Microbial community in seawater reverse osmosis and rapid diagnosis of membrane biofouling

Due to the acceleration of global warming and the stress that population growth has placed on the global water supply, seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination is arising as a promising technology to overcome the stress placed on current water resources. However, the biofouling of RO membranes is a common problem, as it causes flux decline, demands frequent cleanings, and consumes high energy, resulting in a shortened lifespan of the system. In an attempt to address these issues, detailed knowledge of the microbial bacteria present, which have a strong correlation between biofilm community structure and operational problems, is ultimately expected to lead to greater control of biofouling. Furthermore, a more rapid diagnosis of biofilm bacteria in SWRO processes is required for faster process feedback. In this study, previous approaches that have been proposed for understanding, diagnosing, and predicting biofouling are reviewed. Finally, the future outlook towards controlling biofouling in SWRO is discussed.

Research Highlights
► We reviewed approaches for understanding, diagnosing, and predicting biofouling.
► The sources of biofouling bacteria in SWRO are unclear.
► The types of bacteria surviving the membrane pretreatment need to be monitored.
► Nanobiosensor for rapid monitoring of biofouling bacteria is required.