Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes
Abstract Membrane biofouling poses an ongoing challenge in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination. Here we delved into the impact of seasonal variations in microbial communities on membrane biofouling and innovatively fabricated quorum sensing inhibitors (acylase (AC) and methyl anthranilate (...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | npj Clean Water |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-024-00305-w |
| _version_ | 1797276068748460032 |
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| author | Chao Chen Yu Yang Kwang-Ho Choo How Yong Ng Satoshi Takizawa Li-an Hou |
| author_facet | Chao Chen Yu Yang Kwang-Ho Choo How Yong Ng Satoshi Takizawa Li-an Hou |
| author_sort | Chao Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Membrane biofouling poses an ongoing challenge in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination. Here we delved into the impact of seasonal variations in microbial communities on membrane biofouling and innovatively fabricated quorum sensing inhibitors (acylase (AC) and methyl anthranilate (MA))-modified membranes to combat it. Results indicated that Proteobacteria dominated in seawater and membrane biofilm across all seasons, while other phyla varied seasonally. At the class level, the two leading bacteria on the membrane were Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria, constituting 14–48% and 4–27%, respectively. Genera like Arcobacter, Vibrio, and Rhodobacteraceae were identified as keystone species that exhibited a significant positive correlation with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and biofilm formation, leading to a substantive reduction in membrane flux by 70 to 77%. The introduction of AC and MA inhibitors on the membrane suppressed keystone bacteria Rhodobacteraceae and Arcobacter and affected their metabolism, thereby significantly reducing EPS by 65–69% and 55–59%, respectively, and alleviating membrane flux decline by 30–32% and 18–22%, respectively, compared to the pristine membrane. These findings shed new light on the seasonal patterns of membrane biofouling and provide valuable insights into anti-biofouling strategies based on QS inhibition for collaborative biofilm formation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:23:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e83ce7c213f4eda83bc1c8ecd10bafe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-7037 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:23:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Clean Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e83ce7c213f4eda83bc1c8ecd10bafe2024-03-05T17:33:25ZengNature Portfolionpj Clean Water2059-70372024-02-017111310.1038/s41545-024-00305-wCracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranesChao Chen0Yu Yang1Kwang-Ho Choo2How Yong Ng3Satoshi Takizawa4Li-an Hou5State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal UniversityDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National UniversityCenter for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityDepartment of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoState Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract Membrane biofouling poses an ongoing challenge in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination. Here we delved into the impact of seasonal variations in microbial communities on membrane biofouling and innovatively fabricated quorum sensing inhibitors (acylase (AC) and methyl anthranilate (MA))-modified membranes to combat it. Results indicated that Proteobacteria dominated in seawater and membrane biofilm across all seasons, while other phyla varied seasonally. At the class level, the two leading bacteria on the membrane were Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria, constituting 14–48% and 4–27%, respectively. Genera like Arcobacter, Vibrio, and Rhodobacteraceae were identified as keystone species that exhibited a significant positive correlation with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and biofilm formation, leading to a substantive reduction in membrane flux by 70 to 77%. The introduction of AC and MA inhibitors on the membrane suppressed keystone bacteria Rhodobacteraceae and Arcobacter and affected their metabolism, thereby significantly reducing EPS by 65–69% and 55–59%, respectively, and alleviating membrane flux decline by 30–32% and 18–22%, respectively, compared to the pristine membrane. These findings shed new light on the seasonal patterns of membrane biofouling and provide valuable insights into anti-biofouling strategies based on QS inhibition for collaborative biofilm formation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-024-00305-w |
| spellingShingle | Chao Chen Yu Yang Kwang-Ho Choo How Yong Ng Satoshi Takizawa Li-an Hou Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes npj Clean Water |
| title | Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes |
| title_full | Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes |
| title_fullStr | Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes |
| title_short | Cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling: enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor-functionalized membranes |
| title_sort | cracking the code of seasonal seawater biofouling enhanced biofouling control with quorum sensing inhibitor functionalized membranes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-024-00305-w |
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