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Managing microbial communities in membrane biofilm reactors

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 102, pages 9003–9014 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) deliver gaseous substrates to biofilms that develop on the outside of gas-transfer membranes. When an MBfR delivers electron donors hydrogen (H2) or methane (CH4), a wide range of oxidized contaminants can be reduced as electron acceptors, e.g., nitrate, perchlorate, selenate, and trichloroethene. When O2 is delivered as an electron acceptor, reduced contaminants can be oxidized, e.g., benzene, toluene, and surfactants. The MBfR’s biofilm often harbors a complex microbial community; failure to control the growth of undesirable microorganisms can result in poor performance. Fortunately, the community’s structure and function can be managed using a set of design and operation features as follows: gas pressure, membrane type, and surface loadings. Proper selection of these features ensures that the best microbial community is selected and sustained. Successful design and operation of an MBfR depends on a holistic understanding of the microbial community’s structure and function. This involves integrating performance data with omics results, such as with stoichiometric and kinetic modeling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46617, USA

    A. Ontiveros-Valencia

  2. Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Puebla, Ave. Atlixcáyotl 2301, 72453, Puebla, Pue, Mexico

    A. Ontiveros-Valencia

  3. Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5701, USA

    A. Ontiveros-Valencia, C. Zhou, R. Krajmalnik-Brown & B. E. Rittmann

  4. College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    H.-P. Zhao

  5. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control & Environmental Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    H.-P. Zhao

  6. School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    R. Krajmalnik-Brown & B. E. Rittmann

  7. FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA

    Y. Tang

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  1. A. Ontiveros-Valencia
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  2. C. Zhou
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Correspondence to A. Ontiveros-Valencia.

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Ontiveros-Valencia, A., Zhou, C., Zhao, HP. et al. Managing microbial communities in membrane biofilm reactors. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102, 9003–9014 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9293-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9293-x

Keywords

  • Membrane biofilm reactors
  • Microbial community
  • Biofilm
  • Gaseous substrates