Remediation of antibiotic and heavy metal pollution in marine environment

Author(s):  
Hao Zheng ◽  
Xiaohan Ma ◽  
Man Zhao ◽  
Chenchen Zhang ◽  
Baoshan Xing

<p>Pollution of marine environment by antibiotics and/or heavy metals is a serious global issue. Remediation of polluted marine environments is urgently needed for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and protect the planet from degradation. Biochar, as an environmentally friendly material, has been widely used as adsorbents to remediate contaminated soil or fresh water. However, application of biochar in remediation of marine environment is poorly understood. Therefore, a batch of biochars produced from pyrolysis of two marine algae residues, Enteromorpha (Enteromorpha prolifera) and blended seaweed wastes, at 300–700 °C was used to investigate their performance in sulfamethoxazole (SMX) sorption in seawater. Additionally, a modified biochar (MBC) was prepared by pyrolyzing AlCl<sub>3</sub> pretreated sawdust to improve their performance in remediating a marine sediment contaminated with heavy metals and antibiotics using two mesocosmic experiments. The results showed the algae-derived biochars had relatively low C content, but high contents of O- and S-containing functional groups and crystalline minerals associated with S, Ca, K, and Mg. The maximum adsorption capacity of these algae-derived biochars to SMX was 4880 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>, equivalent to a commercial coconut shell derived activated carbon. Potential mechanisms responsible for the SMX sorption mainly included pore-filling, cation bridging, negative charge-assisted H-bond [(–)CAHB], and π-π EDA interaction. The surface of MBC was rough with layered homogeneous sheets, and the nano-scale Al minerals formed on the C matrix. Moreover, its settling properties and adsorption capacities to Cu, Cd, SMX, and tetracycline (TC) were highly improved relative to the unmodified sawdust derived biochar (SBC). As a result, addition of MBC at 4% (w/w) performed  better in improving the survival rate and condition index of the clams in the contaminated sediments than SBC. Furthermore, MBC application decreased bioaccumulation of Cu and Cd in the clams. Both SBC and MBC increased the microbial abundance and diversity in the contaminated sediments, and MBC decreased the abundance of Cu resistant bacteria (e.g., Firmicute and Gemmatimonadetes). For the sediment contaminated by antibiotics, lower content of SMX and TC in the overlying water and pore water was observed in the sediment amended with MBC than SBC, leading to the reduction of total antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, these findings show the potential of functional/modified biochar to remediate marine sediments contaminated with heavy metals and antibiotics.</p>

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana TIMKOVÁ ◽  
Miroslava LACHKÁ ◽  
Lea NOSÁĽOVÁ ◽  
Lenka MALINIČOVÁ ◽  
Peter PRISTAŠ ◽  
...  

The environment contaminated by antibiotics and heavy metals as a consequence of human activities is of great concern nowadays.Many pieces of research proved that the environment could act as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance determinants allowing themto spread among different bacterial species via the process called horizontal gene transfer. The result is antibiotic resistance even inpathogen microorganisms. Heavy metals act as important factors in this process because of their potential to select antibiotic resistantbacteria thanks to linkage among antibiotic resistance genes and heavy metals resistance genes.Thus, this experiment was conducted to screen the antibiotic tolerance profile of bacteria obtained from heavy metal contaminatedenvironment of mine, dump and the contaminated soil near the entry of mine.Several samples were collected from the only active gold mine in Slovakia in Hodruša – Hámre. The presence of cultivable bacteria wasproved via cultivation approaches with subsequent MALDI – TOF MS (Matrix – Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time of FlightMass Spectrometry) identification of selected isolates. Representative bacterial isolates were screened for their antibiotic toleranceagainst chosen antibiotics (ampicillin (AMP), chloramphenicol (CHLOR), tetracycline (TET) and kanamycine (KAN)) with the aimto define their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC).The cultivable bacteria from studied environments were dominated by Gram-negative protebacteria of Pseudomonas and Rhizobiumgenera. Among more than 150 isolates the resistance to ampicillin (MIC>100µg/ml – 49% isolates), kanamycine (MIC>100µg/ml -18% isolates), and chloramphenicol (MIC>20µg/ml – 16% isolates) dominated. The resistance to tetracycline (MIC>20µg/ml) wasdetected in less than 1% of isolates. Overall counts of antibiotic resistance and multi-resistance were alarmingly high taking in accountthat industrial environments with no known antibiotic exposure were analysed.Our data indicate that heavy metals contaminated environment could influence the occurrence and the spread of antibiotic resistance.Possibly, metal contaminated environment act as a reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria.


Author(s):  
Seroor Atalah Khaleefa Alia ◽  
Dr. Mohammed Ibrahimb ◽  
Hussein Ali Hussein

Adsorption is most commonly applied process for the removal of pollutants such as dyes and heavy metals ions from wastewater. The present work talks about preparing graphenic material attached sand grains called graphene sand composite (GSC) by using ordinary sugar as a carbon source. Physical morphology and chemical composition of GSC was examined by using (FTIR, SEM, EDAX and XRD). Efficiency of GSC in the adsorption of organic dyes from water was investigated using reactive green dye with different parameters such as (ph, temperature, contact time and dose). Adsorption isotherm was also studied and the results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of dye is 28.98 mg/g. This fast, low-cost process can be used to manufacture commercial filters to treat contaminated water using appropriate engineering designs.


1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael O. Angelidis

The impact of the urban effluents of Mytilene (Lesvos island, Greece) on the receiving coastal marine environment, was evaluated by studying the quality of the city effluents (BOD5, COD, SS, heavy metals) and the marine sediments (grain size, organic matter, heavy metals). It was found that the urban effluents of Mytilene contain high organic matter and suspended particle load because of septage discharge into the sewerage network. Furthermore, although the city does not host important industrial activity, its effluents contain appreciable metal load, which is mainly associated with the particulate phase. The city effluents are discharged into the coastal marine environment and their colloidal and particulate matter after flocculation settles to the bottom, where is incorporated into the sediments. Over the years, the accumulation of organic matter and metals into the harbour mud has created a non-point pollution source in the relatively non-polluted coastal marine environment of the island. Copper and Zn were the metals which presented the higher enrichment in the sediments of the inner harbour of Mytilene.


Author(s):  
Ana Rita Almeida ◽  
Marta Tacão ◽  
Joana Soares ◽  
Inês Domingues ◽  
Isabel Henriques

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens due to worldwide antibiotic use is raising concern in several settings, including aquaculture. In this work, the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated after exposure of zebrafish to oxytetracycline (OTC) for two months, followed by a recovery period. The selection of ARB in water and fish was determined using selective media. The abundance of tetA genes was estimated through qPCR. Higher prevalence of ARB was measured in all samples exposed to the antibiotic when compared to control samples, although statistical significance was only achieved five days after exposure. Isolates recovered from samples exposed to the antibiotic were affiliated with Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Various antibiotic susceptibility profiles were detected and 37% of the isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). The selection of the tetA gene was confirmed by qPCR at the highest OTC concentration tested. Two MDR isolates, tested using zebrafish embryos, caused significant mortality, indicating a potential impact on fish health and survival. Overall, our work highlights the potential impact of antibiotic contamination in the selection of potential pathogenic ARB and ARGS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Fauzul Imron ◽  
Setyo Budi Kurniawan ◽  
Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah

AbstractLeachate is produced from sanitary landfills containing various pollutants, including heavy metals. This study aimed to determine the resistance of bacteria isolated from non-active sanitary landfill leachate to various heavy metals and the effect of salinity levels on the removal of Hg by the isolated bacterium. Four dominant bacteria from approximately 33 × 1017 colony-forming units per mL identified as Vibrio damsela, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were isolated from non-active sanitary landfill leachate. Heavy metal resistance test was conducted for Hg, Cd, Pb, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu (0–20 mg L− 1). The removal of the most toxic heavy metals by the most resistant bacteria was also determined at different salinity levels, i.e., fresh water (0‰), marginal water (10‰), brackish water (20‰), and saline water (30‰). Results showed that the growth of these bacteria is promoted by Fe, Mn, and Cu, but inhibited by Hg, Cd, Pb, Mg, and Zn. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all the bacteria in Fe, Mn, and Cu was > 20 mg L− 1. The MIC of V. damsela was 5 mg L− 1 for Hg and >  20 mg L− 1 for Cd, Pb, Mg, and Zn. For P. aeruginosa, MIC was > 20 mg L− 1 for Cd, Pb, Mg, and Zn and 10 mg L− 1 for Hg. Meanwhile, the MIC of P. stutzeri was > 20 mg L− 1 for Pb, Mg, and Zn and 5 mg L− 1 for Hg and Cd. The MIC of P. fluorescens for Hg, Pb, Mg, and Zn was 5, 5, 15, and 20 mg L− 1, respectively, and that for Cd was > 20 mg L− 1. From the MIC results, Hg is the most toxic heavy metal. In marginal water (10‰), P. aeruginosa FZ-2 removed up to 99.7% Hg compared with that in fresh water (0‰), where it removed only 54% for 72 h. Hence, P. aeruginosa FZ-2 is the most resistant to heavy metals, and saline condition exerts a positive effect on bacteria in removing Hg.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Xiaoming Song ◽  
Yuewen Zhang ◽  
Nan Cao ◽  
Dong Sun ◽  
Zhipeng Zhang ◽  
...  

This study developed a nano-magnetite-modified biochar material (m-biochar) using a simple and rapid in situ synthesis method via microwave treatment, and systematically investigated the removal capability and mechanism of chromium (VI) by this m-biochar from contaminated groundwater. The m-biochar was fabricated from reed residues and magnetically modified by nano-Fe3O4. The results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterisations confirmed the successful doping of nano-Fe3O4 on the biochar with an improved porous structure. The synthesised m-biochar exhibited significantly higher maximum adsorption capacity of 9.92 mg/g compared with that (8.03 mg/g) of the pristine biochar. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model and the intraparticle diffusion model, which indicated that the overall adsorption rate of Cr(VI) was governed by the processes of chemical adsorption, liquid film diffusion and intramolecular diffusion. The increasing of the pH from 3 to 11 significantly affected the Cr(VI) adsorption, where the capabilities decreased from 9.92 mg/g to 0.435 mg/g and 8.03 mg/g to 0.095 mg/g for the m-biochar and pristine biochar, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) by m-biochar were evaluated and confirmed to include the pathways of electrostatic adsorption, reduction and complexation. This study highlighted an effective synthesis method to prepare a superior Cr(VI) adsorbent, which could contribute to the effective remediation of heavy metal contaminations in the groundwater.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin S. Witherell ◽  
Jason Price ◽  
Ashok D. Bandaranayake ◽  
James Olson ◽  
Douglas R. Call

AbstractMultidrug-resistant bacteria are a growing global concern, and with increasingly prevalent resistance to last line antibiotics such as colistin, it is imperative that alternative treatment options are identified. Herein we investigated the mechanism of action of a novel antimicrobial peptide (CDP-B11) and its effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria including Escherichia coli #0346, which harbors multiple antibiotic-resistance genes, including mobilized colistin resistance gene (mcr-1). Bacterial membrane potential and membrane integrity assays, measured by flow cytometry, were used to test membrane disruption. Bacterial growth inhibition assays and time to kill assays measured the effectiveness of CDP-B11 alone and in combination with colistin against E. coli #0346 and other bacteria. Hemolysis assays were used to quantify the hemolytic effects of CDP-B11 alone and in combination with colistin. Findings show CDP-B11 disrupts the outer membrane of E. coli #0346. CDP-B11 with colistin inhibits the growth of E. coli #0346 at ≥ 10× lower colistin concentrations compared to colistin alone in Mueller–Hinton media and M9 media. Growth is significantly inhibited in other clinically relevant strains, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In rich media and minimal media, the drug combination kills bacteria at a lower colistin concentration (1.25 μg/mL) compared to colistin alone (2.5 μg/mL). In minimal media, the combination is bactericidal with killing accelerated by up to 2 h compared to colistin alone. Importantly, no significant red blood hemolysis is evident for CDP-B11 alone or in combination with colistin. The characteristics of CDP-B11 presented here indicate that it can be used as a potential monotherapy or as combination therapy with colistin for the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections, including colistin-resistant infections.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document