Biofouling is often a major problem encountered in membrane processes for water and wastewater treatment. In membrane biofouling studies, quantification of biofouling is often conducted destructively and the results only reflect a snapshot of biofouling processes. This limitation is mainly due to the lack of tools that allow us to monitor dynamics of biofouling without the need of dissembling the membrane testing systems. In this study, we developed a novel multichannel fluidic membrane biofilm flow cell that enables non-destructive, real-time monitoring of biofouling dynamics using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The membrane biofilm flow cell could be operation in either filtration or forward osmosis mode. As a proof of concept, we used Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-tagged <i>Shewanella oneidensis</i> as a model organism and examined its biofilm development on membranes. The temporal profiles of quantitative biofouling parameters such as surface coverage, biovolume and biofilm thickness were obtained without disrupting the continuous operation of the membrane testing system. We also demonstrated that, through combining with fluorescent staining techniques, the dynamics of biofouling by wastewater microbial communities could also be monitored using CLSM without dissecting the membranes. The novel flow cell developed in this study is a promising tool for real-time monitoring of biofouling dynamics in membrane processes and for non-destructive evaluation of antifouling properties of novel membranes.<br/>

CLSM-compatible fluidic membrane biofilm flow cell as a novel tool to study membrane biofouling dynamics

251st National Meeting (2016)

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