This study evaluated the capacity of constructed wetlands combined with microbial fuel cells to remove antibiotics from wastewater. Two macrophyte species (Lemna gibba and Schoenoplectus tatora) and two types of electrodes (graphite and a bioelectrode derived from biochar produced from L. gibba biomass) were utilized. The experiments were conducted over three treatment cycles, measuring the removal of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Tetracycline (TET) in the influent and effluent sections of the wetland. Results showed that, in the influent, the second cycle exhibited more pronounced differences between treatments and time points for CIP and TET (p < 0.05), while cycles one and three showed similar results. In the effluent, high removal percentages were achieved across all three cycles, reaching 98.9% for CIP and 100.0% for TET. Additionally, physicochemical parameters such as pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and dissolved oxygen (DO) improved in all treatments, with initial and final values ranging from 4.7 to 7.2, -414.5 to -69.4 mV, and 0.3 to 3.2 mg/L, respectively. Regarding electricity production, the combination of Lemna gibba and the bioelectrode generated the highest output (0.067 mW) compared to other treatments. This study demonstrates that the system using a bioelectrode can effectively remove antibiotics from water within 60 minutes.

The amount of antibiotics being released into aquatic ecosystems is increasing, with negative repercussions for the environment and human health. Among the methods used to remove them is phytoremediation, a methodology based on using plants and microorganisms in the rhizosphere to remove pollutants from the environment. The technology that uses this strategy is the artificial wetland, composed mainly of plants, water and substrate. The objective of this review is to collect, organize and analyze the available information related to the interaction between bacteria and macrophytes in the antibiotic removal process. Initially, antibiotic contamination in water bodies and the toxic effects on living organisms are described, and the physical and chemical characteristics of antibiotics that influence their removal capacity are mentioned. Likewise, the process of antibiotic biodegradation by bacteria is described, as well as the plant-bacteria interaction that occurs mainly at the level of the plant roots (ectorizosphere, endorizosphere and rhizoplane), a process responsible for the removal of antibiotic compounds from the aquatic environment. This work aims to contribute to a better understanding of the plant-bacteria interaction process, in order to help optimize the design of a wetland to treat antibiotic residues from the aquatic environment, including a comprehensive review of the current knowledge. La cantidad de antibióticos vertidos en ecosistemas acuáticos va en aumento y repercute negativamente en la salud del ambiente y del ser humano. Entre los métodos que se usan para removerlos está la fitorremediación, una metodología basada en usar plantas y microorganismos de la rizosfera para remover contaminantes del medio. La tecnología que utiliza esta estrategia es el humedal artificial, compuesto principalmente por plantas, agua y sustrato. El objetivo de esta revisión es colectar, organizar y analizar la información disponible acerca de la interacción entre bacterias y macrófitas en el proceso de remoción de antibióticos. Inicialmente, se describe la contaminación por antibióticos en los cuerpos de agua, así como los efectos tóxicos en los seres vivos, y se mencionan las características físicas y químicas de los antibióticos que influyen en su posibilidad de remoción. Asimismo, se describe el proceso de biodegradación de antibióticos por las bacterias y la interacción planta-bacteria que se da sobre todo a nivel de las raíces de la planta (ectorizosfera, endorizosfera y el rizoplano), proceso responsable de la remoción de compuestos antibióticos del medio acuático. Este trabajo busca contribuir a lograr un mejor entendimiento del proceso de interacción planta-bacteria, a fin de ayudar a optimizar el diseño de un humedal para tratar los residuos de antibióticos del medio acuático, incluyendo una revisión exhaustiva del conocimiento actual.

The utilization of irrigation water contaminated with antibiotics can potentially affect the growth and production of metabolites in crops. Thus, the effect of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in irrigation water on the morphological characteristics and polyphenol content in the Pasakalla variety of quinoa was evaluated. Quinoa seeds were sown and irrigated twice weekly with different CIP doses (1, 10, and 100 µg/L). The plant was divided into roots, leaves, panicles, and grain to measure their morphological characteristics and antioxidant properties (the content of total polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenolic profile). Root length and biomass of the plant were not affected by the dosage of CIP during physiological maturity. On the contrary, plant growth was reduced (16%) when 10 ug/L of CIP was used. On the other hand, the presence of high CIP concentrations (100 ug/L) improved the biosynthesis of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity by 52 and 59% compared to the control. Profile polyphenols show that vanillic acid and procyanidins A2 and B2 were significantly increased. Thus, the use of CIP could promote a higher enzymatic activity to produce specific polyphenols in order to inhibit the presence of ROS. Finally, under CIP-controlled conditions, the production of polyphenols could be improved without altering the plant’s expected growth.

El sector minero peruano tiene una gran importancia para las poblaciones rurales por los beneficios económicos que genera; sin embargo, también puede producir efectos negativos en los recursos hídricos. El objetivo de este estudio es abordar un enfoque multidisciplinario para el estudio de la influencia minera en la Comunidad de Ollachea y la Comunidad Minera mediante la evaluación fisicoquímica del río Osccocachi, la percepción social de la calidad del agua y el análisis comparativo de la expansión territorial minera y poblacional. Los resultados revelan que existe un nivel de acidez leve con un pH de 5.9 en el tramo final del río que podría afectar a la población aledaña, quienes manifestaron que la prevalencia de enfermedades gastrointestinales es causada principalmente por el desarrollo de la minería en la zona. Las imágenes satelitales multitemporales desde el año 2010 al 2019, revelaron que el crecimiento de la Comunidad de Ollachea está fuertemente asociado a la expansión territorial de la Comunidad Minera de Ollachea (r=0.95, p<0.05). Finalmente, se concluye que la expansión territorial y las características fisicoquímicas del río coinciden con la percepción de la población sobre la calidad del agua, revelando que existe una alteración ambiental generada principalmente por la actividad minera.