| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 179628 | Electrochemistry Communications | 2013 | 4 Pages |
On the example of selected sulfonamides and N4-acteyl-analogues we demonstrate that antibiotic substances can be removed from artificial wastewater using anodic microbial biofilms. Particularly sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine are completely or partly removed, respectively, by biofilms within 7 days of batch operation. Thereby, the removal process is shown not to affect the anodic microbial biofilm performance. As further shown for N4-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole and N4-acetyl-sulfadiazine the microbial bioelectrochemical removal of these compounds does not proceed via the retransformation to the sulfonamides and is thus not leading to the environmentally relevant pharmaceutical reactivation, as often observed for aerobic degradation processes within wastewater treatment plants.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Sulfonamides (SA) are removed by electroactive microbial biofilms. ► The bioelectrocatalysis is not affected. ► The removal of the N4-acetyl-SA proceeds not via a re-activation to SA.
