Abstract:Through excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra analysis, the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the process of membrane bioreactor used for restaurant wastewater treatment were studied. Meanwhile, the influence of raw water quality and volumetric loading on migration features of DOM and the impact of fluorescent substances on membrane fouling rate were studied. Protein substances had the largest percentage in various fluorescent substances of DOM and SPSS analysis also showed that protein-fluorescent substances in soluble microbial metabolic products (SMP) and bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) had the greatest impact on membrane fouling rate. However, the intensity of protein-fluorescent substances in tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS) showed a strong negative correlation with membrane fouling rate. Humic acid produced by microbial metabolism with fluorescence-based groups was primary source of humic acid in DOM.