Issue 8, 2023

Flow cytometry for on-line microbial regrowth monitoring in a membrane filtration plant: pilot-scale case study for wastewater reuse

Abstract

The use of advanced membrane processes, such as reverse osmosis (RO) are of great importance for process water and drinking water production. As the water quality is bound to certain imposed microbiological standards, the removal of unwanted bacteria is vital. Reverse osmosis filtration should in theory retain all, or most, bacteria. However, due to operational choices or malfunctions (e.g., leaking glue lines, oxidation of the membrane, loss of O-seals…) bacterial breakthrough can occur. Moreover, certain ultra-small species of bacteria are also able to pass the membrane. Currently, the microbiology and breakthrough are respectively monitored by looking at indicator organisms (e.g., Escherichia coli) via plating methods and conductivity monitoring. In this case-study on-line flow cytometry was evaluated as a tool to monitor membrane integrity and microbiological quality of a pilot-scale RO membrane system placed at the Citrique Belgium, Citribel site (Tienen, Belgium). Over the course of 20 days, cell density and flow cytometric fingerprinting data were gathered. With the use of these phenotypic fingerprints and conductivity data, we could showcase that the cell densities found in the permeate were due to regrowth within the piping network, rather then bacterial breakthrough of the membrane. This demonstrates the added-value of flow cytometry for microbial and membrane integrity monitoring of large-scale membrane filtration plants.

Graphical abstract: Flow cytometry for on-line microbial regrowth monitoring in a membrane filtration plant: pilot-scale case study for wastewater reuse

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 Dec 2022
Accepted
19 May 2023
First published
28 Jun 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2023,9, 2128-2139

Flow cytometry for on-line microbial regrowth monitoring in a membrane filtration plant: pilot-scale case study for wastewater reuse

T. Pluym, C. García-Timermans, S. Vervloet, R. Cornelissen, N. Boon and B. De Gusseme, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2023, 9, 2128 DOI: 10.1039/D2EW00921H

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