Biofouling in RO membranes: relevant techniques for membrane autopsy Metagenome. Biofouling in RO membranes: relevant techniques for membrane autopsy

Biofouling can cause serious problems in reverse osmosis membranes (RO membranes) reducing module performance and their useful life. The objective of this study was the use of different techniques to analyse biofouling in RO membrane autopsies. We studied three RO membranes. Two were collected from the same desalination plant, fed with brackish water. These membranes belonged to two consecutive phases of the desalination process. The third one was from a sea water desalination plant. First, we determined the presence of microorganisms that could grow in the feed spacer mesh and in the polyamide layer of the RO membranes using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Secondly, the use of specific stains showed viable cells and the presence of extracellular biofilm matrix as a result of microbial colonization. Finally, microbial composition was studied by Illumina sequencing.

生物污损（Biofouling）会对反渗透膜（Reverse Osmosis Membranes，RO膜）造成严重危害，降低膜组件的运行性能并缩短其使用寿命。本研究旨在采用多种技术，对RO膜的生物污损情况开展解剖分析。本次研究共分析三块RO膜：其中两块取自同一座以微咸水为原水的淡化厂，分别对应该淡化工艺的两个连续阶段；第三块则取自一座海水淡化厂。首先，借助扫描电子显微镜（Scanning Electron Microscopy），我们检测了RO膜进水隔网与聚酰胺层中可滋生的微生物。其次，通过特异性染色技术，我们观测到了活体细胞以及微生物定植所形成的细胞外生物被膜基质。最终，我们通过Illumina测序（Illumina sequencing）分析了微生物群落组成。