Biomass adsorption and membrane rejection ensured effective Ag NPs removal by OMBR. Ag NPs led to an increase of EPS and NH4+-N concentration in the supernatant. Ag NPs enhanced FO flux owing to the mitigation of membrane biofouling. Ag NPs alleviated FO membrane biofouling by reducing the deposition of biofoulants. Ag NPs decreased species richness and increased bacterial community diversity.