A critical review on retaining antibiotics in liquid digestate: Potential risk and removal technologies

Gaixiu Yang; Shihao Xie; Min Yang; Shuai Tang; Lei Zhou; Weizhong Jiang; Bo Zhou; Yunkai Li; Buchun Si

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158550

A critical review on retaining antibiotics in liquid digestate: Potential risk and removal technologies

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Dec 20:853:158550. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158550. Epub 2022 Sep 6.

Authors

Gaixiu Yang¹, Shihao Xie², Min Yang³, Shuai Tang³, Lei Zhou⁴, Weizhong Jiang³, Bo Zhou³, Yunkai Li³, Buchun Si⁵

Affiliations

¹ Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, Guangzhou 510640, China.
² Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, Guangzhou 510640, China; College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
³ College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
⁴ Center for Professional Training and Service, China Association for Science and Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
⁵ College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: sibuchun@cau.edu.cn.

PMID: 36075409
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158550

Abstract

Substantial levels of antibiotics remain in liquid digestate, posing a significant threat to human safety and the environment. A comprehensive assessment of residual antibiotics in liquid digestate and related removal technologies is required. To this end, this review first evaluates the potential risks of the residual antibiotics in liquid digestate by describing various anaerobic digestion processes and their half-lives in the environment. Next, emerging technologies for removing antibiotics in liquid digestate are summarized and discussed, including membrane separation, adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes. Finally, this study comprehensively and critically discusses these emerging technologies' prospects and challenges, including techno-economic feasibility and environmental impacts.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Liquid digestate; Livestock manure; Remaining antibiotics; Removal technologies.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents*
Biofuels
Environment
Humans
Manure*
Technology

Substances

Manure
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biofuels