Biocathode regulates enrofloxacin degradation by coupling with different co-metabolism conditions

In this study, biocathode system coupled with different co-metabolism conditions (NaAc, glucose and NaHCO₃) were developed to degrade quinolones enrofloxacin (ENR) due to its poorly metabolization, easily accumulation and potential toxicity. Simultaneously, ENR reduction kinetic rate constant in NaAc-fed, glucose-fed and NaHCO₃-fed biocathodes, and sole biocathode were increased by 343.62%, 320.46%, 189.19% and 130.88% when compared with that of abiotic cathode when the operational time and ENR concentration were set to 48 h and 25 mg/L. In addition, transformation pathways of ENR revealed pathway II were dominantly occurred in NaAc- and glucose-fed biocathode while pathway IV acting as key metabolic process were shown in NaHCO₃-fed biocathode. Moreover, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing analysis indicated that biocathodic communities were sensitive to switch-over of carbon source, namely Delftia and Bosea as organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) were abundant in NaAc- and glucose-fed biocathodes while Mesotoga and Syntrophorhabdus that responsible for benzoyl-CoA metabolic process were enriched in NaHCO₃-fed biocathode. Overall, this study could unravel the underlying relationship between biocathode degradation pattern of ENR and different co-metabolism conditions, and further offer valuable scientific information on treating refractory quinolones antibiotics via green bioelectrochemical method.