchen Zhao ◽  
Fibor J. Tan ◽  
Pan Li ◽  
...  

The membrane separation process is being widely used in water treatment. It is very important to control membrane fouling in the process of water treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a pre-oxidation-coagulation flat ceramic membrane filtration process using different oxidant types and dosages in water treatment and membrane fouling control. The results showed that under suitable concentration conditions, the effect on membrane fouling control of a NaClO pre-oxidation combined with a coagulation/ceramic membrane system was better than that of an O3 system. The oxidation process changed the structure of pollutants, reduced the pollution load and enhanced the coagulation process in a pre-oxidation-coagulation system as well. The influence of the oxidant on the filtration system was related to its oxidizability and other characteristics. NaClO and O3 performed more efficiently than KMnO4. NaClO was more conducive to the removal of DOC, and O3 was more conducive to the removal of UV254.


Author(s):  
Ling Luo ◽  
Hui Zhong ◽  
Ye Yuan ◽  
Wenwang Zhou ◽  
Changming Zhong

Correction for ‘Membrane fouling characteristics of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) under salinity shock: extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and the optimization of operating parameters’ by Changming Zhong et al., Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021, DOI: .


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