Mitigation of membrane biofouling by a quorum quenching bacterium for membrane bioreactors. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ham, So-Young; Kim, Han-Shin; Cha, Eunji; Park, Jeong-Hoon; Park, Hee-Deung
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 258(2018)
• Page Start: 220
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Quorum quenching -- Biofouling -- Enterococcus durans -- Lactonase -- Membrane bioreactor; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A QQ bacterium (HEMM-1) belonging to Enterococcus was isolated in a MBR. HEMM-1 was effective in hydrolyzing AHLs with short acyl chains. Hydrolysis of AHLs by HEMM-1 was due to lactonase activity. Significant reduction in biofilm formation was induced by HEMM-1. Mixing HEMM-1 with known QQ can be a potent strategy for mitigating biofouling. Abstract: In this study, a quorum-quenching (QQ) bacterium named HEMM-1 was isolated at a membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant. HEMM-1 has diplococcal morphology and 99% sequence identity to Enterococcus species. The HEMM-1 cell-free supernatant (CFS) showed higher QQ activities than the CFS of other QQ bacteria, mostly by degrading N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) with short acyl chains. Instrumental analyses revealed that HEMM-1 CFS degraded AHLs via lactonase activity. Under static, flow, and shear conditions, the HEMM-1 CFS was effective in reducing bacterial and activated-sludge biofilms formed on membrane surfaces. In conclusion, the HEMM-1 isolate is a QQ bacterium applicable to the control of biofouling in MBRs via inhibition of biofilm formation on membrane surfaces.