10.6084/m9.figshare.1228004.v3 Jinxue Luo Jinxue Luo Jinsong Zhang Jinsong Zhang Xiaohui Tan Xiaohui Tan Diane McDougald Diane McDougald Guoqiang Zhuang Guoqiang Zhuang Anthony G. Fane Anthony G. Fane Staffan Kjelleberg Staffan Kjelleberg Yehuda Cohen Yehuda Cohen Scott A. Rice Scott A. Rice The correlation between biofilm biopolymer composition and membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors Taylor & Francis Group 2014 tmp biofilm formation mbr control biofilm formation component eps transmembrane pressure increase biofilm biopolymer composition membrane bioreactors Biofouling 2014-12-10 16:59:52 Journal contribution https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_correlation_between_biofilm_biopolymer_composition_and_membrane_fouling_in_submerged_membrane_bioreactors/1228004 <div><p>Biofouling, the combined effect of microorganism and biopolymer accumulation, significantly reduces the process efficiency of membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Here, four biofilm components, alpha-polysaccharides, beta-polysaccharides, proteins and microorganisms, were quantified in MBRs. The biomass of each component was positively correlated with the transmembrane pressure increase in MBRs. Proteins were the most abundant biopolymer in biofilms and showed the fastest rate of increase. The spatial distribution and co-localization analysis of the biofouling components indicated at least 60% of the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) components were associated with the microbial cells when the transmembrane pressure (TMP) entered the jump phase, suggesting that the EPS components were either secreted by the biofilm cells or that the deposition of these components facilitated biofilm formation. It is suggested that biofilm formation and the accumulation of EPS are intrinsically coupled, resulting in biofouling and loss of system performance. Therefore, strategies that control biofilm formation on membranes may result in a significant improvement of MBR performance.</p></div>