Antibiotic removal from swine farming wastewater by anaerobic membrane bioreactor: Role of hydraulic retention time

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 677; p. 121629
• Main Authors: Liu, Wancen, Song, Xiaoye, Ding, Xiangrui, Xia, Ruohan, Lin, Xiaoying, Li, Guoxue, Nghiem, Long D., Luo, Wenhai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.07.2023
• Subjects: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Antibiotic removal; Hydraulic retention time; Methane yield; Swine wastewater; Methane yield; Hydraulic retention time; Swine wastewater; Anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Antibiotic removal
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121629

This study investigated the impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the removal of veterinary antibiotics by an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for swine wastewater treatment. Ten commonly used antibiotics in the group of tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and sulfonamides were evaluated. Results show that a wide variation from 21 to 99% was observed for antibiotic removal by AnMBR regardless of the applied HRT. The methane yield increased from 0.22 L/g COD to 0.28 L/g COD as the operational HRT was prolonged from 24 to 48 h for AnMBR. Doubling the HRT value enhanced removal of most antibiotics and methane yield by 2–30% and 22–47%, respectively. The enhanced antibiotic removal in response to HRT prolongation could be positively correlated to the enrichment of the genus unidentified_Synergistaceae. Moreover, prolonging HRT increased the relative abundance of the genera unidentified_Synergistaceae, Geobacter and Methanobrevibacter, which could strengthen hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis to enhance methane yield. In addition, HRT increase reduced the ratio of protein to polysaccharide in both extracellular polymeric substances and soluble microbial products, thereby, alleviating membrane fouling in AnMBR operation. [Display omitted] •High HRT improved antibiotic removal & methane yield from swine wastewater by AnMBR.•The improvement was correlated to the proliferation of unidentified_Synergistaceae.•The Unidentified_Synergistaceae strengthens methanogenesis to enhance methane yield.•Prolonging HRT improved sludge characteristics to reduce foulants on cake layer.•Prolonging HRT did not improve the removal of basic effluent quality indicators.