Abstract
Biofouling is a problem that hinders sustainable membrane-based desalination and the stratification of bacterial populations over the biofilm’s height is suggested to compromise the efficiency of cleaning strategies. Some studies reported a base biofilm layer attached to the membrane that is harder to remove. Previous research suggested limiting the concentration of phosphorus in the feed water as a biofouling control strategy. However, the existence of bacterial communities growing under phosphorus-limiting conditions and communities remaining after cleaning is unknown. This study analyzes the bacterial communities developed in biofilms grown in membrane fouling simulators (MFSs) supplied with water with three dosed phosphorus conditions at a constant biodegradable carbon concentration. After biofilm development, biofilm was removed using forward flushing (an easy-to-implement and environmentally friendly method) by increasing the crossflow velocity for one hour. We demonstrate that small changes in phosphorus concentration in the feed water led to (i) different microbial compositions and (ii) different bacterial-cells-to-EPS ratios, while (iii) similar bacterial biofilm populations remained after forward flushing, suggesting a homogenous bacterial community composition along the biofilm height. This study represents an exciting advance towards greener desalination by applying non-expensive physical cleaning methods while manipulating feed water nutrient conditions to prolong membrane system performance and enhance membrane cleanability.
Highlights
In the Arab region, fourteen countries rely on non-conventional water treatment, such as desalination, to meet their growing water demand [1]
This study analyzes the bacterial communities developed in biofilms grown in membrane fouling simulators (MFSs) supplied with water at three dosed phosphorus concentrations (0, 3, and 6 μg P·L−1 ) and with a constant biodegradable carbon concentration of 125 μg C·L−1
This study analyzed the bacterial communities developed in biofilms grown in membrane fouling simulators (MFSs) supplied with water under three phosphorus conditia in the data are indicated in percentages at the axis titles
Summary
In the Arab region, fourteen countries rely on non-conventional water treatment, such as desalination, to meet their growing water demand [1]. Reverse osmosis membrane systems have significantly expanded in the Arab region, where half of the world’s desalinated water is produced [2]. One of the main challenges in desalination is to produce clean water at a lower cost. The water cost can be impacted by the occurrence of biofouling. Biofouling occurs when biofilm, or the accumulation of bacteria embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), excessively accumulates on the membrane and feed spacer, resulting in an unacceptable decline in membrane performance [3]. Biofouling is considered a problem in achieving sustainable desalination, as it impacts the membrane’s operational parameters, causing, for example, an increase in feed channel pressure drop, a decline in flux, and the passage of salt [4]
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