The enormous use of synthetic antibiotic and personal care products has impacted the natural microbiome and ecosystem. Overtime, treatment technologies developed suffered due to incomplete removal hence, a pilot dual-chambered microbial peroxide-producing cell that degrades ampicillin catalyzed by homogenous Fenton-reaction was designed. The system reported maximum current at 16.714 ± 0.048 µAcm-2, power output of 1.956 ± 0.015 mW m-2; 88 ± 2.90 mM of H2O2 generation with Na2SO4 that degraded 95.9 ± 3.00 to 97.8 ± 3.20% of 10 mg L-1ampicillin within 72 hrs with electro-active Shewanella putrefaciens. An E. coli bioactivity assay with ampicillin exhibited no sensitivity zone due to the loss of activity. Analytical spectroscopic studies reveal β-Lactam ring deformation; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy clearly shows the presence of degradation metabolites. A sustainable wastewater treatment with 72 ± 4.5% reduction in anodic chemical oxygen demand was achieved. Present results designate the technology, as promising for effective antibiotics removal for wastewater treatment concomitant with electricity generation.
Keywords: Biodegradation; Microbial electro-fenton system; Wastewater treatment; β-Lactam antibiotics.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.