Sistemas de membranas filtrantes, principalmente os de osmose reversa, estão sendo cada vez mais utilizados em diversos seguimentos de empresas (farmacêutica, tratamento de água, alimentícia e química), devido à diminuição do preço dos elementos filtrantes e da alta qualidade do produto obtido. O biofouling corresponde a um tipo de fouling inevitável, caracterizado pelo crescimento de microrganismos na superfície das membranas e liberação de EPS pelos mesmos; por isso, um melhor conhecimento sobre estas estruturas é necessário. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o biofouling em diferentes membranas de osmose reversa colmatadas de diferentes indústrias pela técnica da autópsia e comparar com resultados obtidos com biofilmes de cultura pura formados em membranas de osmose reversa; além de verificar a influência de biofilmes na deposição de sais e ação de compostos químicos utilizados na limpeza química de membranas nos mesmos. A autópsia dos elementos colmatados mostrou uma grande quantidade de células viáveis porém, com concentrações de carboidratos muito baixas; diferentemente do que ocorreu quando biofilmes de cultura pura isolados destas membranas foram analisados, apresentando correlações fortes entre quantidade de células viáveis e macromoléculas como proteínas e, principalmente, carboidratos. Com relação à influência dos biofilmes na deposição de sais, dois dos quatro biofilmes de cultura pura apresentaram incorporação de bário em sua estrutura (revelado por análises de fluorescência de raios X), esta incorporação, provavelmente, ocorreu por troca iônica e não pela deposição de sulfato de bário. Compostos como hidróxido de sódio (pH = 12) e ácido clorídrico (pH = 2) apresentaram bons resultados na diminuição de células viáveis porém, a recuperação dos microrganismos foi menor com a utilização do ácido. Os compostos EDTA e SDS não foram eficazes na diminuição de viáveis. / Systems of filter membranes, especially reverse osmosis, are being increasingly used in various segments of companies (pharmaceutical, water treatment, food and chemical industries) due to the decrease in the price of the filter elements and high quality of the product. The biofouling corresponds to a type of inevitable fouling characterized by growth of microorganisms on the surface of the membrane and release of EPS by them; so a better understanding of these structures is necessary. This study aimed to characterize the biofouling in different reverse osmosis membranes addressed from different industries by the technique of autopsy and compared with results obtained with pure culture biofilms in reverse osmosis membranes; and to verify the influence of biofilms in the deposition of salts and action of chemical compounds used in chemical cleaning of membranes in them. The autopsy of clogged elements showed a lot of viable cells but with very low carbohydrate concentrations; unlike what occurred when biofilms isolated pure culture of these membranes were analyzed, showing strong correlation between number of viable cells and macromolecules such as proteins and especially carbohydrates. Regarding the influence of biofilms in the deposition of salts, two of the four pure culture biofilms showed barium incorporation in its structure (revealed by fluorescence analysis X-ray), this merger probably occurred by ion exchange and not by deposition barium sulfate. Compounds such as sodium hydroxide (pH = 12) and hydrochloric acid (pH = 2) showed good results in the decrease of viable cells however, the recovery of microorganisms was lower with use of the acid. EDTA and SDS compounds were not effective in reducing viable.

Sistemas de membranas filtrantes, principalmente os de osmose reversa, estão sendo cada vez mais utilizados em diversos seguimentos de empresas (farmacêutica, tratamento de água, alimentícia e química), devido à diminuição do preço dos elementos filtrantes e da alta qualidade do produto obtido. O biofouling corresponde a um tipo de fouling inevitável, caracterizado pelo crescimento de microrganismos na superfície das membranas e liberação de EPS pelos mesmos; por isso, um melhor conhecimento sobre estas estruturas é necessário. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o biofouling em diferentes membranas de osmose reversa colmatadas de diferentes indústrias pela técnica da autópsia e comparar com resultados obtidos com biofilmes de cultura pura formados em membranas de osmose reversa; além de verificar a influência de biofilmes na deposição de sais e ação de compostos químicos utilizados na limpeza química de membranas nos mesmos. A autópsia dos elementos colmatados mostrou uma grande quantidade de células viáveis porém, com concentrações de carboidratos muito baixas; diferentemente do que ocorreu quando biofilmes de cultura pura isolados destas membranas foram analisados, apresentando correlações fortes entre quantidade de células viáveis e macromoléculas como proteínas e, principalmente, carboidratos. Com relação à influência dos biofilmes na deposição de sais, dois dos quatro biofilmes de cultura pura apresentaram incorporação de bário em sua estrutura (revelado por análises de fluorescência de raios X), esta incorporação, provavelmente, ocorreu por troca iônica e não pela deposição de sulfato de bário. Compostos como hidróxido de sódio (pH = 12) e ácido clorídrico (pH = 2) apresentaram bons resultados na diminuição de células viáveis porém, a recuperação dos microrganismos foi menor com a utilização do ácido. Os compostos EDTA e SDS não foram eficazes na diminuição de viáveis. / Systems of filter membranes, especially reverse osmosis, are being increasingly used in various segments of companies (pharmaceutical, water treatment, food and chemical industries) due to the decrease in the price of the filter elements and high quality of the product. The biofouling corresponds to a type of inevitable fouling characterized by growth of microorganisms on the surface of the membrane and release of EPS by them; so a better understanding of these structures is necessary. This study aimed to characterize the biofouling in different reverse osmosis membranes addressed from different industries by the technique of autopsy and compared with results obtained with pure culture biofilms in reverse osmosis membranes; and to verify the influence of biofilms in the deposition of salts and action of chemical compounds used in chemical cleaning of membranes in them. The autopsy of clogged elements showed a lot of viable cells but with very low carbohydrate concentrations; unlike what occurred when biofilms isolated pure culture of these membranes were analyzed, showing strong correlation between number of viable cells and macromolecules such as proteins and especially carbohydrates. Regarding the influence of biofilms in the deposition of salts, two of the four pure culture biofilms showed barium incorporation in its structure (revealed by fluorescence analysis X-ray), this merger probably occurred by ion exchange and not by deposition barium sulfate. Compounds such as sodium hydroxide (pH = 12) and hydrochloric acid (pH = 2) showed good results in the decrease of viable cells however, the recovery of microorganisms was lower with use of the acid. EDTA and SDS compounds were not effective in reducing viable.

Membrane biofouling is a common occurrence in water treatment plants that utilize reverse osmosis (RO). As bacteria and biofilm material build up on the membrane surface, it becomes more difficult for clean water to permeate through the membrane, and more pressure is required to produce the same amount of water. When pressures become critically high, membranes must be cleaned. This process is expensive in terms of chemical cost, labor, and downtime. Even after membranes have been cleaned, they can re-foul quickly if the cleaning did not effectively remove the biofilm. The water treatment plant in Dunedin, FL, which uses RO for treating groundwater, has experienced membrane biofouling since it began operation in 1992. Without the means to systematically evaluate a multitude of cleaning strategies on the bench scale, cleaning optimization must be conducted on the production skid level, which restricts the evaluation of alternative protocols. This problem is typical for many RO plants. The objectives of this project are: (1) using a multi-level and systematic approach, develop cleaning strategies for biofouled membranes that will lead to improved cleaning and decreased operational costs; (2) develop other cleaning strategies that will add to the scientific knowledge base; (3) quantify the effects of improved protocols; and (4) determine the policy implications of developed protocols in terms of cost suitability to Dunedin and elsewhere in Florida. This project consists of three phases, with phases progressively more similar to the water production environment. In the first phase, a series of bench tests were performed in the laboratory. Fouled membrane swatches were soaked and agitated in different cleaning solutions for different lengths of time, at different temperatures and pH. Protein and carbohydrate assays were then performed on both the cleaning solution and the membrane swatch to determine which conditions yield most complete removal of protein and carbohydrate from the membrane surface. Results indicate that carbohydrate removal does not appear to depend strongly on pH or temperature. Protein removal increases with increasing pH and is slightly greater at higher temperatures. The second phase of testing employed a 4"x6" stainless steel flat-sheet module in which cleanings were performed under different conditions to document corresponding changes in water flux and salt rejection. Operational parameters were based on pertinent literature and optimization results from Phase 1. Results indicate that water flux increases in response to cleaning at increasing pHs and increasing temperatures with best performances occuring after 30 minutes of cleaning. Salt rejection appears to decrease with pH. The most effective cleaning protocols, determined through trials in Phases 1 and 2, were put to the test again in Phase 3 where cleanings were performed on a specially constructed single-element cleaning system (for 8.5" x 40" elements), designed to clean a membrane element in isolation. This phase also served as final verification of new cleaning protocols before implementation on the production scale. Results from this phase were inconclusive due to mechanical problems. A multi-level, systematic cleaning evaluation leads to better understanding of the dependence of biofilm material removal and membrane performance on critical factors such as temperature, pH, time of cleaning, and chemical dose, which results in improved cleaning protocols and ultimately cost savings to RO water utilities such as Dunedin.