We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Bioelectrochemistry promotes microbial activity and accelerates wastewater methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion under combined exposure to antibiotics and microplastics
Summary
Researchers tested a bioelectrochemical system for treating wastewater contaminated with both antibiotics and microplastics, achieving 14% better treatment efficiency and methane recovery than standard methods. The electrical stimulation helped beneficial microbes thrive despite the pollutants, though it also increased some antibiotic resistance genes. This study is relevant because it addresses a real-world challenge of treating water containing multiple contaminants, including microplastics, before it reaches the environment.
Antibiotics and microplastics (MPs), as pervasive environmental pollutants, coexist in wastewater and pose significant threats to public health. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES), which integrate microbial metabolism and electrochemical redox reactions, exhibit considerable potential for treating recalcitrant pollutants and recovering bioenergy from wastewater. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into the application of BES for treating wastewater contaminated with multiple antibiotics and MPs, focusing on the synergistic effects of composite pollutants rather than isolated toxicological impacts. Compared to conventional anaerobic digestion, BES demonstrated enhanced wastewater treatment efficiency (14.39 %) and methane recovery (14.32 %). Under pollutant exposure and electrical stimulation, significant alterations in microbial cell viability and enzyme activities were observed. While pollutants reduced microbial species abundance, BES increased microbial diversity. The microbial community was predominantly composed of methanogens (Methanothrix), whereas fermentative bacteria (Proteiniphilum) dominated the cathode compartment. Although the addition of antibiotics did not significantly alter the overall abundance of antibiotic class and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), the cathode exhibited the potential to reduce their abundance. Functional gene abundance related to methane synthesis (EC:6.2.1.1) increased at the anode, while the cathode exacerbated inhibitory effects, primarily mediating acetate generation (EC:1.2.4.1, EC:2.3.1.12). These findings provide novel insights into the application of BES for treating co-contaminated wastewater, highlighting its capacity to mitigate emerging environmental challenges.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Electric stimulation mitigated the mixed microplastic inhibition to anaerobic digestion during wastewater treatment
Researchers found that a mixture of common microplastics significantly inhibited methane production and pollutant removal during anaerobic wastewater treatment. By applying a mild electrical current through a process called microbial electrosynthesis, they were able to partially restore the system's performance by boosting microbial activity and electron transfer. The study suggests that electrical stimulation could be a practical tool for maintaining wastewater treatment efficiency in the presence of microplastic contamination.
Electrochemically Coupled Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Facilitates Remediation of Microplastic-Containing Wastewater
Researchers tested an electrochemically coupled anaerobic membrane bioreactor for treating microplastic-containing wastewater and found that electrical stimulation effectively counteracted the inhibitory effects of microplastics on microbial metabolism. The system improved methane production, microbial viability, and enzyme activity compared to conventional anaerobic treatment in the presence of microplastics. The study suggests that combining electrochemical and biological approaches could improve both wastewater treatment efficiency and energy recovery when microplastics are present.
Single-chamber differs from dual-chamber bioelectrochemical systems in wastewater treatment and methane recovery under combined exposure to microplastics and antibiotics
This study compared how single-chamber and dual-chamber bioelectrochemical systems perform when treating wastewater contaminated with both microplastics and antibiotics. Single-chamber systems significantly enhanced methane production by over 21% compared to conventional treatment, while dual-chamber systems struggled due to ammonia buildup. The research found that microplastic and antibiotic contamination dramatically altered microbial communities, highlighting the complex challenges of treating polluted wastewater.
Bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion mitigates microplastic pollution and promotes methane recovery of wastewater treatment in biofilm system
Researchers found that bioelectrochemical systems can simultaneously break down microplastics in wastewater and recover methane gas for energy. The systems enhanced the degradation of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride particles while maintaining healthy biofilm communities on the electrodes. The study suggests that combining electrochemistry with biological treatment could offer a practical approach to both microplastic removal and renewable energy recovery from wastewater.
Effect of single and hybrid microplastic exposures on anaerobic sludge in microbial electrochemical technology (MET)
Researchers studied how single and mixed types of microplastics affect wastewater treatment performance in microbial electrochemical systems. They found that microplastics significantly impaired methane production, reduced pollutant removal efficiency, and increased oxidative stress in microbial communities, with PVC causing the strongest inhibition. Mixed microplastic exposure under electrical stimulation caused even greater disruption to key microbial populations involved in wastewater treatment.