Membrane properties such as pore size, hydrophobicity, pore size distribution, membrane material,Solution properties such as concentration, the nature of the components,particle size distribution,Operating conditions such as pH, temperature, flow rate and pressure affect membrane biofouling.

It can be minimized by strategies such as cleaning, appropriate membrane selection and choice of operating conditions.Membranes can be cleaned physically, biologically or chemically.

Fixed film processes and activated sludge processes are two main families of wastewater treatment systems which all refer to the heterogeneous microbial communities. Meanwhile, biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) and biofouling in membrane systems are significant problems in the water and wastewater treatment which reduce the microbial quality of drinking water and limit the development of membrane system respectively. Since biofilms and quorum sensing (QS) as two microbial social behaviors have been inextricably linked, a number of studies have focused on the role of QS signaling and QS inhibition in the processes of water and waste water treatment, which will help us engineer these biological treatment processes successfully anddevelop promising approaches for control of microbial adhesion, colonization and biofilm formation.

http://www.jeb.co.in/journal_issues/201304_apr13_supp/paper_20.pdf‎

Quorum Quenching(QQ) is a process in which signalling molecules are quenched by the organisms. Various molecular and genetic techniques have been employed to enhance the QQ activity so as to commercialize the technology

Existing microbiological/EPS studies reveal a number of implications as well as knowledge gaps which justify future targeted research. Systematic and representative microbiological studies, complementary utilisation of molecular and biofilm characterisation tools, standardised experimental methods, and validation of successful biological-based antifouling strategies for MBR applications are needed.

http://www.filtsep.com/view/34899/do-biological-based-strategies-hold-promise-for-biofouling-control-in-membrane-bioreactors/

The challenge is to have a biofouling management strategy that works in all cases. The presence of a biofilm does not mean that there is biofouling. Biofouling causes operational problems. One plant owner may accept a strong pressure drop increase while another plant owner may consider a lower pressure drop increase unacceptable. Also for cleanings, some plants accept to chemically clean the membranes twice/one a week while other plants do not accept an annual chemical cleaning frequency. So, it can be difficult to interpret literature.   

Another important aspect is that studies should be done with representative tools under representative conditions for practice. The results of those studies may be more effective than applying results obtained with a non representative tool operated under non representative conditions. In general no information is provided about the representativeness of research tools for practice.