Photocatalytic\nReactive Ultrafiltration Membrane for\nRemoval of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance\nGenes from Wastewater Effluent

Abstract

Biological\nwastewater treatment is not effective in removal of\nantibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes\n(ARGs). In this study, we fabricated a photocatalytic reactive membrane\nby functionalizing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration\n(UF) membrane with titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles\nfor the removal of ARB and ARGs from a secondary wastewater effluent.\nThe TiO₂-modified PVDF membrane provided complete retention\nof ARB and effective photocatalytic degradation of ARGs and integrons.\nSpecifically, the total removal efficiency of ARGs (i.e., plasmid-mediated <i>floR</i>, <i>sul1</i>, and <i>sul2</i>)\nwith TiO₂-modified PVDF membrane reached ∼98% after\nexposure to UV irradiation. Photocatalytic degradation of ARGs located\nin the genome was found to be more efficient than those located in\nplasmid. Excellent removal of integrons (i.e., <i>intI1</i>, <i>intI2</i>, and <i>intI3</i>) after UV treatment\nindicated that the horizontal transfer potential of ARGs was effectively\ncontrolled by the TiO₂ photocatalytic reaction. We also\nevaluated the antifouling properties of the TiO₂–UF\nmembrane to demonstrate its potential application in wastewater treatment.