Bacterial community changes and antibiotic resistance gene quantification in microbial electrolysis cells during long-term sulfamethoxazole treatment. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xue, Wendan; Zhou, Qixing; Li, Fengxiang
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 294(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Sulfamethoxazole -- Microbial electrolysis cell -- Antibiotic resistance genes -- Wastewater treatment -- Degradation intermediates; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122170
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: MECs effectively eliminated the biotoxicity of SMX. MECs produced fewer ARGs in the treatment of antibiotic wastewater than WWTPs. Two SMX degradation pathways were proposed and new intermediates were identified. Proteobacteria and Synergistetes are the main phyla for SMX biodegradation in MECs. Abstract: In this study, sulfamethoxazole served as the electron donor for microbial electrolysis cells. After 6 months of operation, the removal efficiencies of sulfamethoxazole in three microbial electrolysis cells were 77.60%, 87.55%, and 92.53% for a 3-day period and were directly proportional to the initial added concentrations. However, the removal efficiencies in the microbial electrolysis cells with open circuits and without microorganisms were only 51% and 8%, respectively. Higher sulfamethoxazole concentrations and sustained electrical stimulation caused faster bioelectrochemical reactions, thereby enhancing sulfamethoxazole degradation. Bacterial community analysis revealed that Proteobacteria and Synergistetes, which are the main functional phyla, proliferated with increased antibiotic concentrations. The qPCR results indicated that the copy numbers of antibiotic resistance genes and integrons in microbial electrolysis cell biofilms and effluents were distinctly lower than those in traditional biological treatment systems. Thus, the generation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes might be a diminished challenge in microbial electrolysis cells.