Sulfate radical-based processes for removal of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from water

The aim of the present ARGASO project is to optimise processes based on oxidative water treatment using sulfate radicals (SR-AOP) to purify WWTP effluents specifically from antibiotic and ARG residues. Sulfate radicals are a powerful oxidant with the potential to succeed in the more difficult part of this task, which is not only the bactericidal effect but also the inactivation of bacterial genetic material. Computational and experimental techniques at many levels of complexity will be used to achieve this goal. Computational approaches (DFT, QSAR) will provide guidance for the behavior of oxidant compounds and target pollutants (including genetic material) in a simplified matrix of model wastewater. Such systems (sulfate radicals and activator sources) will be transferred to real wastewater experiments where they will be validated from a kinetic point of view. As part of the project, 3 WWTPs in the Liberec region will be monitored to capture the daily and seasonal variability of antibiotic and ARG concentrations. One of the monitored WWTPs will be selected as a matrix for experimental confirmation of the effectiveness of the developed technology for antibiotic and ARG elimination.