Biological degradation of antibiotics in municipal wastewater by microalgae or cyanobacteria

Antibiotics are among the most prescribed drugs in the world. They are indispensable for the treatment of life-threatening bacterial infections. However, an increasing contamination or loss of important natural resources is given especially in Germany due to the decades-long practiced generous prescription. The increasing antibiotic entry into the environment enhances the selection of resistant bacteria in animals and humans. To protect mankind and its vital resources, it is crucial to minimize the entry of antibiotics into the environment by most efficient measures. Besides the use of activated carbon filters and ultrafiltration techniques to reduce antibiotics algae and photosynthetic cyanobacteria seem to have a great potential as biological filters. In the literature there are some indications for the use of algae in wastewater for the elimination of inorganic and organic pollutants. To date, only few studies have been conducted on the topic of exemplary "antibiotic elimination."

Therefore, in this project a screening of various potential algae candidates regarding antibiotics uptake and tolerance will be performed. Especially, macrolide antibiotics will be tested. For the most promising candidates, antibiotic uptake under various environmental conditions will be analyzed. In addition to the possibility of an alginate immobilization an improved absorption and elimination will be examined. Finally, results will be transferred and simultaneously optimized to sewage plants of industrial scale.