Aims: Biofouling is a common biology phenomenon occuring on ship surface. This phenomenon has become serious threat in marine industries because of great economic loss. Tributyltin has been used to prevent biofouling, but it turned to cause the environmental problem. Therefore, the discovery of alternative environment-friendly compound is necessarily needed. Methodology and results: Five Actinobacteria isolates and fourteen marine bacteria isolates were tested against the biofilm formation of eight biofouling bacteria isolates that isolated from boat surface and the attachment of three biofouling diatoms (Amphora, Navicula, Nitzschia). Actinobacteria CW17 supernatant showed the broad spectrum activity against all fouling bacteria, whereas BC 11-5 supernatant was the only marine bacteria that capable to inhibit biofilm formation of V. neocaledonicus. Moreover, three representative diatoms attachment could be inhibited by the bioactive compounds produced by Actinobacteria and marine bacteria. CW01 supernatant showed broad spectrum and high activity against all three representative diatoms which is very promising. Molecular identification based on 16S rDNA gene sequence showed eight fouling bacteria isolates were biofilm-forming bacteria. Conclusions, significance and impact of study: This research showed aquatic Actinobacteria and coral-associated marine bacteria have the potential to prevent biofouling formation. Further studies are needed to purify and characterize these antibiofouling compounds for environmental application.
Biofouling ; Biofilms

OBJECTIVETo compare the membrane filtration process of four membrane modules namely, FMX rotating disk flat membrane module, hollow fiber membrane module, tubular membrane module and filter cup membrane module, with traditional Chinese medicine compound Huanglian Jiedu decoction as the experimental subject.

METHODUnder the same experimental operating conditions, the four membrane modules in membrane filtration process of Huanglian Jiedu decoction were compared in terms flux, resistance distribution, transmittance of index components and membrane fouling.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThree membrane modules in the dynamic filtration form--FMX rotating disk flat membrane module, hollow fiber membrane module and tubular membrane module had more advantages than filter cup membrane module in the static dead-end filtration form in terms of permeate flux, transmittance of index components and membrane fouling. However, FMX membrane module that made the fluid in a strong vortex status had better performance than hollow fiber membrane and tubular membrane module in permeate flux and membrane fouling.

Biofouling ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Filtration ; instrumentation ; Membranes, Artificial ; Permeability