Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biofouling control and sludge properties promotion through quorum quenching in membrane bioreactors at two aeration intensities

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Biotechnology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

A modified method was used for cell entrapped beads (CEBs) preparation and two aeration intensities (low and high aeration intensity) was supplied as factors to investigate the change of quorum quenching performance for membrane biofouling in membrane bioreactor (MBR).

Results

Dehydrogenase activity and growth trend of activated sludge were improved at high aeration intensity. Compared with C-MBR (with vacant beads), QQ-MBR (with CEBs) had more stable quorum quenching activity and longer application time at high aeration intensity, in which the proteins and polysaccharides were reduced by 15 and 20%, respectively. The difference of EPS concentration in mixed liquor was attributed to the protein concentration controlled by quorum quenching bacteria, meanwhile sufficient organics was necessary to maintain the process.

Conclusions

The better settleability, greater stability and relatively lower hydrophobicity of activated sludge properties was achieved with quorum quenching. The scouring effect of CEBs was promoted at high aeration intensity, further controlling the membrane biofouling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Drews A (2010) Membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors-characterisation, contradictions, cause and cures. J Membr Sci 363:1–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faust L, Temmink H, Zwijnenburg A, Kemperman AJB, Rijnaarts HHM (2014) Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on the bioflocculation process in high loaded MBRs. Water Res 66:199–207

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hongwei Y, Zhanpeng J, Shaoqi S, Tang WZ (2002) INT-dehydrogenase activity test for assessing anaerobic biodegradability of organic compounds. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 53:416–421

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huang JH, Liu WC, Zeng GM, Li F, Huang XL, Gu YL, Shi LX, Shi YH, Wan J (2016a) An exploration of spatial human health risk assessment of soil toxic metals under different land uses using sequential indicator simulation. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 129:199–209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Li F, Zeng G, Liu W, Huang X, Xiao Z, Wu H, Gu Y, Li X, He X, He Y (2016b) Integrating hierarchical bioavailability and population distribution into potential eco-risk assessment of heavy metals in road dust: a case study in Xiandao District, Changsha city. Chin Sci Total Environ 541:969–976

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Shi Y, Zeng G, Gu Y, Chen G, Shi L, Hu Y, Tang B, Zhou J (2016c) Acyl-homoserine lactone-based quorum sensing and quorum quenching hold promise to determine the performance of biological wastewater treatments: an overview. Chemosphere 157:137–151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Yuan F, Zeng G, Li X, Gu Y, Shi L, Liu W, Shi Y (2017) Influence of pH on heavy metal speciation and removal from wastewater using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration. Chemosphere 173:199–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang W, Xia S, Liang J, Zhang Z, Hermanowicz SW (2013) Effect of quorum quenching on the reactor performance, biofouling and biomass characteristics in membrane bioreactors. Water Res 47:187–196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen MK, Nierychlo M, Nielsen AH, Larsen P, Christensen ML, Nielsen PH (2017) Unified understanding of physico-chemical properties of activated sludge and fouling propensity. Water Res 120:117–132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Judd S (2008) The status of membrane bioreactor technology. Trends Biotechnol 26:109–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S-R, Oh H-S, Jo S-J, Yeon K-M, Lee C-H, Lim D-J, Lee C-H, Lee J-K (2012) Biofouling control with bead-entrapped quorum quenching bacteria in MBR: physical and biological effects. Environ Sci Technol 47:836–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Ahn W-Y, Lee C-H (2001) Comparison of the filtration characteristics between attached and suspended growth microorganisms in submerged membrane bioreactor. Water Res 35:2435–2445

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SH, Lee S, Lee K, Nahm CH, Kwon H, Oh HS, Won YJ, Choo KH, Lee CH, Park PK (2016) More efficient media design for enhanced biofouling control in a membrane bioreactor: quorum quenching bacteria entrapping hollow cylinder. Environ Sci Technol 50:8596–8604

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leng L, Yuan X, Huang H, Shao J, Wang H, Chen X, Zeng G (2015) Bio-char derived from sewage sludge by liquefaction: characterization and application for dye adsorption. Appl Surf Sci 346:223–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Yang F, Li Y, Wong FS, Chua HC (2008) Impact of biological constituents and properties of activated sludge on membrane fouling in a novel submerged membrane bioreactor. Desalination 225:356–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao BQ, Lin HJ, Langevin SP, Gao WJ, Leppard GG (2011) Effects of temperature and dissolved oxygen on sludge properties and their role in bioflocculation and settling. Water Res 45:509–520

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin H, Zhang M, Wang F, Meng F, Liao BQ, Hong H, Chen J, Gao W (2014) A critical review of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) in membrane bioreactors: characteristics, roles in membrane fouling and control strategies. J Membr Sci 460:110–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maqbool T, Khan SJ, Waheed H, Lee CH, Hashmi I, Iqbal H (2015) Membrane biofouling retardation and improved sludge characteristics using quorum quenching bacteria in submerged membrane bioreactor. J Membr Sci 483:75–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadell CD, Xavier JB, Levin SA, Foster KR (2008) The evolution of quorum sensing in bacterial biofilms. PLoS Biol 6:0171–0179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nahm CH, Choi DC, Kwon H, Lee S, Lee SH, Lee K, Lee CH, Choo KH, Lee JK, Park PK (2017) Application of quorum quenching bacteria entrapping sheets to enhance biofouling control in a membrane bioreactor with a hollow fiber module. J Membr Sci 526:264–271

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oh H, Yeon K, Yang C, Kim S, Lee C, Park SY, Han JY, Lee J (2012) Control of membrane biofouling in MBR for wastewater treatment by quorum quenching bacteria encapsulated in microporous membrane. Environ Sci Technol 46:4877–4884

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan JR, Su YC, Huang C, Lee HC (2010) Effect of sludge characteristics on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors. J Membr Sci 349:287–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Huang J, Zeng G, Gu Y, Chen Y, Hu Y, Tang B, Zhou J, Yang Y, Shi L (2017) Exploiting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) controlling strategies for performance enhancement of biological wastewater treatments: an overview. Chemosphere 180:396–411

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Wu Z, Tang S (2009) Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) properties and their effects on membrane fouling in a submerged membrane bioreactor. Water Res 43:2504–2512

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Chen Z, Miao J, Li Y (2016) A novel approach for mitigation of membrane fouling: concomitant use of flocculant and magnetic powder. Bioresour Technol 209:318–325

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weerasekara NA, Choo KH, Lee CH (2014) Hybridization of physical cleaning and quorum quenching to minimize membrane biofouling and energy consumption in a membrane bioreactor. Water Res 67:1–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weerasekara NA, Choo KH, Lee CH (2016) Biofouling control: bacterial quorum quenching versus chlorination in membrane bioreactors. Water Res 103:293–301

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilén BM, Lund Nielsen J, Keiding K, Nielsen PH (2000) Influence of microbial activity on the stability of activated sludge flocs. Colloids Surf B 18:145–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Huang X (2009) Effect of mixed liquor properties on fouling propensity in membrane bioreactors. J Membr Sci 342:88–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeon K, Cheong W, Oh H, Lee W, Hwang B, Lee C, Beyenal H, Lewandowski Z, Technol ES, Asap A (2009a) Quorum sensing: a new biofouling control paradigm in a membrane bioreactor for advanced wastewater treatment 43:380–385

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeon KM, Lee CH, Kim J (2009b) Magnetic enzyme carrier for effective biofouling control in the membrane bioreactor based on enzymatic quorum quenching. Environ Sci Technol 43:7403–7409

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Fan X, Wang B, Song L (2016) Calcium ion on membrane fouling reduction and bioflocculation promotion in membrane bioreactor at high salt shock. Bioresour Technol 200:535–540

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51578222, 51178172, 51521006 and 51378190), the Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (113049A), the Research Fund for the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT-13R17). Special thanks to the school of Chemical and Biological Engineering (Seoul National University, Republic of Korea) for the supplies of Rhodococcus sp. BH4.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China

    Jinhui Huang, Jianxin Zhou, Guangming Zeng, Yanling Gu, Yi Hu, Bi Tang, Yahui Shi & Lixiu Shi

  2. Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China

    Jinhui Huang, Jianxin Zhou, Guangming Zeng, Yanling Gu, Yi Hu, Bi Tang, Yahui Shi & Lixiu Shi

Authors
  1. Jinhui Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jianxin Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guangming Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yanling Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yi Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bi Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yahui Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Lixiu Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jinhui Huang or Guangming Zeng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Huang, J., Zhou, J., Zeng, G. et al. Biofouling control and sludge properties promotion through quorum quenching in membrane bioreactors at two aeration intensities. Biotechnol Lett 40, 1067–1075 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-018-2563-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-018-2563-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation