Shirasu　porous　glass　(SPG)　membranes　have　been　applied　for　microbubble　aeration　in　aerobic　wastewater　treatment.　In　the　present　study,　both　hydrophilic　and　hydrophobic　SPG　membranes　were　used　in　a　microbubble-aerated　biofilm　reactor　with　online　chemical　cleaning,　and　their　membrane　fouling　and　chemical　durability　were　determined　to　be　strongly　dependent　on　the　membrane　wettability.　The　fouling　layer　formed　on　the　surface　of　both　membranes　was　confirmed　to　be　mainly　organic　fouling,　and　the　hydrophobic　membrane　showed　a　relatively　stronger　resistance　to　the　organic　fouling.　The　severe　chemical　corrosion　of　the　hydrophilic　membrane　was　observed　due　to　exposure　to　the　alkaline　sodium　hypochlorite　solution　used　for　chemical　cleaning,　which　resulted　in　significant　increases　in　the　median　pore　diameter　and　the　porosity.　On　the　other　hand,　the　pore　structure　of　the　hydrophobic　membrane　changed　slightly　when　exposed　to　the　alkaline　sodium　hypochlorite　solution,　suggesting　its　strong　alkali-resistance　due　to　the　non-wetting　surface.　However,　the　surface　hydrophobic　groups　of　hydrophobic　membrane　could　be　oxidized　by　sodium　hypochlorite　solution,　resulting　in　more　wettable　membrane　surface.　The　hydrophobic　membrane　also　showed　better　performance　in　the　respects　of　oxygen　transfer,　contaminant　removal　and　energy-saving.　Therefore,　the　hydrophobic　membrane　seemed　more　appropriate　to　be　applied　for　microbubble　aeration　in　aerobic　wastewater　treatment　process.　©,　2015,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.