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The impact of sunlight on fouling behaviors and microbial communities in membrane bioreactors.

Authors :
Park, Hyeona
Shah, Syed Salman Ali
Korshin, Gregory
Angelidaki, Irini
Choo, Kwang-Ho
Source :
Journal of Membrane Science. Apr2023, Vol. 672, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Membrane fouling is a significant obstacle to applying membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. Here we report the impact of sunlight irradiation on membrane fouling, biopolymers, signal molecules, and microbial communities in MBRs. The degradation of signal molecules, which induce membrane biofouling, occurred through solar photolysis in batch tests. However, MBR sludge exposed to sunlight exhibited different biological behaviors creating more soluble microbial products (SMP) and signal molecules (particularly autoinducer-2). Cell lysis and deflocculation occurred when the MBR mixed liquor was exposed to sunlight. MBR fouling rates coincided with the temporal concentration profiles of SMP and signal molecules. Sunlight caused drastic changes in the MBR microbial community, stimulating the preferential growth of specific bacteria (e.g., Deinococcus Runella , Flavitalea , Glaiimonas , and Rurimicrobium). The nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis of the MBR community structures with and without sunlight irradiation showed two distinct microbial community clusters and their reversibility. Network analysis based on Spearman's rank correlations revealed that with sunlight irradiation, fouling rates had significant positive connections with SMP proteins and the Flavitalea genus. The findings of this study demonstrate that sunlight is a considerable factor affecting membrane fouling and microbial ecology in MBRs, needing shade for fouling mitigation and sustainable operation. [Display omitted] • The effects of sunlight on membrane biofouling and microbial ecology were investigated. • The signal molecules in batch reactors degraded well when sunlight irradiation was applied. • Sunlight irradiation of biological mixed liquor exacerbated membrane fouling. • The concentration of soluble organics and autoinducer-2 increased with sunlight irradiation. • Sunlight irradiation caused drastic changes in microbial communities and their networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03767388
Volume :
672
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Membrane Science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
162008892
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121443