The fate of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater containing microalgae treated by chlorination, ultra-violet, and Fenton reaction

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved..

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARBs) in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are of utmost importance for the dissemination of ARGs in natural aquatic environments. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective technologies to eliminate WWTP ARGs/ARBs and mitigate the associated risks posed by the discharged ARG in aquatic environments. To test the effective technology for eliminating ARGs/ARBs, we compared the removal of ARGs and ARBs by three different tertiary treatments, namely ultra-violet (UV) disinfection, chlorination disinfection, and Fenton oxidation. Then, the treated wastewater was co-cultured with Chlorella vulgaris (representative of aquatic biota) to investigate the fate of discharged ARGs into the aquatic environment. The results demonstrated that chlorination (at a chlorine concentration of 15 mg/L) and Fenton (at pH 2.73, with 0.005 mol/L Fe2+ and 0.0025 mol/L H2O2) treatment showed higher efficacy in ARG removal (1.8 - 4.17 logs) than UV treatment (15 min) (1.29 - 3.87 logs). Moreover, chlorine at 15 mg/L and Fenton treatment effectively suppressed ARB regeneration while UV treatment for 15 min could not. Regardless of treatments tested in this study, the input of treated wastewater to the Chlorella system increased the number of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), indicating the potential risk of ARG dissemination associated with WWTP discharge. Among the wastewater-Chlorella co-culture systems, chlorination resulted in less of an increase in the number of ARGs and MGEs compared to Fenton and UV treatment. When comparing the wastewater systems to the co-culture systems, it was observed that Chlorella vulgaris reduced the number of ARGs and MGEs in chlorination and UV-treated wastewater; however, Chlorella vulgaris promoted ARG survival in Fenton-treated water, suggesting that aquatic microalgae might act as a barrier to ARG dissemination. Overall, chlorination treatment not only effectively removes ARGs and inhibits ARB regeneration but also shows a lower risk of ARG dissemination. Therefore, chlorination is recommended for practical application in controlling the spread of discharged ARGs from WWTP effluent in natural aquatic environments.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:254

Enthalten in:

Water research - 254(2024) vom: 01. Apr., Seite 121392

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Luo, Ling [VerfasserIn]
Wang, Zimu [VerfasserIn]
Huang, Xin [VerfasserIn]
Gu, Ji-Dong [VerfasserIn]
Yu, Chenxiao [VerfasserIn]
Deng, Ouping [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

4R7X1O2820
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Anti-Bacterial Agents
BBX060AN9V
Chlorella vulgaris
Chlorination
Chlorine
Fenton oxidation
Hydrogen Peroxide
Journal Article
UV disinfection
Wastewater

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 08.04.2024

Date Revised 08.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.watres.2024.121392

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM369206347