Abstract
Various bacterial growth potential (BGP) methods have been developed recently to monitor biofouling in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) systems such as assimilable organic carbon and bacterial regrowth potential. However, the relationship between these methods and biofouling in SWRO desalination plants has not yet been demonstrated. In this research, an attempt is made to investigate if a correlation exists between BGP of SWRO feed water and the chemical cleaning frequency in SWRO plants using an ATP-based BGP method employing an indigenous microbial consortium. Using ATP-based BGP method at 5 different seawater locations showed low variations of bacterial yield.The BGP method was applied to assess the pretreatment performance of three full-scale SWRO plants with different pretreatment processes. Dual media filtration (DMF) showed the highest BGP removal (>50%) in two SWRO plants. Removal of BGP and hydrophilic organic carbon in dissolved air floatation combined with ultrafiltration was similar to the removal achieved with DMF in combination with inline coagulation. For the three SWRO plants investigated, a higher BGP in SWRO feed water corresponded to a higher chemical cleaning frequency. However, more data is required to confirm if a real correlation exists between BGP and biofouling in SWRO plants.
Highlights
Biofilm formation on reverse osmosis (RO) membrane surfaces is inevitable [1] and may cause biofouling in some cases
Various bacterial growth potential (BGP) methods have been developed recently to monitor biofouling in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) systems such as assimilable organic carbon and bacterial regrowth potential
BGP was measured along the pretreatment trains of three large SWRO desalination plants located in the Middle East and Australia
Summary
Biofilm formation on reverse osmosis (RO) membrane surfaces is inevitable [1] and may cause biofouling in some cases. Van der Kooij and Veenendaal [14] developed the BPP method for drinking water in which the maximum bacterial growth and the cumulative biomass production are reported (in ng-ATP/L) without a conversion to carbon concentration (in μg-C/ L). Two AOC methods have been developed recently to measure the growth potential in the pretreatment and in the feed of a SWRO membrane system by Weinrich et al [23] and Jeong et al [8] using a single strain of bacteria (Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi, respectively). Due to the lack of fast and accurate bacterial enumeration methods, Dixon et al [7] and Quek et al [27] used turbidity and microbial electrolysis cell biosensor, respectively, to measure bacterial growth potential in seawater using an indigenous microbial consortium. An attempt was made to investigate if any correlation exists between BGP in SWRO feed water and the cleaning frequency (CIP) in SWRO plants based on three full scale SWRO desalination plants
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