[Simultaneous Removal of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria, Genes, and Inhibition of Horizontal Transfer using...

As emerging contaminants, antibiotic-resistant bacteria （ARBs） and antibiotic-resistant genes （ARGs） pose a serious threat to human health and ecological security. Here, a reduced graphene oxide and g-C₃N₄ co-doped copper ferrite （rGO-CNCF） were synthesized. The composite material was characterized using XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, TEM, and DRS analysis methods, and a visible-light-assisted rGO-CNCF-activated PMS system was constructed for the removal of ARB and ARGs in water. The results showed that the complete inactivation of 8.01 log SA-ARB could be achieved within 30 min when the catalyst dosage was 0.2 g·L^-1, The PMS dosage was 0.3 g·L^-1, and the initial pH value of the solution was 7.0. The Vis-rGO-CNCF/PMS system was able to effectively reduce the horizontal transfer of SA-ARGs, and this system had a good destructive ability for intracellular and extracellular SA-ARGs. The destruction ability of the advanced oxidation process for the two pollutants together, SMT and SA-ARB, was maintained at a high level. This system could destroy the cell membrane structure of resistant bacteria, causing cell fragmentation, and quenching experiments showed that singlet oxygen （¹O₂） played a major role in the system. This study can provide a promising method for controlling ARB and ARG pollution in water and controlling the horizontal transfer of ARGs.