Toward self-sustaining membrane filtration via manipulating the membrane-surface ecosystem
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Xu, Lei
Dou, Qingqiang
Graham, Nigel
Yu, Wenzheng
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Biofouling-induced membrane contamination severely limits the application of membrane filtration systems. Regulating biofilm formation on membrane surfaces can facilitate the development of water channels and help establish a dynamic balance between foulant deposition and biodegradation. In this study, an activated carbon fiber (ACF) barrier and a biofiltration-integrated ACF barrier (BF_ACF) were employed to evaluate their effects on the performance of a gravity-driven membrane (GDM) ultrafiltration (UF) system. The results showed that ACF and BF_ACF, significantly improved dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal, increasing removal efficiencies from approximately 5–13% (for UF alone) to 21–25% and 78–81%, respectively. In addition, the steady-state membrane fluxes of the ACF and BF_ACF systems increased substantially from 1.96 ± 0.15 (UF alone) to 2.84 ± 0.22 and 4.19 ± 0.13 LMH, respectively, corresponding to increases of approximately 44.9% and 214% relative to the control. ACF and BF_ACF were found to alter the heterogeneity of the biofilm layer, resulting in a thinner, looser, and more porous structure. A shift in the microbial community from r-selected to K-selected taxa was also observed, transforming the membrane-surface ecosystem from a “fouling-type” community into a “cleaning-type” community. Overall, this study provides a paradigm for “controlling fouling with microorganisms” through the artificial regulation of the membrane-surface ecological niche, thereby improving the sustainability of membrane-based water treatment systems.
Date Issued
2027-01-01
Date Acceptance
2026-09-25
Citation
Water Research, 2027, 308, Part C
ISSN
0043-1354
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Water Research
Volume
308, Part C
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
127024
Date Publish Online
2026-09-26