Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review

The extensive use of antibiotics as essential medications in contemporary healthcare has resulted in significant amounts of these drugs entering the environment, both in original and metabolic forms, which presents serious ecological and health hazards. This paper examines the natural processes that...

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Main Authors: Jing Ji, Haoqing Li, Shejiang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5182
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author Jing Ji
Haoqing Li
Shejiang Liu
author_facet Jing Ji
Haoqing Li
Shejiang Liu
author_sort Jing Ji
collection DOAJ
description The extensive use of antibiotics as essential medications in contemporary healthcare has resulted in significant amounts of these drugs entering the environment, both in original and metabolic forms, which presents serious ecological and health hazards. This paper examines the natural processes that break down antibiotics in water, including photolysis, hydrolysis, and biodegradation. It also discusses advancements in artificial degradation technologies, such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), physicochemical methods, ionizing radiation degradation, artificial wetland technology, microalgae technology, microbial electrochemical systems, and innovative catalysts. While current technologies demonstrate promising potential for use, they encounter challenges related to the catalyst stability, cost, and ecological safety. Future research should focus on optimizing degradation methods and creating efficient, sustainable multi-technology systems, such as the photocatalysis–membrane filtration coupling system; the ultrasound–Fenton–artificial wetland synergistic system; the electrochemical–biodegradation combined system; and the microbial fuel cell (MFC)–photocatalysis synergistic system, to tackle the complexities of antibiotic pollution in the environment.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2076-3417
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-07be98b108ff446bb1d64c172d7dbf1a2025-08-20T03:52:57ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-01159518210.3390/app15095182Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A ReviewJing Ji0Haoqing Li1Shejiang Liu2School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaThe extensive use of antibiotics as essential medications in contemporary healthcare has resulted in significant amounts of these drugs entering the environment, both in original and metabolic forms, which presents serious ecological and health hazards. This paper examines the natural processes that break down antibiotics in water, including photolysis, hydrolysis, and biodegradation. It also discusses advancements in artificial degradation technologies, such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), physicochemical methods, ionizing radiation degradation, artificial wetland technology, microalgae technology, microbial electrochemical systems, and innovative catalysts. While current technologies demonstrate promising potential for use, they encounter challenges related to the catalyst stability, cost, and ecological safety. Future research should focus on optimizing degradation methods and creating efficient, sustainable multi-technology systems, such as the photocatalysis–membrane filtration coupling system; the ultrasound–Fenton–artificial wetland synergistic system; the electrochemical–biodegradation combined system; and the microbial fuel cell (MFC)–photocatalysis synergistic system, to tackle the complexities of antibiotic pollution in the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5182antibioticsnatural degradationartificial degradationhybrid technologyresistance genes
spellingShingle Jing Ji
Haoqing Li
Shejiang Liu
Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
Applied Sciences
antibiotics
natural degradation
artificial degradation
hybrid technology
resistance genes
title Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
title_full Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
title_fullStr Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
title_short Current Natural Degradation and Artificial Intervention Removal Techniques for Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review
title_sort current natural degradation and artificial intervention removal techniques for antibiotics in the aquatic environment a review
topic antibiotics
natural degradation
artificial degradation
hybrid technology
resistance genes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/5182
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AT haoqingli currentnaturaldegradationandartificialinterventionremovaltechniquesforantibioticsintheaquaticenvironmentareview
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