Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes removal in biological aerated filter

Two laboratory-level biological aerated filters (BAF) were built to explore their treatment capacity for simulated antibiotic wastewater at high (1 - 16 mg/L) and low (0 - 0.5 mg/L) concentrations. Results showed BAF could remove both sulfonamides and tetracyclines with an efficiency of over 90% at 16 mg/L. Biodegradation followed by adsorption was the main mechanism removing antibiotics in biological aerated filter. Paenarthrobacter might be the key genus in sulfonamides degradation, while Hydrogenophaga in tetracyclines degradation. These were important for stable performance of biological aerated filter in antibiotics removal. Antibiotics resistant genes like intI1, sul1, sul2, tetA, tetW and tetX were frequently detected in the effluent, with interception rate of 10^5 - 10^6 copies/mL. The obtained dominated microorganisms could be used to enhance the biological processes capacity for treating antibiotics contaminated wastewater. These findings could improve understanding of BAFs treating wastewater containing antibiotics and resistant genes.