Membrane fouling is a major challenge in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment. This study investigates the effects of disturbance and solid retention time (SRT) on quorum-quenching (QQ) MBRs relative to antifouling efficacy and microbial community change. The fouling rate increases with the applied disturbance at a short SRT, counteracting the antifouling effect of QQ; however, it decreases with QQ at a long SRT. The microbial community appears to be responsible for such MBR behaviors. Several bacterial species belonging to the biofilm-forming group are dominant after disturbance, resulting in substantive membrane fouling. However, the balance between the bacterial species plays a key role in MBR fouling propensity when stabilized. Koflera flava becomes dominant with QQ, leading to reduced membrane fouling. QQ makes the MBR microbial community more diverse, while lowering its richness. QQ with long SRT would be a favorable operational strategy for effective MBR fouling control.

膜污染是膜生物反应器（MBR）用于废水处理的主要挑战。本研究调查了相对于防污功效和微生物群落变化，扰动和固体保留时间（SRT）对群体猝灭（QQ）MBR的影响。在短时间的SRT下，污垢率随施加的干扰而增加，抵消了QQ的防污效果。但是，在较长的SRT下，它会随着QQ的减少而减少。微生物群落似乎是造成此类MBR行为的原因。扰动后，属于生物膜形成组的几种细菌占主导地位，导致膜的大量结垢。但是，细菌种类之间的平衡在稳定后在MBR结垢倾向中起关键作用。黄花era在QQ中占主导地位，从而减少了膜污染。QQ使MBR微生物群落更加多样化，同时降低了其丰富度。具有较长SRT的QQ将是有效控制MBR结垢的有利操作策略。