Simultaneous removal of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes using a CeO2@CNT electrochemical membrane-NaClO system

The simultaneous removal of antibiotic and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are important to inhibit the spread of antibiotic resistance. In this study, a coupled treatment system was developed using a CeO2 modified carbon nanotube electrochemical membrane and NaClO (denoted as CeO2@CNT-NaClO) to treat simulated water samples containing antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). As the mass ratio of CeO2 to CNT was 5:7 and the current density was 2.0 mA/cm2, the CeO2@CNT-NaClO system removed 99% of sulfamethoxazole, 4.6 log sul1 genes, and 4.7 log intI1 genes from the sulfonamide-resistance water samples, and removed 98% of tetracycline, 2.0 log tetA genes, and 2.6 log intI1 genes of the tetracycline-resistance water samples. The outstanding performance of the CeO2@CNT-NaClO system for simultaneously removing antibiotic and ARGs was mainly ascribed to the generation of multiple reactive species, including •OH, •ClO, •O2− and 1O2. Antibiotics can undergo efficient degradation by •OH. However, the reaction between •OH and antibiotics reduces the availability of •OH to permeate into the cells and react with DNA. Nevertheless, the presence of •OH enhancd the effects of •ClO, •O2−, and 1O on ARG degradation. Through the coupled action of •OH, •ClO, •O2−, and 1O2, the cell membranes of ARB experience severe damage, resulting in an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Consequently, this coordinated mechanism leads to superior removal of ARGs.