Changes in bacterial community structure in a full-scale membrane bioreactor for municipal wastewater treatment

• The membrane bioreactor (MBR) bacterial community was studied.
• T-RFLP analysis targeting 16S rRNA gene was used for phylogenetic characterization.
• The carbon utilization potential was measured for metabolic characterization.
• The CAS kept the bacterial community with phylogenetic and metabolic stability.
• The MBR formed a bacterial community having phylogenetic and metabolic flexibility.

This study investigated changes in the structure and metabolic capabilities of the bacterial community in a full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating municipal wastewater. Microbial monitoring was also conducted for a parallel-running conventional activated sludge (CAS) process treating the same influent. The mixed-liquor suspended solid concentration in the MBR reached a steady-state on day 73 after the start-up. Then the MBR maintained higher rates of removal of organic compounds and nitrogen than the CAS process did. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that the bacterial community structure in the MBR was similar to that in the CAS process at the start-up, but it became very different from that in the CAS process in the steady state. The bacterial community structure of the MBR continued to change dynamically even after 20 months of the steady-state operation, while that of the CAS process was maintained in a stable condition. By contrast, Biolog assay revealed that the carbon source utilization potential of the MBR resembled that of the CAS process as a whole, although it declined transiently. Overall, the results indicate that the bacterial community of the MBR has flexibility in terms of its phylogenetic structure and metabolic activity to maintain the high wastewater treatment capability.