Short term effects of copper, sulfadiazine and difloxacin on the anaerobic digestion of pig manure at low organic loading rates

Antibiotics of inorganic and organic origin in pig manure can inhibit the anaerobic process in biogas plants. The influence of three frequently used antibiotics, copper dosed as CuSO4, sulfadiazine (SDZ), and difloxacin (DIF), on the anaerobic digestion process of pig manure was studied in semi-continuous experiments. Biogas production recovered after every Cu dosage up to a sum of 12.94 g Cu kg−1 organic dry matter (ODM), probably due to Cu precipitation following the formation of sulphide from sulphate. Complete inhibition was found at the very high Cu concentration of 19.40 g Cu kg−1 ODM. Inhibitory effect of SDZ and DIF was observed at concentrations as high as 2.70 g kg−1 ODM and 0.54 g kg−1 ODM, respectively. It seems very unlikely that the antibiotics tested would inhibit the anaerobic process in a full-scale biogas plant.

► Complete inhibition was found at the very high Cu concentration of 19.40 g Cu kg−1 ODM.
► Inhibitory effect of SDZ and DIF was observed at concentrations as high as 2.70 and 0.54 g kg−1 ODM, respectively.
► It seems very unlikely that the antibiotics tested would inhibit the anaerobic process in a full-scale biogas plant.