Architecture, component, and microbiome of biofilm involved in the fouling of membrane bioreactors

Abstract

Bioreactors: Films affecting filtration A study of factors affecting the accumulation of biofilms on filtration membranes in bioreactors should aid efforts to combat the problem. Membrane bioreactors combine filtration through a membrane with an active biological process. They are widely used in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, but the efficiency of the filtration step is readily compromised by the growth of biofilms on the filter membranes. The nature of the microbial populations responsible for this problem, and the structure of the resulting biofilms, has not been well characterized. Tomoyuki Hori and colleagues at the Environmental Management Research Institute in Tsukuba, Japan, analyzed these issues using microscopy and sequencing of microbial DNA. They identified links between biofilm structure, chemical composition, microbial populations and the types of organic materials being treated. The increased understanding gained will guide more detailed future research.