Effects of excess sludge composting process, environmentally persistent free radicals, and microplastics on antibiotics degradation efficiency of aging biochar
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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Yanzhuo Zhang1, Yutai Sun1, Rui He1
1School of Environment, Henan Normal University, Key Laboratory for Yellow River and Huai River Water Environmental and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Control, International Joint Laboratory on Key Techniques in Water Treatment, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, PR China.
Abstract:
Simulation of microbial aging biochar in compost is an important index for evaluating the biochar degradation efficiency of antibiotics. In this study, biochar was prepared by adding microplastics (MPs) to sludge, and the degradation effect of biochar/(peroxymonosulfate, PMS) on antibiotics was evaluated during the compost aging process of biochar. After the compost aging of biochars, the antibiotic degradation efficiency of HPBC500, HPBC500 + polystyrene (PS), HPBC900/PMS, and HPBC900 + PS/PMS decreased by 6.47, 15.2, 10.16, and 10.33 %, respectively. Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and defect structure were the main contributors to the activation of PMS. EPFRs produced through PS pyrolysis of biochar exhibited strong reactivity but poor stability during the degradation of antibiotics. Biochar enhanced the growth of microorganisms in compost but reduced its specific surface area. The antibiotic degradation efficiency of the biochar was positively correlated with the concentration of EPFRs. This study elucidated the durability of different biochar toward antibiotic degradation.
Insights
Biochar made with microplastics aids antibiotic degradation in compost. Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in biochar activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS), enhancing antibiotic removal during microbial aging.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Biochar is crucial for assessing antibiotic degradation efficiency in compost.
- Microbial aging of biochar influences its effectiveness in removing antibiotics.
- Microplastics (MPs) can be incorporated into biochar production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antibiotic degradation efficiency of biochar produced with microplastics (MPs) during compost aging.
- To investigate the role of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and defect structures in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS).
- To understand the durability of biochar for antibiotic degradation.
Main Methods:
- Biochar was prepared by adding MPs to sludge.
- The degradation of antibiotics by biochar/PMS was assessed during compost aging.
- Antibiotic degradation efficiency was measured for different biochar types (HPBC500, HPBC900) with and without polystyrene (PS) and PMS.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic degradation efficiency decreased after compost aging for all tested biochars.
- HPBC500 + PS showed the highest decrease (15.2%) in degradation efficiency.
- EPFRs and defect structures were key activators of PMS, with EPFRs showing high reactivity but low stability.
Conclusions:
- The antibiotic degradation efficiency of biochar is positively correlated with EPFR concentration.
- EPFRs generated from PS pyrolysis contribute significantly to PMS activation but are unstable.
- Biochar enhances microbial growth in compost but reduces surface area, impacting overall antibiotic degradation durability.
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