Electroactive Ultrafiltration Membrane for Simultaneous Removal of Antibiotic, Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes from Wastewater Effluent

Abstract

To combat the spread of antibiotic resistance into the environment, we should adequately manage wastewater effluent treatment to achieve simultaneous removal of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Herein, we fabricate a multifunctional electroactive poly­(vinylidene fluoride) ultrafiltration membrane (C/PVDF) by phase inversion on conductive carbon cloth. The membrane possesses not only excellent retention toward ARB and ARGs but also exhibits high oxidation capacity as an electrode. Notably, sulfamethoxazole degradation involving hydroxylation and hydrolysis by the anode membrane is predominant, and the degradation efficiency is up to 81.5% at +4 V. Both electro-filtration processes exhibit significant ARB inactivation, anode filtration is superior to cathode filtration. Moreover, the degradation of intracellular ARGs (iARGs) located in the genome is more efficient than those located in the plasmid, and these degradation efficiencies at −2 V are higher than +2 V. The degradation efficiencies of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) are opposite and are lower than iARGs. Compared with regular filtration, the normalized flux of electroactive ultrafiltration membrane is improved by 18.0% at −2 V, 15.9% at +2 V, and 30.4% at +4 V during treating wastewater effluent, confirming its antifouling properties and feasibility for practical application.

Reduction of Ultrafiltration Membrane Fouling by the Pretreatment Removal of Emerging Pollutants: A Review

“…At present, the three representative pollution sources in EPs are MPs, ARGs, and ARB [ 3 , 45 , 58 ]. The particle size of MPs in the traditional sense is usually maintained at a size level lower than 5 mm [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…Using sulfamethazine (SMT, 84.6 ng·L −1 ), sulfamonomethoxine (SMM, 5.0 ng·L −1 ), sulfaquinoxaline (SQX, 105.1 ng·L −1 ), and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ, 42.5 ng·L −1 ) as examples, the detection frequency was determined to be 100% [ 65 ]. Antibiotics in biological wastewater are unable be completely removed, leading to the widespread emergence and spread of antibiotics in the environment and leading to the selective formation and retention of ARGs [ 3 , 65 , 66 ].…”

“…Photoelectrochemical catalytic oxidation is an AOPs technology that can effectively degrade low-concentration antibiotics. When combined with UF processes, it can effectively limit the spread of drug resistance and achieve the interception and inactivation of ARGs and ARBs [ 3 , 133 ]. Deniere et al adopted the O 3 /PMS activation system to catalyze the degradation of trace organic pollutants (TrOCs).…”

“…With the development of industrial technology, many emerging pollutants (EPs) are gradually coming to be detected in water environments, in addition to conventional pollutants. Among them, microplastics (MPs), antibiotics (antibiotic resistance genes, ARGs), and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are regarded as three typical EPs [ 3 ]. Plastic products introduce MPs into water, soil, and air in the form of direct release or environmental degradation [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

Graphene-Oxide-Grafted Natural Phosphate Support as a Low-Cost Ceramic Membrane for the Removal of Anionic Dyes from Simulated Textile Effluent

“…Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane techniques presented high retention performance for complex macro- and micro-contaminants, such as organic matter, inorganic compounds, hormones and pharmaceuticals [ 1 ]. Based on previous research, a consequent connection between membrane retention performance and pollutant properties (molecular size, charge and hydrophobicity) was established [ 2 ]. Numerous studies were conducted to enhance the retention performance of ceramic membranes by modifying them with nanomaterials, such as titanium oxides [ 3 ] and carbon nanotubes [ 4 ], which may decrease the pore size and enhance the charge effects.…”