Algae-mediated antibiotic wastewater treatment: A critical review

Impacts of cefalexin on nitrite accumulation, antibiotic degradation, and microbial community structure in nitrification systems

The intensive use of various antibiotics for clinical and agricultural purposes has resulted in their widespread use in wastewater treatment plants. However, little research has been conducted on the effects of antibiotics on nitrite accumulation, antibiotic degradation pathways, or the microbial community structure in nitrification systems. In this study, a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor was used to treat wastewater containing cefalexin (CFX) at different doses (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/L). The results showed that the nitrification performance was gradually inhibited with increasing CFX concentration. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are more tolerant to CFX than nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Under 15 mg/L of CFX, NOB were completely suppressed, whereas AOB were partially inhibited, as evidenced by an ammonium removal efficiency of 60 % and a 90 % of nitrite accumulation ratio. The partial nitritation was achieved. CFX can be degraded into 2-hydroxy-3phenylpyrazine and cyclohexane through bacterial co-metabolism, and CFX degradation gradually diminishes with decreasing nitrification performance. The abundance of Nitrospira gradually decreased with increasing CFX concentration. Ferruginibacter, Hydrogenophaga, Thauera, and Pseudoxanthomonas were detected at relative abundances of 13.2 %, 0.4 %, 0.9 %, and 1.3 %, respectively, indicating their potential roles in antibiotic degradation. These findings provide insight into the interactions between antibiotics and microbial communities, which are beneficial for a better understanding of antibiotic degradation in nitrification systems.

Mechanistic insights into the potential application of Scenedesmus strains towards the elimination of antibiotics from wastewater

Scenedesmus strains have been reported to have the potential to tolerate and bioremediate antibiotic pollutants through bioadsorption, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation mechanism from the wastewater medium. Hormesis effects have been observed in the Scenedesmus strains when exposed to different concentrations of antibiotic pollutants. Lower concentrations of antibiotic pollutants are known to trigger growth-stimulating effects by triggering adaptive responses such as increased metabolic activity and activating detoxifying mechanisms leading to the biotransformation pathway. The present review examines the existing body of information pertaining to biotransformation pathways tolerance, hormesis effects, and efficiency of Scenedesmus strains in removing various antibiotic pollutants. This review provides critical information on using Scenedesmus species to treat antibiotic-polluted wastewater by boosting growth and resilience tolerant doses and avoiding toxicity at higher doses.

Insights into the removal of antibiotics from livestock and aquaculture wastewater by algae-bacteria symbiosis systems

With the burgeoning growth of the livestock and aquaculture industries, antibiotic residues in treated wastewater have become a serious ecological threat. Traditional biological wastewater treatment technologies-while effective for removing conventional pollutants, such as organic carbon, ammonia and phosphate-struggle to eliminate emerging contaminants, notably antibiotics. Recently, the use of microalgae has emerged as a sustainable and promising approach for the removal of antibiotics due to their non-target status, rapid growth and carbon recovery capabilities. This review aims to analyse the current state of antibiotic removal from wastewater using algae-bacteria symbiosis systems and provide valuable recommendations for the development of livestock/aquaculture wastewater treatment technologies. It (1) summarises the biological removal mechanisms of typical antibiotics, including bioadsorption, bioaccumulation, biodegradation and co-metabolism; (2) discusses the roles of intracellular regulation, involving extracellular polymeric substances, pigments, antioxidant enzyme systems, signalling molecules and metabolic pathways; (3) analyses the role of treatment facilities in facilitating algae-bacteria symbiosis, such as sequencing batch reactors, stabilisation ponds, membrane bioreactors and bioelectrochemical systems; and (4) provides insights into bottlenecks and potential solutions. This review offers valuable information on the mechanisms and strategies involved in the removal of antibiotics from livestock/aquaculture wastewater through the symbiosis of microalgae and bacteria.

In silico degradation of fluoroquinolones by a microalgae-based constructed wetland system

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) have been used worldwide due to their extended antimicrobial spectrum. However, the overuse of FQs leads to frequent detection in the environment and cannot be efficiently removed. Microalgae-based constructed wetland systems have been proven to be a relatively proper method to treat FQs, mainly by microalgae, plants, microorganisms, and sediments. To improve the removal efficiency of microalgae-constructed wetland, a systematic molecular design, screening, functional, and risk evaluation method was developed using three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship models, molecular dynamics simulation, molecular docking, and TOPKAT approaches. Five designed ciprofloxacin alternatives with improved bactericidal effects and lower human health risks were found to be more easily degraded by microalgae (16.11-167.88 %), plants (6.72-58.86 %), microorganisms (9.10-15.02 %), and sediments (435.83 %-1763.51 %) compared with ciprofloxacin. According to the mechanism analysis, the removal effect of the FQs can be affected via changes in the number, bond energy, and molecular descriptors of favorable and unfavorable amino acids. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study of improving the microalgae, plants, microorganisms, and sediment removal efficiency of FQs in constructed wetlands, which provides theoretical support for the treatment of FQ pollution.

Exploring the influence of sulfadiazine-induced stress on antibiotic removal and transformation pathway using microalgae Chlorella sp

Sulfadiazine (SDZ) is a kind of anti-degradable antibiotics that is commonly found in wastewater, but its removal mechanism and transformation pathway remain unclear in microalgal systems. This study investigated the effects of initial algae concentration and SDZ-induced stress on microalgal growth metabolism, SDZ removal efficiency, and transformation pathways during Chlorella sp. cultivation. Results showed that SDZ had an inhibitory effect on the growth of microalgae, and increasing the initial algal biomass could alleviate the inhibitory effect of SDZ. When the initial algal biomass of Chlorella sp. was increased to 0.25 g L-1, the SDZ removal rate could reach 53.27%-89.07%. The higher the initial algal biomass, the higher the SOD activity of microalgae, and the better the protective effect on microalgae, which was one of the reasons for the increase in SDZ removal efficiency. Meanwhile, SDZ stress causes changes in photosynthetic pigments, lipids, total sugars and protein content of Chlorella sp. in response to environmental changes. The main degradation mechanisms of SDZ by Chlorella sp. were biodegradation (37.82%) and photodegradation (23%). Most of the degradation products of SDZ were less toxic than the parent compound, and the green algae were highly susceptible to SDZ and its degradation products. The findings from this study offered valuable insights into the tradeoffs between accumulating microalgal biomass and antibiotic toxic risks during wastewater treatment, providing essential direction for the advancement in future research and full-scale application.

Recent advancements on antibiotic bioremediation in wastewaters with a focus on algae: an overview

Antibiotic contamination from hospitals, animal husbandry, and municipal wastewater is graver than imagined, and it possess serious risks to the health of humans and animals, with the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria; those affect the growth of higher plants too. Conventional wastewater treatment methods adopted today are inadequate for removing antibiotics from wastewater. Intuitively, the remediation process using mixed algae should be effective enough, for which algae-based remediation technologies have emerged as sustainable remedial methods. This review summarized the detection of antibiotics in field water in most countries; a comprehensive overview of algae-based technologies, algal adsorption, accumulation, biodegradation, photodegradation, hydrolysis, and the use of algae-bacteria consortia for the remediation of antibiotics in wastewaters in done. Green algae namely, Chlamydomonas sp., Chlorella sp., C. vulgaris, Spyrogira sp. Scenedesmus quadricauda, S. obliquus, S. dimorphus, Haematoccus pluvialis, and Nannochlopsis sp., had been reporting have 90-100% antibiotic removal efficiency. The integration of bioelectrochemical systems and genetically engineered prokaryotic algal species offer promising avenues for improving antibiotic removal in the future. Overall, this review highlights the need for tenacious research and development of algae-based technologies to reduce antibiotic contamination in aquatic environments, for holistic good.

General performance, kinetic modification, and key regulating factor recognition of microalgae-based sulfonamide removal

Sulfonamides have been widely detected in water treatment plants. Advanced wastewater treatment for sulfonamide removal based on microalgal cultivation can reduce the ecological risk after discharge, achieve carbon fixation, and simultaneously recover bioresource. However, the general removal performance, key factors and their impacts, degradation kinetics, and potential coupling technologies have not been systematically summarized. To guide the construction and enhance the efficient performance of the purification system, this study summarizes the quantified characteristics of sulfonamide removal based on more than 100 groups of data from the literature. The biodegradation potential of sulfonamides from different subclasses and their toxicity to microalgae were statistically analyzed; therefore, a preferred option for further application was proposed. The mechanisms by which the properties of both sulfonamides and microalgae affect sulfonamide removal were comprehensively summarized. Thereafter, multiple principles for choosing optimal microalgae were proposed from the perspective of engineering applications. Considering the microalgal density and growth status, a modified antibiotic removal kinetic model was proposed with significant physical meaning, thereby resulting in an optimal fit. Based on the mechanism and regulating effect of key factors on sulfonamide removal, sensitive and feasible factors (e.g., water quality regulation, other than initial algal density) and system coupling were screened to guide engineering applications. Finally, we suggested studying the long-term removal performance of antibiotics at environmentally relevant concentrations and toxicity interactions for further research.

Green Approach for Simultaneous Quantitative Analysis of Fluoroquinolones in the Environment using Three-Dimensional Fluorescence Coupled with Second-Order Calibration Method

In this study, a straightforward and quick analytical technique based on the self-weighted alternating trilinear decomposition (SWATLD) algorithm in conjunction with excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence for the simultaneous determination of the antibiotics levofloxacin (LVFX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in environmental waters and sediments was developed. This approach completely utilizes the "second-order advantage" and inherits the great sensitivity of classic fluorescence. It replaces or improves the conventional "physical/chemical separation" with "mathematical separation", enabling direct and quick quantification of the target analytes even in the presence of unknown interferences, greatly streamlining sample preparation procedures, consuming less solvent, and speeding up analysis time, and allows successful and environmentally friendly solution of overlapping fluorescence spectra of multiple components in complicated environmental matrices without cumbersome pretreatment steps and complex and expensive instrumentation. The limits of detection varied between 0.34 and 0.67 ng mL- 1, and the average spiking recoveries of LVFX and CIP in water and sediment ranged from 97.6 to 107.7% with relative standard deviations lower than 6.6%. The developed method shows the reliability of the technology and the ability to quickly detect trace antibiotics in lake water even in the presence of unidentified interferents.

Screening and Selection of Antibiotics for Enhanced Production of Astaxanthin by Haematococcus lacustris

Haematococcus lacustris (Girod-Chantrans) Rostafinski (Chlorophyta) is the richest microalgal source of astaxanthin. Natural astaxanthin from H. lacustris has been widely studied and used for commercial production worldwide. In this study, we examined the effects of 11 antibiotics (dihydrostreptomycin sulphate, neomycin, chloramphenicol, penicillin, streptomycin, ampicillin, kanamycin, gentamycin, hygromycin B, tetracycline, and paromomycin) on the biomass dry weight, growth, and astaxanthin yield of H. lacustris using Jaworski's medium without a nitrogen source. Astaxanthin content in H. lacustris was improved in the presence of ampicillin (0.25 g/L, 0.5 g/L, 1 g/L), chloramphenicol (0.25 g/L), and penicillin (0.25 g/L, 0.5 g/L, 1 g/L) in comparison to the control on day 15. The greatest increase in astaxanthin content on day 15 (6.69-fold) was obtained with the addition of penicillin (0.5 g/L) in comparison to the control. Similarly, on day 15, the cell numbers were also the highest for the H. lacustris culture grown with the addition of penicillin (0.5 g/L).

Sulfadiazine proliferated antibiotic resistance genes in the phycosphere of Chlorella pyrenoidosa: Insights from bacterial communities and microalgal metabolites

The phycosphere is an essential ecological niche for the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, how ARGs' potential hosts change and the driving mechanism of metabolites under antibiotic stress in the phycosphere have seldom been researched. We investigated the response of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and the structure and abundance of free-living (FL) and particle-attached (PA) bacteria, ARGs, and metabolites under sulfadiazine by using real-time quantitative PCR, 16 S rRNA high-throughput. The linkage of key bacterial communities, ARGs, and metabolites through correlations was established. Through analysis of physiological indicators, Chlorella pyrenoidosa displayed a pattern of "low-dose promotion and high-dose inhibition" under antibiotic stress. ARGs were enriched in the PA treatment groups by 117 %. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria as potential hosts for ARGs. At the genus level, potential hosts included Sphingopyxis, SM1A02, Aquimonas, Vitellibacter, and Proteiniphilum. Middle and high antibiotic concentrations induced the secretion of metabolites closely related to potential hosts by algae, such as phytosphingosine, Lysophosphatidylcholine, and α-Linolenic acid. Therefore, changes in bacterial communities indirectly influenced the distribution of ARGs through alterations in metabolic products. These findings offer essential details about the mechanisms behind the spread and proliferation of ARGs in the phycosphere.

Tricks and tracks of prevalence, occurrences, treatment technologies, and challenges of mixtures of emerging contaminants in the environment: With special emphasis on microplastic

This paper aims to emphasize the occurrence of various emerging contaminant (EC) mixtures in natural ecosystems and highlights the primary concern arising from the unregulated release into soil and water, along with their impacts on human health. Emerging contaminant mixtures, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, antibiotics, biocides, surfactants, phthalates, enteric viruses, and microplastics (MPs), are considered toxic contaminants with grave implications. MPs play a crucial role in transporting pollutants to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as they interact with the various components of the soil and water environments. This review summarizes that major emerging contaminants (ECs), like trimethoprim, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and 17α-Ethinylestradiol, pose serious threats to public health and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. In addressing human health concerns and remediation techniques, this review critically evaluates conventional methods for removing ECs from complex matrices. The diverse physiochemical properties of surrounding environments facilitate the partitioning of ECs into sediments and other organic phases, resulting in carcinogenic, teratogenic, and estrogenic effects through active catalytic interactions and mechanisms mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptors. The proactive toxicity of ECs mixture complexation and, in part, the yet-to-be-identified environmental mixtures of ECs represent a blind spot in current literature, necessitating conceptual frameworks for assessing the toxicity and risks with individual components and mixtures. Lastly, this review concludes with an in-depth exploration of future scopes, knowledge gaps, and challenges, emphasizing the need for a concerted effort in managing ECs and other organic pollutants.

Mechanisms of hormetic effects of ofloxacin on Chlorella pyrenoidosa under environmental-relevant concentration and long-term exposure

Antibiotics are frequently detected in surface water and pose potential threats to organisms in aquatic ecosystem such as microalgae. The occurrence of biphasic dose responses raised the possibility of stimulation of microalgal biomass by antibiotics at environmental-relevant concentration and caused potential ecological risk such as algal bloom. However, the underlying mechanisms of low concentration-induced hormetic effects are not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the hormesis of ofloxacin on Chlorella pyrenoidosa under environmental-relevant concentration and long-term exposure. Results showed the hormetic effects of ofloxacin on cell density and carbon fixation rate (RC). The predicted maximum promotion was 17.45 % by 16.84 μg/L and 20.08 % by 15.78 μg/L at 21 d, respectively. The predicted maximum concentration of non-effect on cell density and RC at 21 d was 3.24 mg/L and 1.44 mg/L, respectively. Ofloxacin induced the mobilization of pigments and antioxidant enzymes to deal with oxidative stress. PCA analysis revealed Chl-a/Chl-b could act as a more sensitive biomarker under acute exposure while chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were in favor of monitoring long-term implication. The hormesis in increased secretion of extracellular organic matters was regarded as a defensive mechanism and accelerated indirect photodegradation of ofloxacin. Bioremoval was dominant and related to biomass accumulation in the total dissipation while abiotic removal appeared slight contributions. This study provided new insights into the understanding of hormesis of microalgae induced by antibiotics.

Bioadsorption, bioaccumulation and biodegradation of antibiotics by algae and their association with algal physiological state and antibiotic physicochemical properties

Bioadsorption, bioaccumulation and biodegradation processes in algae, play an important role in the biomagnification of antibiotics, or other organic pollutants, in aquatic food chains. In this study, the bioadsorption, bioaccumulation and biodegradation of norfloxacin [NFX], sulfamethazine [SMZ] and roxithromycin [RTM]) is investigated using a series of culture experiments. Chlorella vulgaris was exposed to these antibiotics with incubation periods of 24, 72, 120 and 168 h. Results show the bioadsorption concentration of antibiotics in extracellular matter increases with increasing alkaline phosphatase activity (AKP/ALP). The bioaccumulation concentrations of NFX, SMZ and RTM within cells significantly increase after early exposure, and subsequently decrease. There is a significant positive antibiotics correlation to superoxide dismutase (SOD), the photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) and maximum fluorescence after dark adaptation (Fv/Fm), while showing a negative correlation to malondialdehyde (MDA). The biodegradation percentages (Pb) of NFX, SMZ and RTM range from 39.3 - 97.2, 41.3 - 90.5, and 9.3 - 99.9, respectively, and significantly increase with increasing Fv/Fm, density and chlorophyll-a. The accumulation of antibiotics in extracellular and intracellular substances of C. vulgaris is affected by antibiotic biodegradation processes associated with cell physiological state. The results succinctly explain relationships between algal growth during antibiotics exposure and the bioadsorption and bioaccumulation of these antibiotics in cell walls and cell matter. The findings draw an insightful understanding of the accumulation of antibiotics in algae and provide a scientific basis for the better utilization of algae treatment technology in antibiotic contaminated wastewaters. Under low dose exposures, the biomagnification of antibiotics in algae is affected by bioadsorption, bioaccumulation and biodegradation.

Is Cladophora fracta an efficient tool of accumulating critical raw materials from wastewater and there a potential health risk of use of algae as organic fertilizer?

 In this study investigation of accumulations of critical raw materials (cobalt (Co), antimony (Sb), vanadium (V), lanthanum (La) and tungsten (W)) from wastewater by using C. fracta were aimed. Besides, assessment of the potential health risks in terms of the use of organic fertilizer obtained from the macroalga to be harvested from the treatment were also aimed. Highest Co, Sb, V, La and W accumulations by algae in reactor were 125±6.2%, 201.25±10%, 318.18±15%, 357.97±18%, and 500±25%, respectively. When compared with control, Co, Sb, V, La and W in algae increased 2.25, 3.01, 4.18, 4.58, and 6 times, respectively. The algae was very high bioaccumulative for Co and La. Highest MPI was calculated as 3.94. Non-carcinogenic risk of CRMs according to different exposure types (ingestion, inhalation, and dermal) were calculated for man, woman and child. There is not any non-carcinogenic risk from the investigated exposure ways of algae as organic fertilizer.

Disentangling direct vs indirect effects of microbiome manipulations in a habitat-forming marine holobiont

Host-associated microbiota are critical for eukaryotic host functioning, to the extent that hosts and their associated microbial communities are often considered "holobionts". Most studies of holobionts have focused on descriptive approaches or have used model systems, usually in the laboratory, to understand host-microbiome interactions. To advance our understanding of host-microbiota interactions and their wider ecological impacts, we need experimental frameworks that can explore causation in non-model hosts, which often have highly diverse microbiota, and in their natural ecological setting (i.e. in the field). We used a dominant habitat-forming seaweed, Hormosira banksii, to explore these issues and to experimentally test host-microbiota interactions in a non-model holobiont. The experimental protocols were aimed at trying to disentangle microbially mediated effects on hosts from direct effects on hosts associated with the methods employed to manipulate host-microbiota. This was done by disrupting the microbiome, either through removal/disruption using a combination of antimicrobial treatments, or additions of specific taxa via inoculations, or a combination of thew two. The experiments were done in mesocosms and in the field. Three different antibiotic treatments were used to disrupt seaweed-associated microbiota to test whether disturbances of microbiota, particularly bacteria, would negatively affect host performance. Responses of bacteria to these disturbances were complex and differed substantially among treatments, with some antibacterial treatments having little discernible effect. However, the temporal sequence of responses antibiotic treatments, changes in bacterial diversity and subsequent decreases in host performance, strongly suggested an effect of the microbiota on host performance in some treatments, as opposed to direct effects of the antibiotics. To further test these effects, we used 16S-rRNA-gene sequencing to identify bacterial taxa that were either correlated, or uncorrelated, with poor host performance following antibiotic treatment. These were then isolated and used in inoculation experiments, independently or in combination with the previously used antibiotic treatments. Negative effects on host performance were strongest where specific microbial antimicrobials treatments were combined with inoculations of strains that were correlated with poor host performance. For these treatments, negative host effects persisted the entire experimental period (12 days), even though treatments were only applied at the beginning of the experiment. Host performance recovered in all other treatments. These experiments provide a framework for exploring causation and disentangling microbially mediated vs. direct effects on hosts for ecologically important, non-model holobionts in the field. This should allow for better predictions of how these systems will respond to, and potentially mitigate, environmental disturbances in their natural context.

Efficacy of new generation biosorbents for the sustainable treatment of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes from polluted waste effluent

Antimicrobials are frequently used in both humans and animals for the treatment of bacterially-generated illnesses. Antibiotic usage has increased for more than 40% from last 15 years globally per day in both human populations and farm animals leading to the large-scale discharge of antibiotic residues into wastewater. Most antibiotics end up in sewer systems, either directly from industry or healthcare systems, or indirectly from humans and animals after being partially metabolized or broken down following consumption. To prevent additional antibiotic compound pollution, which eventually impacts on the spread of antibiotic resistance, it is crucial to remove antibiotic residues from wastewater. Antibiotic accumulation and antibiotic resistance genes cannot be effectively and efficiently eliminated by conventional sewage treatment plants. Because of their high energy requirements and operating costs, many of the available technologies are not feasible. However, the biosorption method, which uses low-cost biomass as the biosorbent, is an alternative technique to potentially address these problems. An extensive literature survey focusing on developments in the field was conducted using English language electronic databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Pubag, Google books, and ResearchGate, to understand the relative value of the available antibiotic removal methods. The predominant techniques for eliminating antibiotic residues from wastewater were categorized and defined by example. The approaches were contrasted, and the benefits and drawbacks were highlighted. Additionally, we included a few antibiotics whose removal from aquatic environments has been the subject of extensive research. Lastly, a few representative publications were identified that provide specific information on the removal rates attained by each technique. This review provides evidence that biosorption of antibiotic residues from biological waste using natural biosorbent materials is an affordable and effective technique for eliminating antibiotic residues from wastewater.

Insights into the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) are prevalent in aquatic environments. Discharge from wastewater treatment plants is an important point source of ARG release into the environment. It has been reported that biological treatment processes may enhance rather than remove ARG because of their presence in sludge. Attenuation of ARG in biotechnological processes has been studied in depth, showing that many microorganisms can secrete complex extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). These EPS can serve as multifunctional elements of microbial communities, involving aspects, such as protection, structure, recognition, adhesion, and physiology. These aspects can influence the interaction between microbial cells and extracellular ARG, as well as the uptake of extracellular ARG by microbial cells, thus changing the transformative capability of extracellular ARG. However, it remains unclear whether EPS can affect horizontal ARG transfer, which is one of the main processes of ARG dissemination. In light of this knowledge gap, this review provides insight into the role of EPS in the transmission of ARGs; furthermore, the mechanism of ARG spread is analyzed, and the molecular compositions and functional properties of EPS are summarized; also, how EPS influence ARG mitigation is addressed, and factors impacting how EPS facilitate ARG during wastewater treatment are summarized. This review provides comprehensive insights into the role of EPS in controlling the transport and fate of ARG during biodegradation processes at the mechanistic level.

Industrial waste-based adsorbents as a new trend for removal of water-borne emerging contaminants

Emerging contaminants in wastewater are one of the growing concerns because of their adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. Adsorption technology offers superior performance due to its cost-effectiveness, stability, recyclability, and reliability in maintaining environmental and health standards for toxic pollutants. Despite extensive research on the use of traditional adsorbents to remove emerging contaminants, their expensiveness, lack of selectivity, and complexity of regeneration remain some of the challenges. Industrial wastes viz. blast furnace slag, red mud, and copper slag can be used to develop efficacious adsorbents for the treatment of emerging contaminants in water. Advantages of the use of such industrial wastes include resource utilization, availability, cost-effectiveness, and waste management. Nevertheless, little is known so far about their application, removal efficacy, adsorption mechanisms, and limitations in the treatment of emerging contaminants. A holistic understanding of the application of such unique industrial waste-derived adsorbents in removing emerging contaminants from water is need of the hour to transform this technology from bench-scale to pilot and large-scale applications. This review investigates different water treatment techniques associated with industrial waste-based adsorbents derived from blast furnace slag, red mud, and copper slag. Besides, this review provides important insights into the growing trends of utilizing such novel types of adsorbents to remove emerging contaminants from water with an emphasis on removal efficacy, controlling measures, adsorption mechanisms, advantages, and limitations. The present timely review brings the current state of knowledge into a single reference which could be a strong platform for future research in understanding the latest advancements, decision making, and financial management related to the treatment of wastewater using industrial waste-based adsorbents.

Cost-Efficient Micro-Well Array-Based Colorimetric Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (MacAST) for Bacteria from Culture or Community

Rapid and cost-efficient antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) is key to timely prescription-oriented diagnosis and precision treatment. However, current AST methods have limitations in throughput or cost effectiveness, and are impractical for microbial communities. Here, we developed a high-throughput micro-well array-based colorimetric AST (macAST) system equipped with a self-developed smartphone application that could efficiently test sixteen combinations of bacteria strains and antibiotics, achieving comparable AST results based on resazurin metabolism assay. For community samples, we integrated immunomagnetic separation into the macAST (imacAST) system to specifically enrich the target cells before testing, which shortened bacterial isolation time from days to only 45 min and achieved AST of the target bacteria with a low concentration (~103 CFU/mL). This proof-of-concept study developed a high-throughput AST system with an at least ten-fold reduction in cost compared with a system equipped with a microscope or Raman spectrum. Based on colorimetric readout, the antimicrobial susceptibility of the bacteria from microbial communities can be delivered within 6 h, compared to days being required based on standard procedures, bypassing the need for precise instrumentation in therapy to combat bacterial antibiotic resistance in resource-limited settings.

The magic of algae-based biochar: advantages, preparation, and applications

Compared with other biomass sources, the use of algae as a raw material to prepare biochar (BC) has important advantages including safety, high yield and economy. The protein content of algae cells is as high as 3.2 mg DCW/L, and the graphitic-N and N-O functional groups generated by the pyrolysis of proteins could effectively activate free radicals. Combined with the generated pore structure, the electron transfer/exchange capability was enhanced, which is conducive to improving its catalytic performance. Algae as a natural N source, the manuscript analyzed the surface properties and physicochemical properties of algae-based BC, and investigated its degradation effect on organic/inorganic pollutants in wastewater. Subsequently, the effect of nitrogen-doped BC on the adsorption/catalysis capacity was discussed. Finally, the directed preparation of algae-based BC applied in different scenarios was summarized. Algae-based BC has the property of N doping, which broadens its application efficiency in the environmental field. Overall, this manuscript reviews how to achieve efficient utilization of algae-based BC in wastewater.

Metabonomics analysis of microalga Scenedesmus obliquus under ciprofloxacin stress

The wide use of antibiotics in aquaculture has triggered global ecological security issue. Microalgal bioremediation is a promising strategy for antibiotics elimination due to carbon recovery, detoxification and various ecological advantages. However, a lack of understanding with respect to the corresponding regulation mechanism towards antibiotic stress may limit its practical applicability. The microalga Scenedesmus obliquus was shown to be capable of effectively eliminating ciprofloxacin (CIP), which is a common antibiotic used in aquaculture. However, the corresponding transcriptional alterations require further investigation and verification at the metabolomic level. Thus, this study uncovered the metabolomic profiles and detailed toxic and defense mechanisms towards CIP in S. obliquus using untargeted metabolomics. The enhanced oligosaccharide/polyol/lipid transport, up-regulation of carbohydrate and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways and increased energy production via EMP metabolism were observed as defense mechanisms of microalgal cells to xenobiotic CIP. The toxic metabolic responses included: (1) down-regulation of parts of mineral and organic transporters; (2) electrons competition between antibiotic and NAD during intracellular CIP degradation; and (3) suppressed expression of the hem gene in chlorophyll biosynthesis. This study describes the metabolic profile of microalgae during CIP elimination and reveals the key pathways from the perspective of metabolism, thereby providing information on the precise regulation of antibiotic bioremediation via microalgae.

Amoxicillin degradation and high-value extracellular polymer recovery by algal-bacterial symbiosis systems

Algal-bacterial symbiosis systems have emerged as sustainable methods for the treatment of new pollutants and the recovery of resources. However, the bio-refinery of biomass derived from microalgae is inefficient and expensive. In order to simultaneously degrade antibiotic and recover resources efficiently, two algal-bacterial symbiosis systems were constructed using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (alginate overproduction) and Bacillus subtilis (poly-γ-glutamic acid overproduction) with amoxicillin-degrading-microalga Prototheca zopfii W1. The optimal conditions for W1 to degrade amoxicillin are 35 °C, pH 7, and 180 rpm. In the presence of 5-50 mg/L of amoxicillin, W1-P. aeruginosa and W1-B. subtilis exhibit higher amoxicillin degradation and produce more extracellular polymers than W1 or bacteria alone. The metabolomic analysis demonstrates that the algal-bacterial symbiosis enhances the tolerance of W1 to amoxicillin by altering carbohydrate metabolism and promotes the production of biopolymers by upregulating the precursors synthesis. Moreover, the removal of amoxicillin (10 mg/L) from livestock effluent by W1-P. aeruginosa and W1-B. subtilis is greater than 90 % in 3 days, and the maximum yields of alginate and poly-γ-glutamate are 446.1 and 254.3 mg/g dry cell weight, respectively. These outcomes provide theoretical support for the application of algal-bacterial symbiosis systems to treatment of amoxicillin wastewater and efficient production of biopolymers.

Comparative characterisation and phytotoxicity assessment of biochar and hydrochar derived from municipal wastewater microalgae biomass

Microalgae, originating from a tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater, is considered a sustainable feedstock for producing biochar and hydrochar, offering great potential for agricultural use due to nutrient content and carbon storage ability. However, there are risks related to contamination and these need to be carefully assessed to ensure safe use of material from wastewater microalgae. Therefore, this study compared the properties and phototoxicity of biochar and hydrochar produced via pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) of microalgae under different temperatures and residence times. While biochar promoted germination and seedling growth by up to 11.0% and 70.0%, respectively, raw hydrochar showed strong phytotoxicity, due to the high content of volatile matter. Two post-treatments, dichloromethane (DCM) washing and further pyrolysis, proved to be effective methods for mitigating phytotoxicity of hydrochar. Additionally, biochar had 35.8-38.6% fixed carbon, resulting in higher carbon sequestration potential compared to hydrochar.

Shotgun Metagenomic Analyses of Microbial Assemblages in the Aquatic Ecosystem of Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya Reveals Multiclass Pollution

Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, provides an important source of food and income, particularly fish for both domestic consumption and for export market. In recent years, Lake Victoria has suffered massive pollution from both industrial and wastewater discharge. Microplastic biomes, pharmaceutical residues, drugs of abuse, heavy metals, agrochemicals, and personal care products are ubiquitous in the aquatic ecosystem of Winam Gulf. These pollutants are known to alter microbial assemblages in aquatic ecosystems with far-reaching ramification including a calamitous consequence to human health. Indeed, some of these pollutants have been associated with human cancers and antimicrobial resistance. There is a paucity of data on the microbial profiles of this important but heavily polluted aquatic ecosystem. The current study sought to investigate the metagenomic profiles of microbial assemblages in the Winam Gulf ecosystem. Water and sediment samples were collected from several locations within the study sites. Total genomic DNA pooled from all sampling sites was extracted and analyzed by whole-genome shotgun sequencing. Analyses revealed three major kingdoms: bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes belonging to 3 phyla, 13 classes, 14 families, 9 orders, 14 genera, and 10 species. Proteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Comamonadaceae, Burkholdariales, and Arcobacter were the dominated phyla, class, family, order, genera, and species, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes indicated the highest number of genes involved in metabolism. The presence of carbohydrate metabolism genes and enzymes was used to infer organic pollutions from sewage and agricultural runoffs. Similarly, the presence of xylene and nutrotoluene degradation genes and enzyme was used to infer industrial pollution into the lake. Drug metabolism genes lend credence to the possibility of pharmaceutical pollutants in water. Taken together, there is a clear indication of massive pollution. In addition, carbohydrate-active enzymes were the most abundant and included genes in glycoside hydrolases. Shotgun metagenomic analyses conveyed an understanding of the microbial communities of the massively polluted aquatic ecosystem of Winam Gulf, Lake Vicoria, Kenya. The current study documents the presence of multiclass pollutants in Lake Victoria and reveals information that might be useful for a potential bioremediation strategy using the native microbial communities.

Exploring resistomes and microbiomes in pilot-scale microalgae-bacteria wastewater treatment systems for use in low-resource settings

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) released into the environment are an emerging human and environmental health concern, including ARGs spread in wastewater treatment effluents. In low-to-middle income countries (LMICs), an alternate wastewater treatment option instead of conventional systems are low-energy, high-rate algal ponds (HRAP) that use microalgae-bacteria aggregates (MABA) for waste degradation. Here we studied the robustness of ARG removal in MABA-based pilot-scale outdoor systems for 140 days of continuous operation. The HRAP system successfully removed 73 to 88 % chemical oxygen demand and up to 97.4 % ammonia, with aggregate size increasing over operating time. Fourteen ARG classes were identified in the HRAP influent, MABA, and effluent using metagenomics, with the HRAP process reducing total ARG abundances by up to 5-fold from influent to effluent. Parallel qPCR analyses showed the HRAP system significantly reduced exemplar ARGs (p < 0.05), with 1.2 to 4.9, 2.7 to 6.3, 0 to 1.5, and 1.2 to 4.8 log-removals for sul1, tetQ, blaKPC, and intl1 genes, respectively. Sequencing of influent, effluent and MABAs samples showed associated microbial communities differed significantly, with influent communities by Enterobacteriales (clinically relevant ARGs carrying bacteria), which were less evident in MABA and effluent. In this sense, such bacteria might be excluded from MABA due to their good settling properties and the presence of antimicrobial peptides. Microalgae-bacteria treatment systems steadily reduced ARGs from wastewater during operation time, using sunlight as the energetic driver, making them ideal for use in LMIC wastewater treatment applications.

Removal of Antibiotics Using an Algae-Algae Consortium (Chlorella protothecoides and Chlorella vulgaris)

The intensive use of antibiotics (for human, veterinary, and agricultural purposes) has steadily increased over the last 30 years. Large amounts of antibiotic residues are released into aquatic systems, mostly due to inefficient wastewater treatment. Conventional wastewater treatments are not designed to remove emerging contaminants (such as antibiotics) from wastewater. Therefore, algae treatment (phycoremediation) has emerged as a promising choice for cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable wastewater treatment. For this reason, we investigated the removal performance of a well-established algal consortia (Chlorella protothecoides and Chlorella vulgaris) used in passive wastewater treatment ponds (Mosselbay, South Africa). Five antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, trimethoprim, ofloxacin, and clarithromycin) were selected for their ubiquity and/or low removal efficiency in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). For each antibiotic, two concentrations were used: one environmentally relevant (10 ppb) and another 10 times higher (100 ppb), tested in triplicate and collected at two-time points (7 and 10 days). The algae remained viable over the exposure period (which is similar to the retention time within maturation ponds) and exhibited the capacity to remove sulfamethoxazole (77.3% ± 3.0 and 46.5% ± 5.3) and ofloxacin (43.5% ± 18.9 and 55.1% ± 12.0) from samples spiked with 10 and 100 ppb, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential and innovation of algal remediation for contaminants in a developing country context, where minimal infrastructure is available.

Microalgae systems - environmental agents for wastewater treatment and further potential biomass valorisation

Water is the most valuable resource on the planet. However, massive anthropogenic activities generate threatening levels of biological, organic, and inorganic pollutants that are not efficiently removed in conventional wastewater treatment systems. High levels of conventional pollutants (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus), emerging chemical contaminants such as antibiotics, and pathogens (namely antibiotic-resistant ones and related genes) jeopardize ecosystems and human health. Conventional wastewater treatment systems entail several environmental issues: (i) high energy consumption; (ii) high CO₂ emissions; and (iii) the use of chemicals or the generation of harmful by-products. Hence, the use of microalgal systems (entailing one or several microalgae species, and in consortium with bacteria) as environmental agents towards wastewater treatment has been seen as an environmentally friendly solution to remove conventional pollutants, antibiotics, coliforms and antibiotic resistance genes. In recent years, several authors have evaluated the use of microalgal systems for the treatment of different types of wastewater, such as agricultural, municipal, and industrial. Generally, microalgal systems can provide high removal efficiencies of: (i) conventional pollutants, up to 99%, 99%, and 90% of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and/or organic carbon, respectively, through uptake mechanisms, and (ii) antibiotics frequently found in wastewaters, such as sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim and azithromycin at 86%, 65%, 42% and 93%, respectively, through the most desirable microalgal mechanism, biodegradation. Although pathogens removal by microalgal species is complex and very strain-specific, it is also possible to attain total coliform and Escherichia coli removal of 99.4% and 98.6%, respectively. However, microalgal systems' effectiveness strongly relies on biotic and abiotic conditions, thus the selection of operational conditions is critical. While the combination of selected species (microalgae and bacteria), ratios and inoculum concentration allow the efficient removal of conventional pollutants and generation of high amounts of biomass (that can be further converted into valuable products such as biofuels and biofertilisers), abiotic factors such as pH, hydraulic retention time, light intensity and CO₂/O₂ supply also have a crucial role in conventional pollutants and antibiotics removal, and wastewater disinfection. However, some rationale must be considered according to the purpose. While alkaline pH induces the hydrolysis of some antibiotics and the removal of faecal coliforms, it also decreases phosphates solubility and induces the formation of ammonium from ammonia. Also, while CO₂ supply increases the removal of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as the microalgal growth (and thus the conventional pollutants uptake), it decreases Enterococcus faecalis removal. Therefore, this review aims to provide a critical review of recent studies towards the application of microalgal systems for the efficient removal of conventional pollutants, antibiotics, and pathogens; discussing the feasibility, highlighting the advantages and challenges of the implementation of such process, and presenting current case-studies of different applications of microalgal systems.

Elucidating microalgae-mediated metabolism for sulfadiazine removal mechanism and transformation pathways

Sulfadiazine (SDZ) as a typical sulfonamide antibiotic is commonly detected in wastewater, and its removal mechanism and transformation pathways in microalgae-mediated system remain unclear. In this study, the SDZ removal through hydrolysis, photodegradation, and biodegradation by Chlorella pyrenoidosa was investigated. Higher superoxide dismutase activity and biochemical components accumulation were obtained under SDZ stress. The SDZ removal efficiencies at different initial concentrations were 65.9-67.6%, and the removal rate followed pseudo first-order kinetic model. Batch tests and HPLC-MS/MS analyses suggested that biodegradation and photodegradation through the reactions of amine group oxidation, ring opening, hydroxylation, and the cleavage of S-N, C-N, C-S bond were dominant removal mechanisms and pathways. Characteristics of transformation products were evaluated to analyze their environmental impacts. High-value products of lipid, carbohydrate, and protein in microalgae biomass presented economic potential of microalgae-mediated metabolism for SDZ removal. The findings of this study broadened the knowledge for the microalgae self-protection from SDZ stress and provided a deep insight into SDZ removal mechanism and transformation pathways.

Degradation of antibiotic amoxicillin from pharmaceutical industry wastewater into a continuous flow reactor using supercritical water gasification

In recent years the concern with emerging pollutants in water has become more prominent, especially pharmaceutical residues, such as antibiotics due to the influence to increase antibacterial resistance. Further, conventional wastewater treatment methods have not demonstrated efficiency for the complete degradation of these compounds, or they have limitations to treat a large volume of waste. In this sense, this study aims to investigate the degradation of amoxicillin, one of the most prescribed antibiotics, in wastewater via supercritical water gasification (SCWG) using a continuous flow reactor. For this purpose, the process operating conditions of temperature, feed flow rate, and concentration of H₂O₂ was evaluated using Experimental Design and Response Surface Methodology techniques and optimized by Differential Evolution methodology. Total organic carbon (TOC) removal, chemical oxygen demand (COD) degradability, reaction time, amoxicillin degradation rate, toxicity of degradation by-products, and gaseous products were evaluated. The use of SCWG for treatment achieved 78.4% of the TOC removal for the industrial wastewater. In the gaseous products, hydrogen was the majority component. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatography analyses demonstrated that the antibiotic amoxicillin was degraded. For a mass flow rate of 15 mg/min of amoxicillin fed into the reaction system, 14.4 mg/min was degraded. Toxicity tests with microcrustacean Artemia salina showed slight toxicity to treated wastewater. Despite that, the outcomes reveal the SCWG has great potential to degrade amoxicillin and may be applied to treat several pharmaceutical pollutants. Aside from this, carbon-rich effluents may lead to a significant energy gaseous product, especially, hydrogen and syngas.

Recent innovations and challenges in the eradication of emerging contaminants from aquatic systems

Presence of emerging pollutants (EPs), aka Micropollutants (MPs) in the freshwater environments is a severe threat to the environment and human beings. They include pharmaceuticals, insecticides, industrial chemicals, natural hormones, and personal care items and the pollutants are mostly present in wastewater generated from urbanization and increased industrial growth. Even concentrations as low as ngL^-1 or mgL^-1 have proven ecologically lethal to aquatic biota. For several years, the biodegradation of various Micropollutants (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has been a significant area of research worldwide, with many chemical compounds being discovered in various water bodies. As aquatic biota spends most of their formative phases in polluted water, the impacts on aquatic biota are obvious, indicating that the environmental danger is substantial. In contrast, the impact of these contaminants on aquatic creatures and freshwater consumption is more subtle and manifests directly when disrupting the endocrine system. Research and development activities are expected to enable the development of ecologically sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient treatments for practical systems in the near future. Therefore, this review aims to understand recent emerging pollutants discovered and the available treatment technologies and suggest an innovative and cost-effective method to treat these EPs, which is sustainable and follows the circular bioeconomy.

The interplay between microalgae and toxic metal(loid)s: mechanisms and implications in AMD phycoremediation coupled with Fe/Mn mineralization

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is low-pH with high concentration of sulfates and toxic metal(loid)s (e.g. As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn), thereby posing a global environmental problem. For decades, microalgae have been used to remediate metal(loid)s in AMD, as they have various adaptive mechanisms for tolerating extreme environmental stress. Their main phycoremediation mechanisms are biosorption, bioaccumulation, coupling with sulfate-reducing bacteria, alkalization, biotransformation, and Fe/Mn mineral formation. This review summarizes how microalgae cope with metal(loid) stress and their specific mechanisms of phycoremediation in AMD. Based on the universal physiological characteristics of microalgae and the properties of their secretions, several Fe/Mn mineralization mechanisms induced by photosynthesis, free radicals, microalgal-bacterial reciprocity, and algal organic matter are proposed. Notably, microalgae can also reduce Fe(III) and inhibit mineralization, which is environmentally unfavorable. Therefore, the comprehensive environmental effects of microalgal co-occurring and cyclical opposing processes must be carefully considered. Using chemical and biological perspectives, this review innovatively proposes several specific processes and mechanisms of Fe/Mn mineralization that are mediated by microalgae, providing a theoretical basis for the geochemistry of metal(loid)s and natural attenuation of pollutants in AMD.

Immobilized microalgal system: An achievable idea for upgrading current microalgal wastewater treatment

Efficient wastewater treatment accompanied by sustainable "nutrients/pollutants waste-wastewater-resources/energy nexus" management is acting as a prominent and urgent global issue since severe pollution has occurred increasingly. Diverting wastes from wastewater into the value-added microalgal-biomass stream is a promising goal using biological wastewater treatment technologies. This review proposed an idea of upgrading the current microalgal wastewater treatment by using immobilized microalgal system. Firstly, a systematic analysis of microalgal immobilization technology is displayed through an in-depth discussion on why using immobilized microalgae for wastewater treatment. Subsequently, the main technical approaches employed for microalgal immobilization and pollutant removal mechanisms by immobilized microalgae are summarized. Furthermore, from high-tech technologies to promote large-scale production and application potentials in diverse wastewater and bioreactors to downstream applications lead upgradation closer, the feasibility of upgrading existing microalgal wastewater treatment into immobilized microalgal systems is thoroughly discussed. Eventually, several research directions are proposed toward the future immobilized microalgal system for microalgal wastewater treatment upgrading. Together, it appears that using immobilization for further upgrading the microalgae-based wastewater treatment can be recognized as an achievable alternative to make microalgal wastewater treatment more realistic. The information and perspectives provided in this review also offer a feasible reference for upgrading conventional microalgae-based wastewater treatment.

Photocatalytic synergistic biofilms enhance tetracycline degradation and conversion

Tetracyclines are refractory pollutants that cause persistent harm to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop methods to promote the efficient degradation and conversion of tetracyclines in wastewater. This report proposes a photobiocatalytic synergistic system involving the coupling of GeO₂/Zn-doped phosphotungstic acid hydrate/TiO₂ (GeO₂/Zn-HPW/TiO₂)-loaded photocatalytic optical hollow fibers (POHFs) and an algal-bacterial biofilm. The GeO₂/Zn-HPW/TiO₂ photocatalyst exhibits a broad absorption edge extending to 1000 nm, as well as high-efficiency photoelectric conversion and electron transfer, which allow the GeO₂/Zn-HPW/TiO₂-coated POHFs to provide high light intensity to promote biofilm growth. The resulting high photocatalytic activity rapidly and stably reduces the toxicity and increases the biodegradability of tetracycline-containing wastewater. The biofilm enriched with Salinarimonas, Coelastrella sp., and Rhizobium, maintains its activity for the rapid photocatalytic degradation and biotransformation of intermediates to generate the O₂ required for photocatalysis. Overall, the synergistic photocatalytic biofilm system developed herein provides an effective and efficient approach for the rapid degradation and conversion of water containing high concentrations of tetracycline.

Recent advances in the biological treatment of wastewater rich in emerging pollutants produced by pharmaceutical industrial discharges

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products present potential risks to human health and the environment. In particular, wastewater treatment plants often detect emerging pollutants that disrupt biological treatment. The activated sludge process is a traditional biological method with a lower capital cost and limited operating requirements than more advanced treatment methods. In addition, the membrane bioreactor combines a membrane module and a bioreactor, widely used as an advanced method for treating pharmaceutical wastewater with good pollution performance. Indeed, the fouling of the membrane remains a major problem in this process. In addition, anaerobic membrane bioreactors can treat complex pharmaceutical waste while recovering energy and producing nutrient-rich wastewater for irrigation. Wastewater characterizations have shown that wastewater's high organic matter content facilitates the selection of low-cost, low-nutrient, low-surface-area, and effective anaerobic methods for drug degradation and reduces pollution. However, to improve the biological treatment, researchers have turned to hybrid processes in which all physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods are integrated to remove various emerging contaminants effectively. Hybrid systems can generate bioenergy, which helps reduce the operating costs of the pharmaceutical waste treatment system. To find the most effective treatment technique for our research, this work lists the different biological treatment techniques cited in the literature, such as activated sludge, membrane bioreactor, anaerobic treatment, and hybrid treatment, combining physicochemical and biological techniques.

Study on the removal characteristics and degradation pathways of highly toxic and refractory organic pollutants in real pharmaceutical factory wastewater treated by a pilot-scale integrated process

Introduction

Pharmaceutical wastewater frequently contains high levels of toxic pollutants. If they are discharged untreated, they pose a threat to the environment. The traditional activated sludge process and the advanced oxidation process do not sufficiently remove toxic and conventional pollutants from pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants (PWWTPs).

Methods

We designed a pilot-scale reaction system to reduce toxic organic pollutants and conventional pollutants from pharmaceutical wastewater during the biochemical reaction stage. This system included a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), an expanded sludge bed reactor (EGSB), and a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). We used this system to further investigate the benzothiazole degradation pathway.

Results and discussion

The system effectively degraded the toxic pollutants (benzothiazole, pyridine, indole, and quinoline) and the conventional chemicals (COD, NH4+-N, TN). During the stable operation of the pilot-scale plant, the total removal rates of benzothiazole, indole, pyridine, and quinoline were 97.66, 94.13, 79.69, and 81.34%, respectively. The CSTR and MECs contributed the most to the removal of toxic pollutants, while the EGSB and MBBR contributed less to the removal of the four toxic pollutants. Benzothiazoles can be degraded via two pathways: the benzene ring-opening reaction and the heterocyclic ring-opening reaction. The heterocyclic ring-opening reaction was more important in degrading the benzothiazoles in this study.

Conclusion

This study provides feasible design alternatives for PWWTPs to remove both toxic and conventional pollutants at the same time.

Screening and validating of endogenous reference genes in Chlorella sp. TLD 6B under abiotic stress

Chlorella sp. TLD 6B, a microalgae growing in the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang of China, is a good model material for studying the physiological and environmental adaptation mechanisms of plants in their arid habitats, as its adaptation to the harsh desert environment has led to its strong resistance. However, when using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to analyze the gene expression of this algae under abiotic stress, it is essential to find the suitable endogenous reference genes so to obtain reliable results. This study assessed the expression stability of 9 endogenous reference genes of Chlorella sp. TLD 6B under four abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold and heat). These genes were selected based on the analysis results calculated by the three algorithmic procedures of geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper, which were ranked by refinder. Our research showed that 18S and GTP under drought stress, 18S and IDH under salt stress, CYP and 18S under cold stress, GTP and IDH under heat stress were the most stable endogenous reference genes. Moreover, UBC and 18S were the most suitable endogenous reference gene combinations for all samples. In contrast, GAPDH and α-TUB were the two least stable endogenous reference genes in all experimental samples. Additionally, the selected genes have been verified to be durable and reliable by detecting POD and PXG3 genes using above endogenous reference genes. The identification of reliable endogenous reference genes guarantees more accurate RT-qPCR quantification for Chlorella sp. TLD 6B, facilitating functional genomics studies of deserts Chlorella as well as the mining of resistance genes.

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment: Mechanisms, challenges, recent advances, and future prospects

The rapid expansion of both the global economy and the human population has led to a shortage of water resources suitable for direct human consumption. As a result, water remediation will inexorably become the primary focus on a global scale. Microalgae can be grown in various types of wastewaters (WW). They have a high potential to remove contaminants from the effluents of industries and urban areas. This review focuses on recent advances on WW remediation through microalgae cultivation. Attention has already been paid to microalgae-based wastewater treatment (WWT) due to its low energy requirements, the strong ability of microalgae to thrive under diverse environmental conditions, and the potential to transform WW nutrients into high-value compounds. It turned out that microalgae-based WWT is an economical and sustainable solution. Moreover, different types of toxins are removed by microalgae through biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation processes. Examples are toxins from agricultural runoffs and textile and pharmaceutical industrial effluents. Microalgae have the potential to mitigate carbon dioxide and make use of the micronutrients that are present in the effluents. This review paper highlights the application of microalgae in WW remediation and the remediation of diverse types of pollutants commonly present in WW through different mechanisms, simultaneous resource recovery, and efficient microalgae-based co-culturing systems along with bottlenecks and prospects.

Mixed culture of plants improved nutrient removal in constructed wetlands: response of microbes and root exudates

Root exudates are determined by plant species configuration and affect microbial community, which in turn affect purification efficiency of constructed wetlands (CWs). However, it is not well understood how plant configuration affects CW purification efficiency through specific root exudates. Herein, four mixed culture CWs were constructed; CW-G3 with Iris pseudacorus, Iris sibirica, Juncus effusus, and Hydrocotyle vulgaris showed the optimal diversity nutrients removal efficiency (TN: 94.2%, TP: 82.9%, COD: 74.7%). Highly increased antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and catalase) reduced photosynthesis-negative enzyme (malondialdehyde) activity of plants in CW-G3, which ensured oxygen (O₂) and organic carbon (OC) production and successfully released to rhizosphere by well-developed root aeration tissues. Further, CW-G3 enriched higher abundance of genus Saccharimonadales and Flavobacterium, which benefited nitrogen removal. Moreover, as OC, higher contents of maltose in CW-G3 (6.6 ~ 11.1-fold of that in other three CWs), as well as lauramide, choline, triethylamine and urocanic acid contributed to microbial denitrifying. Differently, higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and oleic acid) in other three CWs inhibited microbial nitrifying as inhibitors, which also proved by co-occurrent network. Thereby, plant configuration in CW-G3 provided higher O₂ and OC contents for bacteria and reduced nitrifying inhibitors, which contributed to higher purifying efficiency. The study promoted the understanding about root exudates' effects on bacteria through plant configurations and improved the purification efficiency of CWs.

Effect of live and inactivated Chlamydomonas reinhardtii on the removal of tetracycline in aquatic environments

With the development of medical drugs, the widely used tetracycline has brought many adverse effects on the ecosystem and human health. Tetracycline pollution of water environment is becoming more and more serious, and has become an emerging environmental problem. As single celled organisms, microalgae are not only model organisms for risk assessment of aquatic ecosystems, but also can efficiently purify sewage. Microalgae-mediated pollutant remediation has attracted more and more attention from researchers. In this paper, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) was used to remove tetracycline in aqueous solution, and the removal efficiency and mechanism of microalgae on tetracycline were studied. The results showed that the removal rates of tetracycline by active and inactivated microalgae at a density of 5 × 10⁶ cells·mL^-1 were 81.9% and 89.8%, respectively. C. reinhardtii removed tetracycline through biosorption and nonmetabolic processes. Microalgal cell supernatant and hydroxyl radicals could significantly promote the removal of tetracycline. The positively charged tetracycline was electrostatically adsorbed on the microalgae surface and extracellular polymeric substances. Microalgae biomass can promote the production of ROS and enhance the ability of microalgae to remove tetracycline.

Resource utilization of chicken manure to produce biochar for effective removal of levofloxacin hydrochloride through peroxymonosulfate activation: The synergetic function of graphitization and nitrogen functionality

Transforming hazardous livestock manure into biochar as an advanced oxidation processes catalyst is a two-in-one strategy to treat waste by waste. In this work, a self-modified biochar catalyst obtained from chicken manure is developed for peroxymonosulfate activation to degrade levofloxacin hydrochloride. The deterioration rate of levofloxacin hydrochloride reached 89% in 40 min, after three cycles of the catalyst, the LFX still maintained 52% degradation rate. And under low levofloxacin hydrochloride concentration, the degradation rate can reach 99% within 40 min. Apart from catalyst characterization and optimization, the effects of catalyst, peroxymonosulfate, levofloxacin hydrochloride, co-existing anions, and natural organic matter concentrations during the reaction are investigated. Additionally, the quenching experiments and electron spin resonance spectroscopy both reveal the reaction mechanism. As the graphitic nitrogen combined with the sp²-hybridized carbon in biochar was highly electronegative, thus appealing electrons from neighboring carbon networks, making the adjoining carbon atoms to be positively charged, which facilitated the degradation process. The oxidative degradation of levofloxacin hydrochloride was ascribed to non-radical routes including surface-bound radicals, h⁺ and ¹O₂ mediated oxidation, the contribution rates were 91%, 93.5%, and 96.8%, respectively. Moreover, possible degradation pathways of levofloxacin hydrochloride are studied by Density Functional Theory (DFT) and LC-MS analysis. This work provides a novel method to produce chicken manure biochar by self-modified chicken manure during biochar pyrolysis for peroxymonosulfate activation in organic contaminations abatement and reveals the combined effect of graphitization and nitrogen functionalization while providing new ideas for the resource utilization of chicken manure.

Enhancement of photocatalytic efficacy by exploiting copper doping in nano-hydroxyapatite for degradation of Congo red dye

This research deals with the photocatalytic activity of hydroxyapatite and the improvement of efficiency by doping various percentages of copper; the catalysts were synthesized by the wet-chemical method. Pure and copper-doped photocatalysts were characterized by several techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The competency of pure and copper-doped hydroxyapatite as photocatalysts was assessed by their interaction with Congo red dye. The crystallographic parameters of the catalysts were also estimated by employing the XRD technique, and a relationship was established between the calculated parameters and photocatalytic performance. Crystallite size was calculated from various model equations, which revealed an acceptable crystallite size of 42-68 nm. Copper doping in hydroxyapatite impressively augmented the photocatalytic efficacy, for example 99% dye was degraded upon 0.63% Cu-doping compared to 75% for the pure HAp, which was exemplified not only by the reaction rate but also by the quantum yield. The degradation percentages changed with time but became fixed at 200 min. The molar extinction coefficient was estimated by employing the Beer-Lambert law and further utilized to compute the photonic efficiency of the catalysts. In the study of the photochemical reaction, a simplified reaction process was proposed, and the potentials of the conduction band and valence band were assessed, which influenced the activity. The doping of Cu in crystalline hydroxyapatite will enhance the photocatalytic activity towards Congo red dye under all experimental conditions.

Microalgae, a current option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals: a review

In this review, research on the use of microalgae as an option for bioremediation purposes of pharmaceutical compounds is reported and discussed thoroughly. Pharmaceuticals have been detected in water bodies around the world, attracting attention towards the increasing potential risks to humans and aquatic biota. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals have no regulatory standards for safe disposal in many countries. Despite the advances in new analytical techniques, the current wastewater treatment facilities in many countries are ineffective to remove the whole presence of pharmaceutical compounds and their metabolites. Though new methods are substantially effective, removal rates of drugs from wastewater make the cost-effectiveness ratio a not viable option. Therefore, the necessity for investigating and developing more adequate removal treatments with a higher efficiency rate and at a lower cost is mandatory. The present review highlights the algae-based removal strategies for bioremediation purposes, considering their pathway as well as the removal rate and efficiency of the microalgae species used in assays. We have critically reviewed both application of living and non-living microalgae biomass for bioremediation purposes considering the most commonly used microalgae species. In addition, the use of modified and immobilized microalgae biomass for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from water was discussed. Furthermore, research considering various microalgal species and their potential use to detoxify organic and inorganic toxic compounds were well evaluated in the review. Further research is required to exploit the potential use of microalgae species as an option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals in water.

Effects of light source and inter-species mixed culture on the growth of microalgae and bacteria for nutrient recycling and microalgae harvesting using black odorous water as the medium

To achieve the sustainable and effective removal efficiency of nutrients in black odorous water, light source, inter-species microalgae mixed culture, and the harvesting effect were all explored. The results showed that under a LED light source, the addition of interspecific soluble algal products (SAP) promoted the growth of Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) M1, and its maximum specific growth rate was 1.76 times that of H. pluvialis cultivated alone. That was due to the hormesis effect between the two kinds of microalgae, the SAP produced by Scenedesmus could stimulate the growth of H. pluvialis. The algae and bacteria symbiotic system with black odorous water as the medium showed excellent performance to treat nutrients, where the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) and total phosphorus (TP) (0.84, 0.23 mg/L) met the requirements of landscape water. The microbial diversity analysis revealed that the introduction of microalgae changed the dominant species of the bacterial community from Bacteroidota to Proteobacteria. Furthermore, timely microalgae harvesting could prevent water quality from deteriorating and was conducive to microalgae growth and resource recycling. The higher harvest efficiency (98.1%) of H. pluvialis was obtained when an inoculation size of 20% and 0.16 g/L FeCl₃ were provided.

Microalgae-bacteria tandem-type ponds simultaneously removing ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus towards municipal wastewater advanced treatment

Low C/N municipal wastewater is difficult to be treated effectively via traditional biological methods, leading to concentrations of pollutants in effluent far exceeding increasingly strict standards. In this work, we propose a novel microalgae-bacteria tandem-type process to simultaneously remove ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) and phosphorus (P) from municipal wastewater. A 4.5 L microalgae-bacteria tandem-type reactor was constructed and operated stably for 40 days. The removal efficiencies of NH₄⁺-N and P reached 97.5% and 92.9%, respectively, effluent concentrations were 0.53 and 0.17 mg/L on average, which met the Environmental quality standards for surface water in China (GB 3838-2002). Remarkably, microalgae ponds accounted for 69.3% and 76.3% of the overall NH₄⁺-N and P removal via microalgae assimilation. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed the abundance of bacteria changed, suggesting that the presence of microalgae leads to some species extinction and low-abundance bacteria increase. This work demonstrated that the microalgae-bacteria tandem-type processes can be efficient and widely applied in the advanced treatment of municipal wastewater.

Advanced insights on removal of antibiotics by microalgae-bacteria consortia: A state-of-the-art review and emerging prospects

Antibiotics abuse has triggered a growing environmental problem, posing a major threat to both ecosystem and human health. Unfortunately, there are still several shortcomings to current antibiotics removal technologies. Microalgae-bacteria consortia have been shown to be a promising antibiotics treatment technology owing to advantages of high antibiotics removal efficiency, low operational cost, and carbon emission reduction. This review aims to introduce the removal mechanisms, influencing factors, and future research perspectives for using microalgae-bacteria consortia to remove antibiotics. The interaction mechanisms between microalgae and bacteria are comprehensively revealed, and their exclusive advantages have been summarized in a "Trilogy" strategy, including "reinforced physical contact", "upgraded substance utilization along with antibiotics degradation", and "robust biological regulation". What's more, the relationship between different interaction mechanisms is emphatically analyzed. The important influencing factors, including concentration and classes of antibiotics, environmental conditions, and operational parameters, of antibiotics removal were also assessed. Three innovative treatment systems (microalgae-bacteria fuel cells (MBFCs), microalgae-bacteria membrane photobioreactors (MB-MPBRs), and microalgae-bacteria granular sludge (MBGS)) along with three advanced techniques (metabolic engineering, machine learning, and molecular docking and dynamics) are then introduced. In addition, concrete implementing schemes of the above advanced techniques are also provided. Finally, the current challenges and future research directions in using microalgae-bacteria consortia to remove antibiotics have been summarized. Overall, this review addresses the current state of microalgae-bacteria consortia for antibiotics treatment and provides corresponding recommendations for enhancing antibiotics removal efficiency.