Advanced materials used for antibiotic resistance removal: Influencing factors, applications and design strategies

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are proposed as emerging environmental pollutants and pose potential threat to public health globally. The efficient removal of ARGs and prevention of their spread in the environment are of great concern. Wastewater treatment plants are among the hotspot of ARGs transmission, however, while both conventional and advanced water treatment processes cannot effectively remove ARGs. Therefore, employing advanced materials including Mxenes, black phosphorus and single atom catalysts in the elimination of pollutants such as ARGs has garnered attention. In this review, first of all, the characteristics of ARGs and environmental parameters, which include pH and ions that influences ARGs removal were elucidated. Secondly, different types of materials used to remove ARGs were summarized. The removal mechanisms of ARGs were mainly related to adsorption (active sites) and degradation (radical and non-radical way). Finally, the design strategies for materials employed in ARGs removal were proposed. This review improves our understanding of the important roles of the traditional and advanced materials in the management of ARGs pollution.