Control of membrane-attached biofilms using surfactants

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Biochemical engineering
• Separation processes

Background:

• Membrane-attached biofilms (MABs) can impede the efficiency of extractive membrane bioreactors (EMBs).
• Understanding surfactant interactions with bacterial cell walls is crucial for controlling biofilm formation.
• Burkholderia sp. JS150 is a relevant bacterial strain for biofilm studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of surfactants on MABs in an EMB system.
• To identify surfactants that reduce MAB accumulation and enhance mass transfer.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of teepol in an EMB for monochlorobenzene extraction.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 22 surfactants for their ability to increase bacterial cell wall negative charge.
• Microscopic analysis of MAB morphology and attachment behavior in the presence of surfactants.
• Testing the optimal surfactant (teepol) in a lab-scale EMB for monochlorobenzene removal.

Main Results:

• Surfactants altered bacterial flagella development, influencing attachment capabilities.
• Teepol demonstrated the most significant reduction in MAB accumulation on membrane surfaces.
• The presence of teepol led to a 53% increase in the overall mass transfer coefficient compared to a control EMB.

Conclusions:

• Teepol is an effective surfactant for mitigating MAB formation in EMBs.
• Reducing MAB accumulation with surfactants significantly enhances the performance of EMBs for pollutant removal.
• This study provides a strategy for improving EMB efficiency through targeted surfactant application.