Removal of Chloramphenicol and Simultaneous Electricity Generation by Using Microbial Fuel Cell Technology

摘要

The release of antibiotics into aquatic environments and its related long-term side effects haveattracted great attention. As one of the most commonly used antibiotics in China, nitroaromaticantibiotic chloramphenicol (CAP) can be detected in aquatic environments. CAP removal efficiency inthe anode chamber of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and the effect of CAP on the electricity output ofMFC were studied in this paper. As compared to control experiments including open circuit MFC, noextra carbon source MFC, and abiotic MFC, the removal efficiency of CAP in normal MFC was themost outstanding. However, as the concentration of CAP increased, the removal efficiency is on the decline which is attributed to the CAP load increased. At an initial concentration lower than 30 mg L ,the electroactive biofilm-based MFC is robust with more than 95% voltage output maintained, but the voltage output dropped dramatically in antibiotic concentrations higher than 50 mg L . Anexponential relationship was found between the inhibition ratios of the MFC and the CAPconcentrations in the studied concentration range. The findings about the CAP removal and the effectsof CAP on the electricity output in two-chambered MFC in this work would have great importance topractical antibiotics wastewater treatment.