Membrane biofouling process correlated to the microbial community succession in an A/O MBR.

The microbial community succession of the biofouling layer in a submerged anoxic/oxic membrane biological reactor (A/O MBR) that fed with synthesized domestic wastewater was investigated under three different flux conditions without the changing of the nutrient load. The noticeable microbial community succession and its significant correlation with the metabolic products were observed under the subcritical flux condition. Under the supercritical flux condition, the microbial community shift was in a different pattern compared with that under the subcritical flux condition and it was affected by the increased permeable suction more than the metabolic products. The most abundant microorganisms in the foulants were β-proteobacteria and γ-proteobacteria which can reach more than 20% of the microbial community. However the microorganisms which had significant correlation with the metabolic products were in lower abundance.