Biofouling is a ubiquitous problem in many places in society and technology, especially in reverse osmosis or nanofiltration (NF) processes. Initial stages in the development of the biofilm include attachment of bacteria to the surface, where bacterial outer membrane components such as biopolymers, lipids, and proteins play important roles. Here we show that the glycosphingolipid (GSL) unique to Sphingomonas species is a key player in the initial attachment of bacteria to NF membranes whereas lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major glycolipid in many Gram-negative species, is less significant. GSL and LPS were deposited on an NF membrane with subsequent bacterial culture injection in a three-dimensionally printed microfluidic flow cell. Flux, rejection, and pressure changes showed that GSL caused permanent membrane fouling. This study underlines the significance of Sphingomonas for the initial attachment of bacteria to membranes. A deeper understanding and identification of key components in the biofouling process may help define strategies for biofilm prevention.

Natural water treatment techniques combined with engineered solutions were investigated at demonstration sites in Europe within the AquaNES project. Ultrafiltration is well-established in water treatment, but is not feasible for many water utilities due to its high operational costs compared to conventional treatment. These differences in cost are caused by membrane fouling and the associated cleaning required. This study aims to assess the economic and energetic operation factors based on studies of an out/in ultrafiltration treatment plant for river water and bank filtrate. The fouling potential of both raw water sources was investigated as well as the quality of the resulting water. In addition, the results show the potential utility of a combined approach utilizing bank filtration followed by ultrafiltration in drinking water treatment. In a separate consideration of the treatment process, the water quality does not fulfill the requirements of the German drinking water ordinance. A new method for the removal of dissolved manganese from the bank filtrate is presented by inline electrolysis. While this improves water quality, this also has a significant influence on fouling potential and, thus, on operating costs of ultrafiltration. These aspects lead to a fundamental decision for operators to choose between more costly ultrafiltration with enhanced microbiological safety compared to cost-effective but less stringent drinking water treatment via open filtration.

Water suppliers aim to achieve microbiological stability throughout their supply system by regular monitoring of water quality. Monitoring temporal biomass dynamics at high frequency is time consuming due to the labor-intensive nature and limitations of conventional, cultivation-based detection methods. The goal of this study was to assess the value of new rapid monitoring methods for quantifying and characterizing dynamic fluctuations in bacterial biomass. Using flow cytometry and two precise enzymatic detection methods, bacterial biomass-related parameters were monitored at three riverbank filtration sites. Additionally, the treatment capacity of an ultrafiltration pilot plant was researched using online flow-cytometry. The results provide insights into microbiological quality of treated water and emphasize the value of rapid, easy and sensitive alternatives to traditional bacterial monitoring techniques.

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