Simultaneous reduction of antibiotics leakage and methane emission from constructed wetland by integrating microbial fuel cell

Abstract

In this study, a microbial fuel cell coupled with constructed wetland (CW-MFC) was built to demonstrate that integration of MFC can enhance antibiotics (sulfadiazine (SDZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP)) removal in CWs and control CH₄ emissions. Better COD and antibiotics removal performance was obtained in CW-MFC. Notably, both reactors can remove more than 90.00% of CIP. A decline in methane fluxes (by 15.29%) was also observed in CW-MFC compared with CW. The presence of Acorus tatarinowii had no obvious effect on antibiotics removal but the application of manganese ore substrate reduced methane emissions. Further study showed that Proteobacteria was enriched on the Mn substrate anode and the relative abundance of Methanothrix was declined. The results suggested that suppression of methanogenesis may be contributed to a low methane flux in CW-MFC. This study will facilitate the application of CW-MFC to treat antibiotics wastewater and control the ecological risks of greenhouse gas emissions.