Chitosan/albumin/CaCO3 as mimics for membrane bioreactor fouling: Genesis of structural mineralized-EPS-building blocks and cake layer compressibility

Membrane bioreactor biofouling is usually described as an extracellular matrix in which biopolymers, inorganic salts and active microbes co-exist. For that reason, biomineralization (BM) models can be useful to describe the spatial organization and environmental constraints within the referred scenario. BM arguments were utilized as background in order to (1) evaluate CaCO3 influence on flux decline; pore blocking and cake layer properties (resistance, permeability and compressibility) in a wide range of Chitosan/Bovine serum albumin (BSA) mixtures during step-pressure runs and, (2) perform membrane autopsies in order to explore the genesis of mineralized extracellular building blocks (MEBB) during cake layer build up. Using low molecular weight chitosan (LC) and BSA, 2 L of 5 LC/BSA mixtures (0.25–1.85 ratio) were pumped to an external ultra filtration (UF) membrane (23.5 cm2, hydrophobic, piezoelectric, 100 kDa as molecular weight cut-off). Eight different pressure steps (40 ± 7 to 540 ± 21 kPa) were applied. Each pressure step was held for 900 s. CaCO3 was added to LC/BSA mixtures at 0.5, 1.5 and 3 mM in order to create MEBB during the filtration tests. Membrane autopsies were performed after the filtration tests using thermo gravimetric, scanning microscopy and specific membrane mass (mg cm−2) analyses. Biopolymer-CaCO3 step-pressure filtration created compressible cake layers (with inner voids). The formation of an internal skeleton of MEBB may contribute to irreversible fouling consolidation. A hypothesis for MEBB genesis and development was set forth.

► Membrane bioreactor fouling was mimicked at bench-scale using chitosan, bovine serum albumin and calcium carbonate.
► Eight pressure-step runs ranged from 40 to 540 kPa were evaluated in order to obtain cake layer hydraulic and structural properties (resistance, compressibility and permeability).
► Fouling layers were characterized by instrumental analysis (SEM, TGA, specific membrane mass).
► A hypothesis for mineralized-EPS-building blocks development was set forth based on biomineralization arguments.