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Divergent responses of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge to two typical microplastics polystyrene and polybutylene succinate during the treatment of sulfamethoxazole-containing wastewater
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This study tested how two types of microplastics, polystyrene and biodegradable polybutylene succinate, affected a biological wastewater treatment system designed to remove antibiotics. The biodegradable plastic actually helped break down the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole more effectively, while polystyrene slightly reduced the system's cleaning performance. The findings suggest that the type of microplastic present in wastewater can change how well treatment plants remove pharmaceutical pollutants.
This study evaluated the mechanisms by which biodegradable microplastics (polystyrene, PS MPs) and non-biodegradable microplastics (polybutylene succinate, PBS MPs), affect the performance of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge in sulfamethoxazole (SMX)-containing wastewater. Macroscopically, microalgal-bacterial granular sludge adapted to PS MPs more significantly and rapidly than PBS MPs. PS MPs slightly inhibited the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH-N, with the average removal rate reduced by 4.54% and 3.65%, respectively. Nonetheless, PBS MPs facilitated the degradation of SMX with the main pathway being the breakage of N-S bonds. At the microscopic level, the inhibition of Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria abundance by PS MPs emerged as a significant factor affecting the performance of granular sludge. Conversely, the enrichment of Desulfobacterota promoted by PBS MPs favorably impacted the removal and degradation of pollutants. Overall, PBS MPs showed better environmental compatibility and lower ecotoxicity for microalgal-bacterial granular sludge treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater.
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Researchers compared the effects of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics and non-biodegradable polyethylene microplastics on aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. They found that high concentrations of both types impaired the sludge's ability to remove organic pollutants, but both actually enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal at moderate levels. The study reveals that even biodegradable microplastics can disrupt wastewater treatment processes in unexpected ways.
Granulation and stability of microalgal–bacterial granular sludge under single and combined exposure to polycaprolactone microplastics and sulfamethoxazole
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Scientists tested whether tiny plastic particles and a common antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) disrupt the "good bacteria" clusters used in wastewater treatment plants to clean water before it's released back into the environment. They found that the microplastic alone caused little harm, but the antibiotic—especially combined with microplastics—significantly weakened the system's ability to remove pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. This matters because if wastewater treatment becomes less effective at breaking down contaminants, more antibiotics and pollutants could end up in our rivers and water supply, highlighting the need to better
Size-specific mediation of the physiological responses and degradation ability of microalgae to sulfamerazine by microplastics
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Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect the ability of marine microalgae to tolerate and break down the antibiotic sulfamerazine. They found that nano-sized plastics were more harmful than larger particles, reducing algal growth and impairing the organisms' ability to degrade the antibiotic. The study reveals that microplastic pollution could interfere with the natural biological breakdown of pharmaceutical contaminants in waterways.
Deciphering the interaction of sulfamethoxazole with biodegradable versus conventional, virgin versus aged microplastics in aquatic environment
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Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics interact with the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in water, both before and after UV aging. They found that biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics had the highest capacity to absorb the antibiotic, and that aging generally increased absorption for all plastic types. The study suggests that microplastics in waterways may act as carriers for pharmaceutical pollutants, with biodegradable plastics potentially posing a greater transport risk than conventional ones.
Removal of sulfamethoxazole using Fe-Mn biochar filtration columns: Influence of co-existing polystyrene microplastics
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics affect the removal of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole using iron-manganese modified biochar filtration columns. They found that the presence of microplastics significantly reduced antibiotic retention due to competitive sorption, with the effect varying depending on water pH. The study highlights that co-occurring microplastics in wastewater can interfere with contaminant removal systems, potentially allowing more antibiotics to pass through treatment processes.
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