biofilm membrane Articles

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP): A critical factor in aquatic biofilm initiation and fouling on filtration membranes

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are sticky organic microgels, ubiquitous in natural waters, which have been implicated as a potentially important factor in the development of aquatic biofilm. An experimental cross-flow membrane array was used to investigate the relationship between the rate of membrane clogging and levels of TEP and other water quality variables in a lake water source. In ...

Apr. 14, 2011

By Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)
Effect of NaCl on nitrate removal from ion-exchange spent brine in the membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR)

The H2-based membrane biofilm reactor was used to remove nitrate from synthetic ion-exchange brine at NaCl concentrations from ∼3 to 30 g/L. NaCl concentrations below 20 g/L did not affect the nitrate removal flux as long as potassium was available to generate osmotic tolerance for high sodium, the H2 pressure was adequate, and membrane fouling was eliminated. Operating pHs of 7–8 and periodic ...

Dec. 1, 2011

By IWA Publishing
Monitoring of CaSO4 deposition behaviors on biofilm during nanofiltration via ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry (UTDR)

The ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry (UTDR) as a non-destructive real-time method was employed to monitor the CaSO4 deposition behaviors on biofilm during nanofiltration (NF). Two parallel experiments were performed to compare the different behaviors of CaSO4 deposition with and without biofilm on the membrane. Results showed that the flux decline during combined fouling was slower than that ...

Aug. 1, 2010

By IWA Publishing
Environmental implications and applications of carbon nanomaterials in water treatment

Carbon nanomaterials have been proposed as a basis for developing new technologies for photocatalytic oxidation and disinfection, improved membrane processes, adsorbents, and biofilm-resistant surfaces. This study details recent progress towards the development of these proposed applications. We explored the use of carbon nanomaterials such as fullerene C60, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), ...

Jun. 11, 2013

By IWA Publishing
Rapid novel test for the determination of biofouling potential on reverse osmosis membranes

A novel method was proposed to determine biofouling potential by direct analysis of a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane through fluorescence intensity analysis of biofilm formed on the membrane surface, thereby incorporating fouling tendencies of both feedwater and membrane. Evaluation of the biofouling potential on the RO membrane was done by accelerated biofilm formation through soaking of ...

Mar. 31, 2016

By IWA Publishing
Effect of pH on nitrate and selenate reduction in flue gas desulfurization brine using the H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR)

Increased tightening of air regulations is leading more electric utilities to install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems. These systems produce brine containing high concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and selenate which must be removed before discharge. The H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) was shown to consistently remove nitrate, nitrite, and selenate at high efficiencies. The ...

Jan. 1, 2011

By IWA Publishing
Kuriverter IK-110 application in industrial water preparation for a boiler system

Download our case study about successful treatment with Kuriverter IK 110 for effective elimination of biofilms on RO membranes. Learn how we saved 28% in total operation costs using Kuriverter IK 110 in industrial water preparation for boiler system. Download CS126 here: https://www.kurita.eu/en/case-studies ...

Nov. 13, 2017

By Kurita
A methodology to assess the effects of biofilm roughness on substrate fluxes using image analysis, substrate profiling, and mathematical modelling

We present a novel approach, based on image analysis and modelling, to study the impact of morphological variability (roughness) and fluid dynamics on substrate mass fluxes in biofilms. Specifically, we used this method to assess substrate fluxes in counter-diffusional autotrophic biofilms in a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor. The physical structure of the biofilm was determined in situ ...

May 7, 2014

By IWA Publishing
Demonstration of innovative MABR low-energy nutrient removal technology at Chicago MWRD

An innovative MABR (membrane-aerated biofilm reactor) membrane technology was demonstrated at the O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant (OWRP) of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (Chicago MWRD). The demonstration unit was equipped with one full-scale membrane cassette. The technology was evaluated for its potential to improve performance for total suspended solids ...

Jan. 1, 2017

By IWA Publishing
Microsensor determination of multiple microbial processes in an oxygen-based membrane aerated biofilm

Microsensor techniques were used to investigate in situ the simultaneous occurrence of sulfate reduction and nitrogen removal in a membrane aerated biofilm reactor. H2S, O2, pH, ORP, NH4+ and NO3− microsensors were fabricated and used to measure the profiles inside the membrane aerated biofilm. Production and consumption rates of H2S, O2, NH4+ and NO3− were estimated ...

Mar. 13, 2014

By IWA Publishing
Modeling trichloroethene reduction in a hydrogen-based biofilm

We constructed a multispecies biofilm model for simultaneous reduction of trichloroethene (TCE) and nitrate (NO3−) in the biofilm of a H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). The one-dimensional model includes dual-substrate Monod kinetics for a steady-state biofilm with multiple solid and dissolved components. The model has five solid components: autotrophic denitrifying bacteria ...

Sep. 16, 2013

By IWA Publishing
Toxicity and biofilm-based selection for methyl tert-butyl ether bioremediation technology

Extractive membrane biofilm reactor (EMBFR) technology offers productive solutions for volatile and semi-volatile compound removal from water bodies. In this study, the bacterial strains Paenibacillus etheri SH7T (CECT 8558), Agrobacterium sp. MS2 (CECT 8557) and Rhodococcus ruber strains A5 (CECT 8556), EE6 (CECT 8612) and EE1 (CECT 8555), previously isolated from fuel-contaminated sites, ...

Oct. 4, 2016

By IWA Publishing
Modelling of moving bed biofilm membrane reactors (MBBMR) for on-site greywater treatment

The study evaluates with a mechanistic model the pilot plant results of a combined moving bed biofilm process and membrane filtration (MBBMR) treating single household greywater. It mainly includes the simulation of reactor hydraulics, degradation of pollutants, development of biomass and settlement of sludge. Iterative calibration was made with steady-state results of a 10-month pilot test. ...

Apr. 27, 2015

By IWA Publishing
Visualization of Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) in various source waters.

Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) have been implicated as an important factor in the development of aquatic biofilm on membranes and other surfaces. We have recorded TEP and associated bacteria from four different kinds of source water (coastal seawater, freshwater lake, secondary treated wastewater and saline, high sulfide content groundwater from a deep well) as visualized by light and ...

Nov. 1, 2010

By Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)
Impact of precipitation on the treatment of real ion-exchange brine using the H2-based membrane biofilm reactor

The H2-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) was used to remove nitrate and perchlorate from real ion-exchange brine at two different salinities (30- and 50-g/L NaCl). Base production from nitrate reduction to N2 gas caused the pH to increase, and this exacerbated precipitation of calcium and magnesium carbonates onto the MBfR fibers. The precipitates lowered the H2 flux to the biofilm and caused ...

Jan. 1, 2011

By IWA Publishing
Calcium removal by softening of water affects biofilm formation on PVC, glass and membrane surfaces

Literature data on the effect of calcium on biofilm structures induced a preliminary study. The effect of calcium removal by water softening (<1.0 mg Ca2+.L−1) under real-world drinking water conditions on biofilm formation was studied in a pilot plant with reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and in a laboratory-scale biofilm production unit (BPU) with plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-P) and ...

Feb. 22, 2016

By IWA Publishing
From biofilm ecology to reactors: a focused review

Biofilms are complex biostructures that appear on all surfaces that are regularly in contact with water. They are structurally complex, dynamic systems with attributes of primordial multicellular organisms and multifaceted ecosystems. The presence of biofilms may have a negative impact on the performance of various systems, but they can also be used beneficially for the treatment of water ...

Feb. 2, 2017

By IWA Publishing
TEP and biofilm fouling on membranes

Summary Biological fouling on membranes is a major problem in desalination and water purification plants. Oceanographers and limnologists have found that most marine and fresh waters are full of microscopic Transparent Exopolymer Particles, otherwise known as TEP. In this article, aquatic microbiologist Tom Berman and Filtration Specialist Marina Holenberg (Amiad Filtration Systems, Amiad, ...

Jan. 1, 2006

By Amiad Water Systems Ltd.
Effect of salinity variation on the autotrophic kinetics of the start-up of a membrane bioreactor and hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactor at low hydraulic retention time

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor-membrane bioreactor (hybrid MBBR-MBR) for municipal wastewater treatment were studied to determine the effect of salinity on nitrogen removal and autotrophic kinetics. The biological systems were analyzed during the start-up phase with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 h, total biomass concentration of 2,500 mg L−1 in the ...

Nov. 20, 2017

By IWA Publishing
Inhibition of biofouling by modification of forward osmosis membrane using quaternary ammonium cation

In the operation of the forward osmosis (FO) process, biofouling of the membrane is a potentially serious problem. Development of an FO membrane with antibacterial properties could contribute to a reduction in biofouling. In this study, quaternary ammonium cation (QAC), a widely used biocidal material, was conjugated with a silane coupling agent (3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ...

Aug. 19, 2015

By IWA Publishing

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