Degradation of β-lactam antibiotic ampicillin using sustainable microbial peroxide producing cell system

The enormous use of synthetic antibiotic and personal care products has impacted the natural microbiome and ecosystem. Overtime, treatment technologies developed suffered due to incomplete removal hence, a pilot dual-chambered microbial peroxide-producing cell that degrades ampicillin catalyzed by homogenous Fenton-reaction was designed. The system reported maximum current at 16.714 ± 0.048 µAcm⁻², power output of 1.956 ± 0.015 mW m⁻²; 88 ± 2.90 mM of H₂O₂ generation with Na₂SO₄ that degraded 95.9 ± 3.00 to 97.8 ± 3.20% of 10 mg L⁻¹ ampicillin within 72 hrs with electro-active Shewanella putrefaciens. An E. coli bioactivity assay with ampicillin exhibited no sensitivity zone due to the loss of activity. Analytical spectroscopic studies reveal β-Lactam ring deformation; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy clearly shows the presence of degradation metabolites. A sustainable wastewater treatment with 72 ± 4.5% reduction in anodic chemical oxygen demand was achieved. Present results designate the technology, as promising for effective antibiotics removal for wastewater treatment concomitant with electricity generation. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd.