Developing a Slow-Release Permanganate Composite for Degrading Aquaculture Antibiotics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Aquaculture Science

Background:

• Antibiotic use in aquaculture leads to surface water contamination.
• Need for in-situ methods to reduce antibiotic concentrations in aquaculture discharges.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a slow-release oxidant for in-situ reduction of antibiotic concentrations.
• Evaluate a permanganate-based composite for treating aquaculture lagoon discharges.

Main Methods:

• Generated slow-release permanganate (SR-MnO4-) using biodegradable wax and a phosphate-based dispersing agent.
• Utilized sulfadimethoxine (SDM) as a model antibiotic.
• Conducted kinetic and batch experiments to assess degradation efficiency under various conditions.
• Employed a flow-through discharge tank system to simulate real-world conditions.

Main Results:

• Antibiotic-MnO4- reactions followed second-order kinetics.
• Degradation efficiency was influenced by pH, water matrices, and humic acids.
• A composite of KMnO4/beeswax/paraffin with tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP) achieved 90% SDM removal.
• The SRB with TKPP composite demonstrated sustained reduction of SDM in DI water and lagoon wastewater.

Conclusions:

• The developed SRB with TKPP composite is effective for treating antibiotic residues in aquaculture discharge.
• This technology offers a viable in-situ solution to mitigate surface water contamination from aquaculture.
• Further research can optimize the composite for broader environmental applications.