Abstract
This study used 16S rRNA gene-based terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis to investigate full-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs), which mainly treat domestic wastewater, with specific examination of the microbial communities on membrane biofilms. Using cluster analysis and principal component analysis based on T-RF profiles, the microbial community structures of biofilms on moderately fouled membranes were distinguished from those on slightly fouled membranes and from activated sludge in the MBRs. Furthermore, biofilms on the severely fouled membranes hosted characteristic microbial communities under high-flux operation. The microbial community structures showed correlation with transmembrane pressure and the humus and iron biofilm contents. The microbial communities in membrane biofilms can indicate the fouling state.
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Acknowledgments
This work was partly supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Grant Nos. 25281039 and 15J00770). We appreciate Kubota Environmental Service Co. Ltd. for its technical support with MBR operation and Ms. Seong-Hae Han (Osaka University) for her technical support of DNA analysis.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 1 • January 2018
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 31, 2016
Accepted: Jun 20, 2017
Published online: Oct 26, 2017
Published in print: Jan 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Mar 26, 2018
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bacteria
- Biofilm
- Bioreactors
- Environmental engineering
- Fouling
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic properties
- Membranes
- Microbes
- Municipal wastewater
- Organisms
- Pollutants
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Submerging
- Waste management
- Waste treatment
- Wastewater management
- Wastewater treatment
- Water and water resources
- Water treatment
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