Revisiting interrelated effects of extracellular polysaccharides during biofouling of reverse osmosis membranes: Viscoelastic properties and biofilm enhanced osmotic pressure
Extracellular polysaccharides can reduce salt rejection via BEOP mechanism. Biofilm stiffness strongly affects permeate flux recovery after cleaning. Biofilm stiffness and EPS viscoelastic properties corroborate with BEOP phenomenon. EPS affects mechanical biofilm properties and transport of ions in RO biofouling.