Correlation of biofouling with the bio-cake architecture in an MBR

The experimental or theoretical method that can visualize or quantify the architecture of bio-cake formed on the surface of membrane is of great interest in understanding biofouling mechanisms, also controlling biofouling in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). This paper summarizes the methods for determining the porosity of bio-cake experimentally or theoretically and also correlates the bio-cake architecture with membrane filterability in a submerged MBR under various operating conditions.

Formation of a bio-cake on the membrane in an MBR has been known to be one of the key obstacles to be solved to enhance the performance of the MBR. It has still remained as a black-box due to its complexity and heterogeneity and thus it seems nearly impossible to completely prevent or eliminate the bio-cake at this time. Using modern molecular biology and instrumental analytical methods, however, the black-box of the biocake could be revealed little by little. More thorough and ceaseless investigation from the molecular biological point of view is needed to elucidate Cut Permeate Moving end S6 Moving S5 S4 15 cm 2.5 cm S3 S2 Potted S1 Aeration Potted end Fig. 5. Specification of the hollow fiber module and sampling points for bio-cake specimens (3 fibers × 6 specimens/fiber × 1 image/specimen).