Cometabolic biodegradation of antibiotics by ammonia oxidizing microorganisms during wastewater treatment processes. (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shengjun; Peng, Lai; Yang, Chenguang; Song, Shaoxian; Xu, Yifeng
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 305(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: Antibiotics -- Ammonia oxidizing microorganisms -- Degradation products and pathways -- Cometabolism -- Ammonia monooxygenase; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Studies on antibiotic removal during wastewater treatment processes are crucial since their release into the environment could bring potential threats to human health and ecosystem. Cometabolic biodegradation of antibiotics by ammonia oxidizing microorganisms (AOMs) has received special attentions due to the enhanced removal of antibiotics during nitrification processes. However, the interactions between antibiotics and AOMs are less well-elucidated. In this review, the recent research proceedings on cometabolic biodegradation of antibiotics by AOMs were summarized. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) and complete ammonia oxidizers (comammox) played significant roles in both nitrification and cometabolic biodegradation of antibiotics. Antibiotics at varying concentrations might pose inhibiting or stimulating effect on AOMs, influencing the microbial activity, community abundance and ammonia monooxygenase subunit A gene expression level. AOMs-induced cometabolic biodegradation products were analyzed as well as the corresponding pathways for each type of antibiotics. The effects of ammonium availability, initial antibiotic concentration, sludge retention time and temperature were assessed on the cometabolic biodegradation efficiencies of antibiotics. This work might provide further insights into the fate and removal of antibiotics during nitrification processes. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Antibiotic removal could be enhanced with dominant AOMs-induced cometabolism. The presence of antibiotics could inhibit or stimulate the growth of AOMs. AOB, AOA and comammox induced contributions to cometabolic biodegradation. Unique cometabolic biodegradation pathways were ascribed to key enzyme AMO. Key factors affecting the cometabolic biodegradation of antibiotics were analyzed.