title: Characterization of biofouling in a lab-scale forward osmosis membrane bioreactor (FOMBR).
abstract: Forward osmosis membrane bioreactors (FOMBR) provide high quality permeate, however the propensity for membrane biofouling in FOMBRs is unknown. Here, FOMBRs were operated under high and low aeration and the membrane-associated biofilms were characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and rRNA gene-tagged pyrosequencing. CLSM images revealed that there was little biofilm formed under high aeration, while thick biofilms were observed on the membranes operated under low aeration. The diversity and richness of bacterial and archaeal communities as assessed by pyrosequencing varied under high and low aeration. The composition of the bacterial suspended sludge communities and the sessile biomass on the membrane surface, as assessed by non-metric multidimensional scaling, was significantly different under high aeration, but was more similar under low aeration. SIMPER analysis indicated that Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and Fluviicola preferentially attached to the membrane. The results presented here provide a comprehensive understanding of membrane biofouling in FOMBRs, which is essential for the development of effective control strategies.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore.
authors.forename: Qiaoyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yap Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore.
authors.forename: Winson Lay Chee
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Loong
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore.
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fane
authors.affiliation: Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kjelleberg
authors.affiliation: Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore; Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Electronic address: MDIANE@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McDougald
mesh_terms: D000333:Aeromonas / Q000235:genetics; D000388:Air; D018441:Biofilms; D057219:Biofouling; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000235:genetics*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009995:Osmosis; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012722:Sewage
keywords: Biofilm; Biofouling; Community analysis; Forward osmosis membrane bioreactor; Membrane fouling; Wastewater treatment