GOALI: Membrane Aerated Biofilms - Membrane Module Development and Biofilm Thickness Control

本研究将着重于提高对MAB行为的基本认识，并开发适合于全面处理系统的膜。任务包括(1)制造和测试不同的抗湿膜，并提供生物膜厚度控制；(2)探索剪切流和水质对生物膜剥离和脱落的影响；(3)利用原子力显微镜表征生物膜与不同膜的粘附性以及不同操作条件下生物膜的内聚强度。(4)利用原子力显微镜和荧光显微镜研究剪切流量和水质对MAB表面形貌和结构的影响。智力优势：这些实验将展示当生物膜在不同的膜材料和不同的操作条件下生长时，生物膜的厚度、组成结构、脱落模式、形态、内聚和粘附强度是如何变化的。这些信息可用于确定适当的膜材料选择和剥离程序，以最佳地控制生物膜厚度，从而在各种可能的操作条件下最大化反应器性能。它也可以被纳入生物膜模型，以提高其预测能力。

0331953 Semmens This study will focus on improving the basic understanding of MAB behavior and developing membranes appropriate for use in full-scale treatment systems. Tasks include (1) manufacture and testing of different membranes that are resistant to wetting and provide biofilm thickness control, (2) exploration of the effect of shear flow and water quality on biofilm detachment and sloughing, (3) characterization of the adhesion of biofilms to different membranes and the cohesive strength of biofilms under different operating conditions using atomic force microscopy, and (4) exploration of the effect of shear flow and water quality on surface morphology and the structure of the MAB using both atomic force microscopy and epifluorescent microscopy. Intellectual Merit: These experiments will demonstrate how biofilm thickness, composition- structure, sloughing patterns, morphology, and cohesive and adhesive strength varies when biofilms grow on different membrane materials and under different operating conditions. This information can be used to define appropriate membrane material choices and sloughing procedures to best control biofilm thickness and thereby maximize reactor performance under a variety of likely operating conditions. It can also be incorporated into biofilm models to improve their predictive capabilities.