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Control of membrane‐attached biofilms using surfactants
Author(s) -
Splendiani Antonietta,
Livingston Andrew G.,
Nicolella Cristiano
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.20752
Subject(s) - membrane bioreactor , biofilm , chemistry , membrane , population , bacteria , strain (injury) , biofouling , bacterial cell structure , bioreactor , extraction (chemistry) , mass transfer , microbiology and biotechnology , chromatography , biophysics , chemical engineering , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , demography , anatomy , sociology , engineering , genetics
Abstract The effect of surfactants on membrane‐attached biofilms (MABs) was studied in a lab‐scale extractive membrane bioreactor (EMB). Twenty‐two surfactants were screened for their potential of increasing the cell wall negative charge (i.e. the electrostatic repulsion between bacteria) of Burkholderia sp. JS150 bacterial strain. Surfactants resulting in increased bacterial negative charge were further investigated for their effects on MAB population morphology and MAB attachment behaviour. Microscopic investigation of the bacterial population in MABs showed that surfactants affect the development of flagella, suggesting changes in the attachment capability of the JS150 strain in the presence of different surfactants. Among the screened surfactants, teepol showed the best characteristics in relation to the reduction of MAB accumulation, and it was tested in an EMB system for the extraction of monochlorobenzene from a synthetic wastewater. Comparison with a control EMB, operated without surfactants under the same conditions, proved that teepol effectively reduces MAB accumulation on the membrane walls. As a result, the overall mass transfer coefficient in the presence of teepol was 53% higher than in the control EMB. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.