Antibiotics resistance removal from piggery wastewater by an integrated anaerobic-aerobic biofilm reactor: Efficiency and mechanism

Antibiotic resistance residual in piggery wastewater poses serious threat to environment and human health. Biological treatment process is commonly installed to remove nutrient from piggery wastewater and also effective in removing antibiotics to varying degrees. But the specific pathways and mechanisms involved in the removal of antibiotic resistance are not yet well-understood. An integrated anaerobic-aerobic biofilm reactor (IAOBR) has been demonstrated efficient in removing conventional nutrients. It is here shown that the IAOBR effectively removed 79.0% of Sulfonamides, 55.7% of Tetracyclines and 53.6% of Quinones. Antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) were simultaneously inactivated by similar to 0.5 logs. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were decreased by 0.51 logs and 0.42 logs, respectively. The antibiotics were mainly removed through aerobic compartments of the IAOBR. The mass loss of antibiotics in the reactor was achieved by biodegradation and adsorption, accounting for 52.1% and 47.9%, respectively. An obvious accumulation of ARGs was observed in the activated sludge. The potential host of ARGs was analyzed via microbial community and network. Partial least squares-structural equation model and correlation analysis revealed that the enrichment of ARGs was positively affected by MGEs, followed by bacterial community and ARBs, but the effect of antibiotics on ARGs was negative. Outcomes of this study provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance removal in biological treatment processes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the removal mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in piggery wastewater. It was found that the integrated anaerobic-aerobic biofilm reactor effectively removed sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and quinones. Antibiotic resistance bacteria and genes were simultaneously decreased. The antibiotics were mainly removed through aerobic compartments and the removal was achieved by biodegradation and adsorption.