1
|
Labadie M, Marchal F, Merbahi N, Girbal-Neuhauser E, Fontagné-Faucher C, Marcato-Romain CE. Cell density and extracellular matrix composition mitigate bacterial biofilm sensitivity to UV-C LED irradiation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:286. [PMID: 38578301 PMCID: PMC10997551 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13123-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Ultraviolet-C light-emitting diodes (UV-C LEDs) are an emerging technology for decontamination applications in different sectors. In this study, the inactivation of bacterial biofilms was investigated by applying an UV-C LED emitting at 280 nm and by measuring both the influence of the initial cell density (load) and presence of an extracellular matrix (biofilm). Two bacterial strains exposing diverging matrix structures and biochemical compositions were used: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Leuconostoc citreum. UV-C LED irradiation was applied at three UV doses (171 to 684 mJ/cm2) on both surface-spread cells and on 24-h biofilms and under controlled cell loads, and bacterial survival was determined. All surface-spread bacteria, between 105 and 109 CFU/cm2, and biofilms at 108 CFU/cm2 showed that bacterial response to irradiation was dose-dependent. The treatment efficacy decreased significantly for L. citreum surface-spread cells when the initial cell load was high, while no load effect was observed for P. aeruginosa. Inactivation was also reduced when bacteria were grown under a biofilm form, especially for P. aeruginosa: a protective effect could be attributed to abundant extracellular DNA and proteins in the matrix of P. aeruginosa biofilms, as revealed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy observations. This study showed that initial cell load and exopolymeric substances are major factors influencing UV-C LED antibiofilm treatment efficacy. KEY POINTS: • Bacterial cell load (CFU/cm2) could impact UV-C LED irradiation efficiency • Characteristics of the biofilm matrix have a paramount importance on inactivation • The dose to be applied can be predicted based on biofilm properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maritxu Labadie
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, IUT Paul Sabatier, LBAE EA 4565 (Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Agroalimentaire Et Environnementale), 24 Rue d'Embaquès, Auch, F-32000, France
| | - Frédéric Marchal
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, INPT, LAPLACE UMR 5223 (Laboratoire Plasma Et Conversion d'Energie), 118 Route de Narbonne, Toulouse, F-31062, France
| | - Nofel Merbahi
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, INPT, LAPLACE UMR 5223 (Laboratoire Plasma Et Conversion d'Energie), 118 Route de Narbonne, Toulouse, F-31062, France
| | - Elisabeth Girbal-Neuhauser
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, IUT Paul Sabatier, LBAE EA 4565 (Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Agroalimentaire Et Environnementale), 24 Rue d'Embaquès, Auch, F-32000, France
| | - Catherine Fontagné-Faucher
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, IUT Paul Sabatier, LBAE EA 4565 (Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Agroalimentaire Et Environnementale), 24 Rue d'Embaquès, Auch, F-32000, France
| | - Claire-Emmanuelle Marcato-Romain
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, IUT Paul Sabatier, LBAE EA 4565 (Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Agroalimentaire Et Environnementale), 24 Rue d'Embaquès, Auch, F-32000, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Oesinghaus H, Wanken D, Lupp K, Gastl M, Elsner M, Glas K. Incipient Biofouling Detection via Fiber Optical Sensing and Image Analysis in Reverse Osmosis Processes. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:553. [PMID: 37367757 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13060553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a widely used membrane technology for producing process water or tap water that is receiving increased attention due to water scarcity caused by climate change. A significant challenge in any membrane filtration is the presence of deposits on the membrane surfaces, which negatively affect filtration performance. Biofouling, the formation of biological deposits, poses a significant challenge in RO processes. Early detection and removal of biofouling are essential for effective sanitation and prevention of biological growth in RO-spiral wound modules. This study introduces two methods for the early detection of biofouling, capable of identifying initial stages of biological growth and biofouling in the spacer-filled feed channel. One method utilizes polymer optical fibre sensors that can be easily integrated into standard spiral wound modules. Additionally, image analysis was used to monitor and analyze biofouling in laboratory experiments, providing a complementary approach. To validate the effectiveness of the developed sensing approaches, accelerated biofouling experiments were conducted using a membrane flat module, and the results were compared with common online and offline detection methods. The reported approaches enable the detection of biofouling before known online parameters become indicative, effectively providing an online detection with sensitivities otherwise only achieved through offline characterization methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helge Oesinghaus
- Water System Engineering, Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Maximus von Imhof Forum 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Daniel Wanken
- Water System Engineering, Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Maximus von Imhof Forum 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Kilian Lupp
- Water System Engineering, Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Maximus von Imhof Forum 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Martina Gastl
- Research Center Weihenstephan for Brewing and Food Quality, Technical University of Munich, Alte Akademie 3, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Martin Elsner
- Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Karl Glas
- Water System Engineering, Chair of Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, TUM School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Maximus von Imhof Forum 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sperle P, Mirlach A, Linden K, Hübner U, Drewes JE. An actinometric method to characterize performance of reflecting UVC reactors used for water treatment. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 230:119543. [PMID: 36628868 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The applicability of chemical actinometry to characterize the fluence in UV reactors with reflections, non-parallel light, and variable water transmittance is limited due to the unknown effective path length or hydraulic shortcuts within the reactor. In this study, the effects of reflection and transmittance on actinometry were examined and a new, optimized and easy method for determining fluence was developed. KI/KIO3 and uridine actinometry experiments were carried out under controlled conditions using a collimated beam apparatus and a completely mixed batch reactor with or without diffuse reflection and compared to biodosimetry results. Whereas optically opaque actinometers such as KI/KIO3 are not directly capable of predicting the fluence of reflecting reactors, the results of uridine actinometry are influenced by reflection and transmission. To precisely predict the fluence rate in UV reactors with uridine, knowledge about the effective optical path length of the light is needed. Here, an existing method to mathematically calculate the optical path length was adopted and optimized for uridine actinometry. Results for average fluence were validated by biodosimetry using MS2 phages under different degrees of reflection and transmission. It could be shown that by modifying the bottom of the reactor with diffusely reflecting polytetrafluoroethylene foil, the fluence rate was increased by a factor of approximately 2.6 and the path length by factor of 2.4. When only half of the bottom was covered with reflective foil, fluence rate increased by a factor of 1.8 and path length by 1.8. Although this new approach cannot replace biodosimetry, to predict the fluence distribution received by microorganisms, it can provide means to characterize more complex reactor designs, validate results of advanced reactor modeling, and quantify fluence for non-parallel irradiation and reflective light, especially for the application of high fluence (e.g., advanced oxidation processes), where biodosimetry may be too sensitive. Further, comparing the fluence obtained with actinometry to the results of biodosimetry might qualitatively indicate hydraulic short cuts or unideal fluence distributions for flow-through reactors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Sperle
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - A Mirlach
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - K Linden
- Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - U Hübner
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - J E Drewes
- Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Costa FC, Fortes AR, Braga CD, Arcanjo GS, Grossi L, Mounteer AH, Moravia WG, Koch K, Drewes JE, Ricci BC, Amaral MC. Assessment of a hybrid UV-LED-membrane distillation process: Focus on fouling mitigation. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
5
|
Torkzadeh H, Cates EL. Biofilm growth under continuous UVC irradiation: Quantitative effects of growth conditions and growth time on intensity response parameters. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 206:117747. [PMID: 34666263 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms can harbor a wide range of microorganisms, including opportunistic respiratory pathogens, and their establishment on engineered surfaces poses a risk to public health and industry. The emergence of compact germicidal ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) may enable their incorporation into confined spaces to inhibit bacterial surface colonization on inaccessible surfaces, such as those in premise plumbing. Such applications necessitate knowledge of the quantitative response of biofilm growth rates to UV exposure on continuously irradiated surfaces. Herein, we performed experiments at varying flow cell temperatures in order to control baseline biofilm growth rates in the absence of UV; then, biofilm growth was compared under the same conditions but with simultaneous UVC irradiation. The inhibiting effect of UV irradiation on biofilm growth kinetics was diminished by more favorable growth conditions (higher temperature). Increasing the temperature by 10 °C resulted in an increase in biovolume by 193% under a UVC (254 nm) intensity of ∼60 µW/cm2. We further fitted an existing intensity response model to the biofilm growth data and analyzed the effects of temperature on model parameters, which were consistent with a hypothesized shielding effect arising from the deposition of extracellular colloidal materials. The shielding effect was found to result in breakthrough behavior of irradiated biofilms after 48 h, wherein accumulation of shielding substances eventually enabled biofilm establishment at even relatively high irradiation intensities (102.3 µW/cm2). With respect to applications of UVC irradiation for biofilm prevention, these results imply that surfaces more prone to bacterial colonization require disproportionately higher-intensity UVC irradiation for prevention of biofilm establishment, and continuous surface irradiation may be inadequate as a sole intervention for biofilm prevention in many scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Torkzadeh
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Ezra L Cates
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Enhancing the Efficiency of Membrane Processes for Water Treatment. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11030215. [PMID: 33808518 PMCID: PMC8003183 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11030215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pressure-driven membrane processes, i [...].
Collapse
|
7
|
Saavedra A, Valdés H, Mahn A, Acosta O. Comparative Analysis of Conventional and Emerging Technologies for Seawater Desalination: Northern Chile as A Case Study. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11030180. [PMID: 33807870 PMCID: PMC7999931 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11030180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to study different desalination technologies as alternatives to conventional reverse osmosis (RO) through a systematic literature review. An expert panel evaluated thermal and membrane processes considering their possible implementation at a pilot plant scale (100 m3/d of purified water) starting from seawater at 20 °C with an average salinity of 34,000 ppm. The desalination plant would be located in the Atacama Region (Chile), where the high solar radiation level justifies an off-grid installation using photovoltaic panels. We classified the collected information about conventional and emerging technologies for seawater desalination, and then an expert panel evaluated these technologies considering five categories: (1) technical characteristics, (2) scale-up potential, (3) temperature effect, (4) electrical supply options, and (5) economic viability. Further, the potential inclusion of graphene oxide and aquaporin-based biomimetic membranes in the desalinization processes was analyzed. The comparative analysis lets us conclude that nanomembranes represent a technically and economically competitive alternative versus RO membranes. Therefore, a profitable desalination process should consider nanomembranes, use of an energy recovery system, and mixed energy supply (non-conventional renewable energy + electrical network). This document presents an up-to-date overview of the impact of emerging technologies on desalinated quality water, process costs, productivity, renewable energy use, and separation efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Saavedra
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Estación Central 9160000, Chile; (A.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Hugo Valdés
- Centro de Innovación en Ingeniería Aplicada (CIIA), Departamento de Computación e Industrias, Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM), Av. San Miguel 3605, Talca 3460000, Chile
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-2-71203-438
| | - Andrea Mahn
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Estación Central 9160000, Chile; (A.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Orlando Acosta
- Gestionare Consultores, Carlos Antunez 2025 of. 608, Providencia 7500000, Chile;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Reducing the Impacts of Biofouling in RO Membrane Systems through In Situ Low Fluence Irradiation Employing UVC-LEDs. MEMBRANES 2020; 10:membranes10120415. [PMID: 33322250 PMCID: PMC7764532 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10120415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Biofouling is a major concern for numerous reverse osmosis membrane systems. UV pretreatment of the feed stream showed promising results but is still not an established technology as it does not maintain a residual effect. By conducting accelerated biofouling experiments in this study, it was investigated whether low fluence UV in situ treatment of the feed using UVC light-emitting diodes (UVC-LEDs) has a lasting effect on the biofilm. The application of UVC-LEDs for biofouling control is a novel hybrid technology that has not been investigated, yet. It could be shown that a low fluence of 2 mJ∙cm-2 delays biofilm formation by more than 15% in lab-scale experiments. In addition, biofilms at the same feed channel pressure drop exhibited a more than 40% reduced hydraulic resistance. The delay is probably linked to the inactivation of cells in the feed stream, modified adsorption properties or an induced cell cycle arrest. The altered hydraulic resistance might be caused by a change in the microbial community, as well as reduced adenosine triphosphate levels per cells, possibly impacting quorum sensing and extracellular polymeric substances production. Due to the observed biofilm attributes, low fluence UV-LED in situ treatment of the feed stream seems to be a promising technology for biofouling control.
Collapse
|