Current Progress in Natural Degradation and Enhanced Removal Techniques of Antibiotics in the Environment: A Review

Shimei Zheng, Yandong Wang, Cuihong Chen, Xiaojing Zhou, Ying Liu, Jinmei Yang, Qijin Geng, Gang Chen, Yongzhen Ding () and Fengxia Yang ()
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Shimei Zheng: College of Chemistry and Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
Yandong Wang: Department of Pediatrics, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang 261041, China
Cuihong Chen: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Xiaojing Zhou: College of Chemistry and Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
Ying Liu: College of Chemistry and Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
Jinmei Yang: College of Chemistry and Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
Qijin Geng: College of Chemistry and Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
Gang Chen: College of Chemistry and Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang 261061, China
Yongzhen Ding: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
Fengxia Yang: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-31

Abstract: Antibiotics are used extensively throughout the world and their presence in the environment has caused serious pollution. This review summarizes natural methods and enhanced technologies that have been developed for antibiotic degradation. In the natural environment, antibiotics can be degraded by photolysis, hydrolysis, and biodegradation, but the rate and extent of degradation are limited. Recently, developed enhanced techniques utilize biological, chemical, or physicochemical principles for antibiotic removal. These techniques include traditional biological methods, adsorption methods, membrane treatment, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), constructed wetlands (CWs), microalgae treatment, and microbial electrochemical systems (such as microbial fuel cells, MFCs). These techniques have both advantages and disadvantages and, to overcome disadvantages associated with individual techniques, hybrid techniques have been developed and have shown significant potential for antibiotic removal. Hybrids include combinations of the electrochemical method with AOPs, CWs with MFCs, microalgal treatment with activated sludge, and AOPs with MFCs. Considering the complexity of antibiotic pollution and the characteristics of currently used removal technologies, it is apparent that hybrid methods are better choices for dealing with antibiotic contaminants.

Keywords: antibiotics; biodegradation; enhanced removal; advanced oxidation processes; membrane filtration; constructed wetland; microbial electrochemical systems; hybrid technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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