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Ampicillin Mineralization by Denitrifying Process: Kinetic and Metabolic Effects

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Abstract

The impact of the antibiotic ampicillin (AMP) on the metabolic and kinetics of denitrification process as well as the sludge ability for oxidizing it was evaluated in batch assays. Denitrifying reference assays with acetate-C and nitrate-N (C/N ratio of 1.1) were conducted for establishing the metabolic and kinetic performance of the denitrifying sludge. Assays amended with 10 mg AMP-C L−1 were also performed. In reference assays, acetate and nitrate consumption efficiencies of 100% with a total conversion to HCO3 − and N2 were achieved within 1.5 h. When 10 mg AMP-C L−1 was added, total and simultaneous consumption of nitrate-N, acetate-C, and AMP-C was achieved within 12 h. The substrates were completely reduced to N2 and oxidized to HCO3 −, respectively. No nitrite-N was registered at the end of culture. AMP caused a reversible inhibitory effect on specific nitrate and acetate consumption and N2 production rates. Complete consumption and mineralization of AMP associated to nitrate reduction to N2 were achieved. This work provides the first evidences on the metabolic and kinetic performance of a denitrifying sludge exposed to AMP. These results might be considered for proposing useful wastewater treatments where β-Lactam antibiotics can be present.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Divisional Council of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa (DCBS) and the Project number 3383 of the Annual Program of Research 2016 of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo for funding this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área Académica de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Carr. Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma, 42184, Hidalgo, Mexico

    Irasema Islas-García & Claudia Romo-Gómez

  2. Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, 09340, CDMX, Mexico

    Flor de María Cuervo-López

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  1. Irasema Islas-García
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  2. Claudia Romo-Gómez
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  3. Flor de María Cuervo-López
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Correspondence to Flor de María Cuervo-López.

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Islas-García, I., Romo-Gómez, C. & de María Cuervo-López, F. Ampicillin Mineralization by Denitrifying Process: Kinetic and Metabolic Effects. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 183, 1049–1061 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2483-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2483-7

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