title: Nitric oxide treatment for the control of reverse osmosis membrane biofouling.
abstract: Biofouling remains a key challenge for membrane-based water treatment systems. This study investigated the dispersal potential of the nitric oxide (NO) donor compound, PROLI NONOate, on single- and mixed-species biofilms formed by bacteria isolated from industrial membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The potential of PROLI NONOate to control RO membrane biofouling was also examined. Confocal microscopy revealed that PROLI NONOate exposure induced biofilm dispersal in all but two of the bacteria tested and successfully dispersed mixed-species biofilms. The addition of 40 μM PROLI NONOate at 24-h intervals to a laboratory-scale RO system led to a 92% reduction in the rate of biofouling (pressure rise over a given period) by a bacterial community cultured from an industrial RO membrane. Confocal microscopy and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extraction revealed that PROLI NONOate treatment led to a 48% reduction in polysaccharides, a 66% reduction in proteins, and a 29% reduction in microbial cells compared to the untreated control. A reduction in biofilm surface coverage (59% compared to 98%, treated compared to control) and average thickness (20 μm compared to 26 μm, treated compared to control) was also observed. The addition of PROLI NONOate led to a 22% increase in the time required for the RO module to reach its maximum transmembrane pressure (TMP), further indicating that NO treatment delayed fouling. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that the NO treatment did not significantly alter the microbial community composition of the membrane biofilm. These results present strong evidence for the application of PROLI NONOate for prevention of RO biofouling.
authors: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Barnes
authors: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Jiun Hui
authors: JH
authors: Low
authors: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Ratnaharika R
authors: RR
authors: Bandi
authors: Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Tay
authors: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Felicia
authors: F
authors: Chua
authors: Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Theingi
authors: T
authors: Aung
authors: Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Anthony G
authors: AG
authors: Fane
authors: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors: Staffan
authors: S
authors: Kjelleberg
authors: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore rscott@ntu.edu.sg.
authors: Scott A
authors: SA
authors: Rice
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008566:Membranes / Q000382:microbiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011392:Proline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; C102043:proline-nitric oxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011392:Proline
references: J Hyg (Lond). 1938 Nov;38(6):732-49
references: 20475467
references: Infect Immun. 2010 May;78(5):2320-8
references: 20231417
references: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Jul;72(7):5069-72
references: 16820507
references: Methods Enzymol. 1996;268:281-93
references: 8782594
references: Water Res. 2011 Jan;45(2):405-16
references: 21111441
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Jan 15;43(2):380-5
references: 19238968
references: Annu Rev Microbiol. 2000;54:49-79
references: 11018124
references: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2010 Apr;76(8):2623-32
references: 20190090
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2007 Jul 1;41(13):4728-34
references: 17695921
references: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2004 Jan;63(4):466-73
references: 12682791
references: Water Res. 2014 Mar 1;50:341-9
references: 24231030
references: Biofouling. 2013;29(2):203-12
references: 23368407
references: J Bacteriol. 2009 Dec;191(23):7333-42
references: 19801410
references: Res Microbiol. 2009 Jun;160(5):353-7
references: 19460431
references: Mol Cell. 2012 May 25;46(4):449-60
references: 22542454
references: Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Sep;74(17):5297-304
references: 18621875
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Nov 15;42(22):8360-6
references: 19068818
references: Bioinformatics. 2011 Aug 15;27(16):2194-200
references: 21700674
references: Int J Biol Macromol. 1999 Oct;26(1):3-16
references: 10520951
references: Microb Biotechnol. 2009 May;2(3):370-8
references: 21261931
references: Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2002 Sep;59(6):629-40
references: 12226718
references: J Bacteriol. 2004 May;186(9):2781-8
references: 15090520
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2007 Jan 15;41(2):632-8
references: 17310733
references: Bioinformatics. 2010 Jan 15;26(2):266-7
references: 19914921
references: Nat Methods. 2010 May;7(5):335-6
references: 20383131
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Jun 15;43(12):4393-8
references: 19603652
references: J Bacteriol. 2007 Nov;189(21):7911-9
references: 17720780
references: J Microbiol Methods. 2003 Dec;55(3):541-55
references: 14607398
references: Water Res. 2013 Jun 15;47(10):3291-9
references: 23622816
references: J Bacteriol. 2012 Jun;194(11):2904-15
references: 22493016
references: FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2013 Jan;338(1):77-85
references: 23082946
references: J Bacteriol. 2006 Nov;188(21):7344-53
references: 17050922
references: Nat Rev Microbiol. 2004 Feb;2(2):95-108
references: 15040259
references: Bioinformatics. 2010 Oct 1;26(19):2460-1
references: 20709691
references: Biofouling. 2012;28(9):969-84
references: 22971211
references: Environ Microbiol. 2010 Mar;12(3):670-8
references: 20002134
references: Environ Sci Technol. 2006 Apr 15;40(8):2706-13
references: 16683612
references: Annu Rev Microbiol. 1995;49:711-45
references: 8561477
references: J Med Chem. 1996 Oct 25;39(22):4361-5
references: 8893830