Quorum quenching MBR operations for biofouling control under different operation conditions and using different immobilization media

Biofouling is one of the major problems in reaching the goal of being the only preferable technology for advanced wastewater treatment for membrane bioreactors (MBR). In this study, the quorum quenching mechanism (QQ) was applied to MBR technology with prevention of group behavior of micro-organisms via signaling. This study aims to prepare three different QQ immobilization media, which are (1) cell entrapping bead (CEB), (2) microbial vessel (MV), and (3) rotating microbial carrier frame (RMCF). Two different Rhodococcus sp. BH4 (QQ bacteria) amounts and three different fluxes were used to see their effects on QQ mechanism. The flux was more effective than QQ bacteria amount. Transmembrane pressure (TMP) profiles showed that all QQ products were successful in antibiofouling during MBR operation. While CEB was the most effective one, MV had the minimum influence on the TMP reduction. On the other hand, it was found out that RMCF is the most feasible one according to the cost analysis results. This study offers an idea about the potential of QQ applications in pilot- and real-scale MBR plants after examinations on different operation conditions and different QQ products.