Review - Bacteria and their extracellular polymeric substances causing biofouling on seawater reverse osmosis desalination membranes

摘要

Biofouling in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes is a critical issue faced by the desalination industry worldwide. The major cause of biofouling is the irreversible attachment of recalcitrant biofllms formed by bacteria and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on membrane surfaces. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and protobiofilms are recently identified as important precursors of membrane fouling. Despite considerable amount of research on SWRO biofouling, the control of biofouling still remains a challenge. While adoption of better pretreatment methods may help in preventing membrane biofouling in new desalination setups, it is also crucial to effectively disperse old, recalcitrant biofllms and prolong membrane life in operational plants. Most current practices employ the use of broad spectrum biocides and chemicals that target bacterial cells to disperse mature biofllms, which are evidently inefficient. EPS, being known as the strongest structural framework of biofllms, it is essential to breakdown and disintegrate the EPS components for effective biofilm removal. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand the chemical composition and key elements that constitute the EPS of major biofouling bacterial groups in multi-species, mature biofllms.