Evaluating the effects of activated carbon on methane generation and the fate of antibiotic resistant genes and class I integrons during anaerobic digestion of solid organic wastes. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Jingxin; Mao, Feijian; Loh, Kai-Chee; Gin, Karina Yew-Hoong; Dai, Yanjun; Tong, Yen Wah
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 249(2018)
• Page Start: 729
• Page End: 736
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion -- Activated carbon -- Antibiotic resistance genes -- Solid organic wastes; 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.2017.10.082
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Fate of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) was explored during anaerobic digestion. Activated carbon enhanced the removal of most of ARGs in digestion of food waste. Activated carbon accelerated the conversion of organic wastes to methane. Removal of ARGs was limited in co-digestion of antibiotics containing substrates. Abstract: The effects of activated carbon (AC) on methane production and the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were evaluated through comparing the anaerobic digestion performance and transformation of ARGs among anaerobic mono-digestion of food waste, co-digestion of food waste and chicken manure, and co-digestion of food waste and waste activated sludge. Results showed that adding AC in anaerobic digesters improved methane yield by at least double through the enrichment of bacteria and archaea. Conventional digestion process showed ability in removing certain types of ARGs, such as tet A, tet X, sul 1, sul 2, cml A, flo R, and intl 1. Supplementing AC in anaerobic digester enhanced the removal of most of the ARGs in mono-digestion of food waste. The effects tended to be minimal in co-digestion of co-substrates such as chicken manure and waste activated sludge, both of which contain a certain amount of antibiotics.