Effect of quorum quenching on EPS and size-fractioned particles and organics in anaerobic membrane bioreactor for domestic wastewater treatment

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater: Progress in resource and energy recovery improvement approaches

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) offer promise in municipal wastewater treatment, with potential benefits including high-quality effluent, energy recovery, sludge reduction, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, AnMBR face hurdles like membrane fouling, low energy recovery, etc. In light of net-zero carbon target and circular economy strategy, this work sought to evaluate novel AnMBR configurations, focusing on performance, fouling mitigation, net-energy generation, and nutrients-enhancing integrated configurations, such as forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), bioelectrochemical systems (BES), membrane photobioreactor (MPBR), and partial nitrification-anammox (PN/A). In addition, we highlight the essential role of AnMBR in advancing the circular economy and propose ideas for the water-energy-climate nexus. While AnMBR has made significant progress, challenges, such as fouling and cost-effectiveness persist. Overall, the use of novel configurations and energy recovery strategies can further improve the sustainability and efficiency of AnMBR systems, making them a promising technology for future sustainable municipal wastewater treatment.

Quorum Quenching in Membrane Bioreactors for Fouling Retardation: Complexity Provides Opportunities

The occurrence of biofouling restricts the widespread application of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) in wastewater treatment. Regulation of quorum sensing (QS) is a promising approach to control biofouling in MBRs, yet the underlying mechanisms are complex and remain to be illustrated. A fundamental understanding of the relationship between QS and membrane biofouling in MBRs is lacking, which hampers the development and application of quorum quenching (QQ) techniques in MBRs (QQMBRs). While many QQ microorganisms have been isolated thus far, critical criteria for selecting desirable QQ microorganisms are still missing. Furthermore, there are inconsistent results regarding the QQ lifecycle and the effects of QQ on the physicochemical characteristics and microbial communities of the mixed liquor and biofouling assemblages in QQMBRs, which might result in unreliable and inefficient QQ applications. This review aims to comprehensively summarize timely QQ research and highlight the important yet often ignored perspectives of QQ for biofouling control in MBRs. We consider what this "information" can and cannot tell us and explore its values in addressing specific and important questions in QQMBRs. Herein, we first examine current analytical methods of QS signals and discuss the critical roles of QS in fouling-forming microorganisms in MBRs, which are the cornerstones for the development of QQ technologies. To achieve targeting QQ strategies in MBRs, we propose the substrate specificity and degradation capability of isolated QQ microorganisms and the surface area and pore structures of QQ media as the critical criteria to select desirable functional microbes and media, respectively. To validate the biofouling retardation efficiency, we further specify the QQ effects on the physicochemical properties, microbial community composition, and succession of mixed liquor and biofouling assemblages in MBRs. Finally, we provide scale-up considerations of QQMBRs in terms of the debated QQ lifecycle, practical synergistic strategies, and the potential cost savings of MBRs. This review presents the limitations of classic QS/QQ hypotheses in MBRs, advances the understanding of the role of QS/QQ in biofouling development/retardation in MBRs, and builds a bridge between the fundamental understandings and practical applications of QQ technology.

Effectiveness of cloth media filters on mitigating membrane fouling in anaerobic filter membrane bioreactors

Membrane fouling is a persistent challenge that has impeded the broader application of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs). To mitigate membrane fouling, between the outlet of the UASB anaerobic bioreactor and the PVDF membrane to form the anaerobic filter membrane bioreactor (AnFMBR) system. Through comprehensive experiments, the optimal pore size for cloth filters was determined to be 50 μm. A comprehensive assessment over 140 days of operation shows that the novel AnFMBR had significantly greater resistance to membrane pollution than the traditional AnMBR. The AnFMBR system membrane tank exhibited lower mixed liquor suspended solid and mixed liquor volatile suspended solid concentrations, smaller sludge particle sizes, increased hydrophilicity of sludge flocs, and optimized microbial community distribution compared to those of conventional AnMBRs. The total solids foulant accumulation rate in the AnMBR was 5.1 g/m2/day, while in the AnFMBR, the rate was 2.4 g/m2/day, marking a 53.7 % decrease in fouling rate for the AnFMBR compared with the AnMBR. This decrease indicates that integrating the filtration assembly significantly lowered the rate of solid foulant accumulation on the membrane surface, primarily by controlling the buildup of solid foulants in the cake layer, thereby alleviating membrane fouling. AnFMBR compared to AnMBR, the membrane fouling rate halved, effectively doubled the interval between membrane cleaning from seven days, as observed in the AnMBR system, to fourteen days. These findings underscore the potential of integrating cloth media filters into AnMBRs to improve operational efficiency, economic viability, and sustainability.

Development of a novel membrane-based quorum-quenching microbial isolator for biofouling control: Process performance and microbial mechanism

Quorum quenching (QQ) can mitigate biofouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) by inhibiting cell-to-cell communication. However, it is difficult to maintain long-term QQ activity. Here, a novel microbial isolator composed of tubular microfiltration membranes was developed to separate QQ bacteria (Rhodococcus sp. BH4) from sludge. The time to reach a transmembrane pressure of 50 kPa was delayed by 69.55 % (p = 0.002, Student's t test) in MBR with QQ microbial isolator (MBR-Q), compared to that in the control MBR (MBR-C) during stable operation. The concentration of proteins in the extracellular polymeric substances of sludge was reduced by 20.61 % in MBR-Q relative to MBR-C. The results of the bacterial community analyses indicated less enrichment of fouling-associated bacteria (e.g., Acinetobacter) but a higher abundance of QQ enzymes in MBR-Q than in MBR-C. This environmentally friendly technique can decrease the cleaning frequency and increase the membrane lifespan, thus improving the sustainability of MBR technology.

An overview of quorum sensing in shaping activated sludge forms: Mechanisms, applications and challenges

Activated sludge method is an effective method for the wastewater treatment and has been widely applied. Activated sludge usually exists in various forms such as activated sludge floc, biofilm and granule. Due to the different character and function for each sludge type, the role and mechanism in the wastewater treatment process are also different, but all were crucial. The quorum sensing (QS) /quorum quenching (QQ) have been demonstrated and proved to regulate the group behavior by secreting signaling molecules among microorganisms and thus affect the manifestation of sludge. However, the complex mechanisms and regulatory strategies of QS/QQ in sludge forms have not been systematically summarized. This review provided an overview on the mechanism of QS/QQ shaping sludge forms from macro to micro (Explore it through signaling molecules, extracellular polymeric substances and microorganisms). In addition, the application and challenges of QS/QQ regulating sludge forms in various wastewater treatment processes including biofilm batch reactor, granule sludge and membrane bioreactor were discussed. Finally, some suggestions for further research and development of effective and economical QS/QQ strategies are put forward.

Engineering a Pseudomonas putida as living quorum quencher for biofilm formation inhibition, benzenes degradation, and environmental risk evaluation

Bacterial communication interruption based on quorum quenching (QQ) has been proven its potential in biofilm formation inhibition and biofouling control. However, it would be more satisfying if QQ could be combined with the efficient degradation of contaminants in environmental engineering. In this study, we engineered a biofilm of Pseudomonas putida through introducing a QQ synthetic gene, which achieved both biofilm formation inhibition and efficient degradation of benzene series in wastewater. The aiiO gene introduced into the P. putida by heat shock method was highly expressed to produce QQ enzyme to degrade AHL-based signal molecules. The addition of this engineered P. putida reduced the AHLs concentration, quorum sensing gene expression, and connections of the microbial community network in activated sludge and therefore inhibited the biofilm formation. Meanwhile, the sodium benzoate degradation assay indicated an enhanced benzene series removal ability of the engineering bacteria on activated sludge. Besides, we also demonstrated a controllable environmental risk of this engineered bacteria through monitoring its abundance and horizontal gene transfer test. Overall, the results of this study suggest an alternative strategy to solve multiple environmental problems through genetic engineering means and provide support for the application of engineered bacteria in environmental biotechnology.

Isolation and characterization of quorum quenching bacteria from municipal solid waste and bottom ash co-disposal landfills

Co-landfilling of bottom ash (BA) accelerates the clogging of leachate collection systems (LCSs) and increases the risk of landfill failure. The clogging was mainly associated with bio-clogging, which may be reduced by quorum quenching (QQ) strategies. This communication reports on a study of how isolated facultative QQ bacterial strains from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and BA co-disposal landfills. In MSW landfills, two novel QQ strains (Brevibacillus agri and Lysinibacillus sp. YS11) can degrade the signal molecule hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and octanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL), respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa could degrade C6-HSL and C8-HSL in BA co-disposal landfills. Moreover, P. aeruginosa (0.98) was observed with a higher growth rate (OD600) compared to that of B. agri (0.27) and Lysinibacillus sp. YS11 (0.53). These results indicated that the QQ bacterial strains were associated with leachate characteristics and signal molecules and could be used for controlling bio-clogging in landfills.

Biofouling control potential of quorum quenching anaerobes in lab-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactors: Foulants profile and microbial dynamics

Indigenously isolated anaerobes encoding four quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes were applied in immobilized- and bioaugmented forms for their implications on membrane foulants, microbial taxa, and biofouling control. Two identical anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) with different immobilizing media, i.e. silica-alginate (AnMBR-Si) and hollow fiber-alginate (AnMBR-Hf), were sequentially operated for two conventional and three QQ based phases. The synergistic addition of QQ anaerobes in free cells and the immobilized form prolonged the membrane filtration operation by 172 ± 29% and 284 ± 12% in AnMBR-Si and AnMBR-Hf, respectively. Biocake with low surface coverage was prominent during QQ application compared to conventional phases. Despite the better control of AHLs (3OC6-, C6-, 3OC8, C8, and C10-HSL) and AI-2 at various points of QQ phases, the QQ consortium could not maintain a low concentration of signals for longer period. Therefrom, quenching of targeted signal molecules instigate the dominance of microbial species bearing non-targeted quorum sensing mechanism. The QQ significantly altered the biofilm-forming community in mixed liquor, while the members with robust signal transduction systems became dominant to counteract the QQ mechanism and were the ultimate cause of biofouling. The improved methane content in biogas and increased methanogens composition during QQ phases demonstrated the synergism of exogenous and immobilized QQ as the most viable option for long-term AnMBR operation.

The relationship between quorum sensing dynamics and biological performances during anaerobic membrane bioreactor treatment

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) enhance carbon neutrality with biomethane recovery from wastewater; however, microbial signaling, which may affect biological performances, was poorly understood. Here, we thus evaluate quorum sensing (QS) dynamics while monitoring acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2) levels during long-term AnMBR operations after sludge inoculation. Significant organic removal and methane production were achieved with the reactor startup. Signal molecule levels varied with transient organic loading rates, depending on their types. A starving condition may cause an increase in short- and medium-chain AHLs and AI-2. Biopolymers, biosolids, volatile fatty acids, and alkalinity levels had positive correlations with short- and medium-chain AHLs and AI-2, whereas methane production had positive correlations with long-chain AHLs. The principal component analysis of QS signal composition and biological performance data explains their interconnectivity. The findings of this study help to understand that QS signals regulate metabolic pathways in addition to microbial group behaviors.

Microbial community regulation and performance enhancement in gas biofilters by interrupting bacterial communication

BACKGROUND

Controlling excess biomass accumulation and clogging is important for maintaining the performance of gas biofilters and reducing energy consumption. Interruption of bacterial communication (quorum quenching) can modulate gene expression and alter biofilm properties. However, whether the problem of excess biomass accumulation in gas biofilters can be addressed by interrupting bacterial communication remains unknown.

RESULTS

In this study, parallel laboratory-scale gas biofilters were operated with Rhodococcus sp. BH4 (QQBF) and without Rhodococcus sp. BH4 (BF) to explore the effects of quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria on biomass accumulation and clogging. QQBF showed lower biomass accumulation (109 kg/m³) and superior operational stability (85-96%) than BF (170 kg/m³; 63-92%) at the end of the operation. Compared to BF, the QQBF biofilm had lower adhesion strength and decreased extracellular polymeric substance production, leading to easier detachment of biomass from filler surface into the leachate. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of quorum sensing (QS)-related species was found to decrease from 67 (BF) to 56% (QQBF). The QS function genes were also found a lower relative abundance in QQBF, compared with BF. Moreover, although both biofilters presented aromatic compounds removal performance, the keystone species in QQBF played an important role in maintaining biofilm stability, while the keystone species in BF exhibited great potential for biofilm formation. Finally, the possible influencing mechanism of Rhodococcus sp. BH4 on biofilm adhesion was demonstrated. Overall, the results of this study achieved excess biomass control while maintaining stable biofiltration performance (without interrupting operation) and greatly promoted the use of QQ technology in bioreactors. Video Abstract.

Feasibility of implementing quorum quenching technology to mitigate membrane fouling in MBRs treating phenol-rich pharmaceutical wastewater: Application of Rhodococcus sp. BH4 and quorum quenching consortium

This study aimed to implement quorum quenching (QQ) to mitigate membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) treating phenol-rich pharmaceutical wastewater using Rhodococcus sp. BH4 and isolated QQ consortium (QQcs) from activated sludge. Neither BH4 nor QQcs impacted the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (>94%), phenol (>99%), and ammonium (>99%), indicating that QQ did not have adverse impact on treatment performance. In addition, both BH4 and QQcs effectively retarded membrane fouling, which could be attributed to the reduction of soluble microbial products (SMP). Interestingly, the TMP increase was delayed 68.7% by Rhodococcus sp. BH4, while 31.3% was achieved by QQcs. This difference may be due to the relatively higher degradation for short- and medium-chain N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) by BH4 compared to the QQcs. Furthermore, the possible presence of quorum sensing (QS) bacteria within QQcs also could have contributed to the less effective fouling control than that of BH4.

Enriched autoinducer-2 (AI-2)-based quorum quenching consortium in a ceramic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for biofouling retardation

This study is the first to enrich a facultative QQ consortium for AI-2-based quorum sensing (QS) disruption (FQQ2) and discover its quorum quenching (QQ) performance in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for membrane fouling retardation. Herein, FQQ2 was enriched by the enrichment culture using 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD) followed by anaerobic screening. FQQ2 was composed of various facultative AI-2-based QQ microorganisms including Acinetobacter, Comamonas, Stenotrophomonas, and FQQ2 was capable to degrade 96.96% of DPD in 9 h. More importantly, FQQ2 prolonged membrane filtration operation by an average of 3.72 times via reduction of DPD in the AnMBR treating domestic wastewater (p ≤ 0.05). QQ was implicated to reduce the content of proteins and carbohydrates of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of suspended biomass by 24.16% and 10.39%, respectively, and concentration of proteins of the soluble microbial products (SMP) by 18.77%. Parallel factor (PARAFAC) modelling of excitation-emission matrix (EEM) demonstrated that QQ could reduce the content of fulvic acid-like and humic acid-like substances, aromatic proteins and soluble-microbial-by-product-like proteins of the EPS (p ≤ 0.05) and abate the content of soluble-microbial-by-product-like proteins in the SMP (p ≤ 0.05). The lower EPS content of suspended biomass could be rendered with the reduced relative abundance of AI-2-regulated Christensenellaceae;g-, Hyphomicrobium, Leucobacter and Microbacterium by 48.48%, 76.56%, 64.78% and 59.26%, respectively, and QQ led to the reduction of the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae;g- and Leucobacter in the cake layer by 31.07% and 51.43%, respectively. Moreover, quantity of organics as well as planktonic microorganisms in the supernatant decreased in presence of FQQ2 (p ≤ 0.05). Of note, markedly lower relative abundance of AI-2-regulated Sulfurovum in supernatant by 97.74% resulted in its lower abundance of cake layer. Intriguingly, in the presence of QQ, methane production was statistically enhanced by 62.5% (p ≤ 0.05). It was closely linked to the decrease of sulfate reduction (p ≤ 0.05), which resulted from 37.93% lower abundance of sulfate-reduction Desulfomonile in the suspended biomass (p ≤ 0.05). Collectively, this study sheds lights on the development of AI-2-based QQ for biofouling control in AnMBRs.

Genetic insights unraveling quorum quenching potential of indigenous isolates from an anaerobic membrane bioreactor

Despite a few reports of quorum quenching (QQ) in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs), the sensing, regulation and degradation mechanism for quorum sensing (QS) signals by indigenous QQ isolates have been barely studied. This study employed isolation and screening of indigenous QQ strains from anaerobic sludge for acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) degradation and membrane biofouling control. High-quality whole genome sequences of Micrococcus luteus anQ-m1, Bacillus pacificus anQ-h4, and Lysinibacillus capsici anQ-h6 were obtained, with a genome size of 2.5, 5.6, and 4.7 Mbp, respectively. Amidase-encoding amiE was the only QQ gene in anQ-m1, while anQ-h6 carries both amiE and lactonase-encoding aiiB genes. Genes responsible for QS autoinducer synthesis were not identified in anQ-m1 and anQ-h6, suggesting low potential of biofilm promotion via QS. Despite a peptidic QS system responsible for biofilm formation, anQ-h4 bears the most comprehensive QQ system, including amiE-amidase, aiiA-lactonase, CYP102A5-cytochrome oxidoreductase, and lsrK-autoinducer-2 kinase. This study elucidates QS and QQ mechanisms of potential anaerobes and provides fundamentals for designing QQ consortia to effectively control biofouling in AnMBRs.

Quorum quenching strategy for biofouling control in membrane photobioreactor

This study aims to reduce membrane fouling in membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) through the quorum quenching (QQ) strategy. For this purpose, the QQ beads (immobilized Rhodococcus sp. BH4) were added to the MPBR, and antifouling ability was evaluated in consideration of the changes in transmembrane pressure (TMP), extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), microbial community, and cake layer morphology on the membrane surface. The results showed that the TMP of control MPBR (MPBR-C) reached 818 mbar and 912 mbar on the operation hours of 35 and 170, while the TMP of experimental MPBR (MPBR-QQ) was only 448 mbar and 676 mbar, respectively. The QQ strategy effectively reduced the EPS content in MPBR. The microscopic observations indicated that the QQ diminished the cake layer formation and pore-blocking on the membrane surface. Comparisons of 16S and 18S gene communities revealed minor differences between bacterial and eukaryotic species in MPBRs at phylum and class levels.

Quorum quenching affects biofilm development in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR): from macro to micro perspective

The first experimental study on the influence of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) degrading quorum quenching (QQ) consortium on the dynamics of biofilm bio-communities (i.e., from suspended biomass to initial biofilm and mature biofilm) in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) at a microscopic scale (denoted as QQAnMBR) was reported. QQ did not change the overall bacterial community of the suspended biomass, inclusive of the key functional bacteria. Moreover, the retarded initial biofilm formation was attributed to not only the lower extracellular polymeric substance content of suspended biomass, but also the decelerated colonization of the AHL-regulated low-abundance in suspended biomass but pioneering keystone taxa Rhodocyclaceae;g- on membrane surface. However, pioneering fouling-related taxa such as Sulfurovum and Rhodocyclaceae;g- still played paramount roles in the delayed initial biofilm formation in the QQAnMBR. Furthermore, the microbial assemblies of the mature biofilm were changed in the QQAnMBR, probably attributable to the abiotic microbial floc attachment.

Efficient biostimulants for bacterial quorum quenching to control fouling in MBR

Quorum quenching (QQ), which disrupts bacterial communication and biofilm formation, could alleviate biofouling in MBR. QQ bio-stimulus possessing similar conserved moiety as the signal molecule could promote indigenous QQ bacteria, and thus successfully alleviate biofouling in MBR. However, efficient biostimulant has been barely explored for QQ enhancement in activated sludge system. This study extensively enumerated the potential QQ bio-stimuli, and examined their efficacy on QQ promotion for activated sludge. Moreover, the effect of the QQ consortia on fouling mitigation was also investigated. The results indicated that gamma-caprolactone (GCL), d-xylonic acid-1,4-lactone (XAL), gamma-heptalactone (GHL), urea, and acetamide proved effective in promoting AHLs inactivating activity of activated sludge. GCL, XAL, and GHL intensified the lactonase activity, while urea and acetamide augmented acylase activity. While coupled with beads entrapment, GCL consortia beads, XAL consortia beads, and urea consortia beads effectively disrupted quorum sensing (QS) and controlled membrane fouling in MBR. This work found out several optional bio-stimuli valid for tuning QQ in activated sludge system, and provided easily available and economical alternatives for QQ biostimulation, meanwhile the proposed QQ-MBR approach through QQ biostimulation and consortia entrapment also proved effective and practical.

Temperature and immigration effects on quorum sensing in the biofilms of anaerobic membrane bioreactors

Quorum sensing (QS), a microbial communication mechanism modulated by acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules impacts biofilm formation in bioreactors. This study investigated the effects of temperature and immigration on AHL levels and biofouling in anaerobic membrane bioreactors. The hypothesis was that the immigrant microbial community would increase the AHL-mediated QS, thus stimulating biofouling and that low temperatures would exacerbate this. We observed that presence of immigrants, especially when exposed to low temperatures indeed increased AHL concentrations and fouling in the biofilms on the membranes. At low temperature, the concentrations of the main AHLs observed, N-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone and N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone, were significantly higher in the biofilms than in the sludge and correlated significantly with the abundance of immigrant bacteria. Apparently low temperature, immigration and denser community structure in the biofilm stressed the communities, triggering AHL production and excretion. These insights into the social behaviour of reactor communities responding to low temperature and influx of immigrants have implications for biofouling control in bioreactors.

Attenuation effects of iron on dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in anaerobic bioreactor: Evolution of quorum sensing, quorum quenching and dynamics of community composition

Zero valent iron (ZVI) coupled with bioreactors is arising as a promising technology for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) mitigation, whereas the succession and behaviors of microbes caused by ZVI in relieving ARGs propagation remain unclear. Herein, the effects of ZVI on microbial quorum sensing (QS), quorum quenching (QQ) system and community dynamics were examined in anaerobic bioreactor fed with oxytetracycline (tet), to illustrate the roles of evolutive microbial communication and community composition in ARGs attenuation. With the addition of 5 g/L ZVI, the total absolute abundance of tet ARGs was retarded by approximate 95% and 72% in sludge and effluent after 25 days operation. The abundance of mobile genetic elements and the heredity of antibiotic resistant bacteria revealed the declined horizontal and vertical transfer of ARGs, which directly led to the reduced ARGs propagation. Potential mechanisms are that the positive effects of ZVI on QQ activity via the functional bacteria enrichment inhibited QS system and thus ARGs transfer. Partial least--squares path modeling further demonstrated that ARGs abundance was strongly limited by the dynamics of bacterial composition and thereby less frequent microbial communication. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of antibiotic resistome remission in anaerobic bioreactor modified by ZVI.

Assessment of an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) Treating Medium-Strength Synthetic Wastewater under Cyclical Membrane Operation

A lab-scale (6.2 L) anaerobic membrane bioreactor combined with a tubular, cross-flow, PVDF ultrafiltration membrane was developed and operated to assess the long-term fouling behavior of a cyclically operated anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The AnMBR was operated at 35 ± 1 °C for 200 days with a synthetic influent of 501 mg·L-1 COD to mimic municipal wastewater. The system exhibited high treatment performance with an average COD removal efficiency of 86.5 ± 6.4% (n = 20) and an average permeate COD concentration of 63.9 ± 31.1 mg·L-1. A clear permeate with an average turbidity of 0.6 ± 0.2 NTU, was achieved. Permeate TN and TP concentrations were 22.7 ± 5.1 mg·L-1 and 6.9 ± 2.0 mg·L-1 corresponding to removal efficiencies of 20.6% and 49.3%, respectively, likely due to membrane rejection of particulate, colloidal, and organic fractions. A stable membrane flux of 4.3 L.m-2.h-1 (LMH) was maintained for 183 days without gas-lift, gas sparge, or chemical cleaning. Cyclical operation with frequent relaxation (60 s for every 30 min of the permeate production run) and periodic permeate backwash (15 s for every 186 min) maintained stable membrane operation with an average TMP of 0.25 bar and a fouling rate of 0.007 kPa/h for the entire operating period. The comparison revealed frequent backwashing and relaxation is a sustainable strategy for operation of the AnMBR.

Application of encapsulated algae into MBR for high-ammonia nitrogen wastewater treatment and biofouling control

Low microbial activity and serious membrane biofouling are still critical problems that hinder the extensive application of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for industrial wastewater treatment. To address these bottlenecks, we report a new specialized microorganism encapsulation strategy for constructing a highly efficient MBR system. In our study, the algae-entrapping fiber macrospheres with polymeric coating were first coupled with membrane separation for treating refractory high-ammonia nitrogen wastewater. In comparison with traditional alginate beads, the developed macrocapsule (~0.5 cm) exhibited higher biomass harvesting and lower microbial leakage because of the confined micro-aerobic environment created by dual encapsulation of rigid inorganic macrosphere and porous polymeric layers. Application of algae-encapsulating macrocapsule to MBR presented excellent chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) removal efficiency of 62.23 and 97.38 %, respectively, which were higher than the corresponding values for algae/SA beads and free algae. The biodegradation performance of NH₃-N by encapsulated microalgae was similar or superior to that by free cells when the initial content of ammonia nitrogen ranged from 50 to 100 mg/L. The results well demonstrated that the GFS@polymer macrocapsule as a physical barrier reduced the inhibitory effect of higher concentration ammonia nitrogen on the bioactivity of living cells. Importantly, the encapsulated core-shell macrocapsules showed superior anti-biofouling capacity, which had a membrane resistance of 3-5 times lower than that of cell/alginate beads and free cells. This work will open a new avenue to develop a novel encapsulated MBR for various non-degradable wastewater treatments as an energy-saving and sustainable way.

Quorum quenching altered microbial diversity and activity of anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and enhanced methane generation

A facultative bacterium Microbacterium sp. (QQ strain) was found significantly mitigated membrane biofouling and also increased methane production. It was found genera Nitrospira, norank-c-Bacterodetes vadinHA17, Trichococcus and family Anaerolineaceae were likely responsible for membrane biofouling. The presence of QQ strain increased the total abundance of fermentative and acetogenic genera by 0.61% and 379.61%, respectively, but had a minor effect on the abundance of methanogens. The increased methane production was likely due to the strengthened methanogenic activity and more available substrates. Homo-acetogenic Treponema was enriched (9.01%) in the presence of QQ strain suggesting that apart from hydrogenotrophic methanogenic pathway, extra CH₄ could be also produced from the additional acetate synthesized via homo-acetogenic pathway. This study advances knowledge about the effects of QQ strain on microbial communities, microbiota biofouling behavior and anaerobic fermentation process in AnMBRs.

Quorum quenching bacteria bioaugmented GO/PPy modified membrane in EMBR for membrane antifouling

A novel integrated system with quorum quenching (QQ) bacterium Burkholderia sp. ssn-2 bioaugmented graphene oxide/polypyrrole (GO/PPy) conductive polymercomposite membrane (CPM) in MBR with electric field (EMBR) was established. The integrated system exhibited the highest degradation efficiency for phenol (100%) and COD (93.2%-99.9%) during the 120 days operation. Membrane fouling in the integrated system was notably mitigated by the coupling effect of CPM + voltage and QQ bacterium ssn-2. The hydrophilicity and antibacterial activity of CPM inhibited the hydrophobic protein foulants adsorption, bacteria colonization and attachment on the CPM surface. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content was positively correlated with N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) concentration, and decreased with AHLs degradation by QQ bacterium ssn-2. The increased negative charge of EPS on the CPM surface augmented the electrostatic repulsion between the EPS and cathode CPM in the integrated system. Moreover, the coupling effect altered the microbial communities. A decreased AHLs concentration had a significantly negative correlation with QQ bacterium ssn-2 enrichment, which exhibited the dual effects of degrading phenol and AHLs, and enriching biopolymer-degrading genera Clostridium sensu strict and Acidovorax in the integrated system and on the CPM surface. This can lead to a decrease in the EPS content.

Fouling in membrane bioreactors: An updated review

The goal of the current article is to update new findings in membrane fouling and emerging fouling mitigation strategies reported in recent years (post 2010) as a follow-up to our previous review published in Water Research (2009). According to a systematic review of the literature, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are still actively investigated in the field of wastewater treatment. Notably, membrane fouling remains the most challenging issue in MBR operation and attracts considerable attention in MBR studies. In this review, we summarized the updated information on foulants composition and characteristics in MBRs, which greatly improves our understanding of fouling mechanisms. Furthermore, the emerging fouling control strategies (e.g., mechanically assisted aeration scouring, in-situ chemical cleaning, enzymatic and bacterial degradation of foulants, electrically assisted fouling mitigation, and nanomaterial-based membranes) are comprehensively reviewed. As a result, it is found that the fundamental understanding of dynamic changes in membrane foulants during a long-term operation is essential for the development and implementation of fouling control methods. Recently developed strategies for membrane fouling control denoted that the improvement of membrane performance is not our ultimate and only goal, less energy consumption and more green/sustainable fouling control ways are more promising to be developed and thus applied in the future. Overall, such a literature review not only demonstrates current challenges and research needs for scientists working in the area of MBR technologies, but also can provide more useful recommendations for industrial communities based on the related application cases.