Batch Study on Rifampicin Removal from Aqueous Solution by Live and Dead Chlorella

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Diyala, Baqubah, Iraq.

Abstract

Pharmaceutical contamination of aquatic environments poses a significant threat to ecosystems and public health. Rifampicin, a first-line antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, is often detected in wastewater, contributing to antimicrobial resistance and toxicity to aquatic organisms. In this study, the biosorption potential of live and dead Chlorella for the removal of rifampicin under batch conditions was investigated. Several parameters of dead Chlorella were evaluated to select the optimal conditions for the removal process. The optimal pH was 4, at which the maximum adsorption capacity, q max, was 58 mg/g. The optimum temperature was also tested, and it was found that 25 °C yielded the best result, with a maximum adsorption capacity of q max = 65 mg/g. The contact time, initial rifampicin concentration, and algae biomass dosage were systematically studied to determine their effect on the removal efficiency. The results showed that live Chlorella exhibited much higher adsorption capacity than dead Chlorella. These results suggest that the inactive microalgae biomass could be an effective and environmentally friendly bioadsorbent for treating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1] Svensson Grape E, Chacón-García AJ, Rojas S, Pérez Y, Jaworski A, Nero M, Åhlén M, MartínezAhumada E, Galetsa Feindt AE, Pepillo M, Narongin-Fujikawa M (2023) Removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from effluent by a plant-based metal–organic framework. Nat Water 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-023-00070-z
[2] Khalidi-Idrissi A, Madinzi A, Anouzla A, Pala A, Mouhir L, Kadmi Y, Souabi S (2023) Recent advances in the biological treatment of wastewater rich in emerging pollutants produced by pharmaceutical industrial discharges. Int J Environ Sci Technol 1–2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13762-023-04867-z
[3] S. Li, C. Zhang, F. Li, T. Hua, Q. Zhou, S.-H. Ho Technologies towards antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) removal from aquatic environment: a critical review J. Hazard Mater., 411 (2021), p. 125148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125148
[4] M. Patel, R. Kumar, K. Kishor, T. Mlsna, C. U. Pittman, and D. Mohan, "Pharmaceuticals of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Systems: Chemistry, Occurrence Effect, and Removal Methods," Chemical Reviews, Vol. 119 (6), pp. 3510-3673, 2019.  10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00299. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00299
[5] Prosenc F, Piechocka J, Škufca D, Heath E, Griessler Bulc T, Istenič D, et al. Microalgae-based removal of contaminants of emerging concern: mechanisms in Chlorella vulgaris and mixed algal-bacterial J Hazard Mater. 2021;418: 126284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126284
[6] M.B. Ahmed, J.L. Zhou, H.H. Ngo, W.S. Guo, N.S. Thomaidis, J. Xu Progress in the biological and chemical treatment technologies for emerging contaminant removal from wastewater: A critical review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.045
[7] E.A. Campbell, N. Korzheva, A. Mustaev, K. Murakami, S. Nair, A. Goldfarb, S.A. Darst, "Structural Mechanism for Rifampicin Inhibition of Bacterial RNA Polymerase," Cell, Vol. 104 (6), pp. 901-912, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(01)00286-0
[8] R. Shokri and M. Amjadi, "Boron and nitrogen codoped carbon dots as a chemiluminescence probe for sensitive assay of rifampicin," Journal of  Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, Vol.  425, p. 113694, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2021.113694.
[9] H. Soni and J. Malik, "Rifampicin as Potent Inhibitor of COVID -19 Main Protease: In-Silico Docking Approach," Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 6, pp. 588-593, 2020. 10.36348/sjmps. 2020. v06i09.001. https://doi.org/10.24012/dumf.1120755
[10] B. Ahmed, J.L. Zhou, H.H. Ngo, W.S. Guo, N.S. Thomaidis, J. Xu Progress in the biological and chemical treatment technologies for emerging contaminant removal from wastewater: A critical review J. Hazard. Mater., 323 (2017), pp. 274-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.045
[11] N.H.Tran, H.J. Chen, M. Reinhard, F.J. Mao, K.Y. Gin Occurrence and removal of multiple classes of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents in biological wastewater treatment processes Water Res., 104 (2016), pp. 461-472 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.08.040
[12] Q. Zhang, G.G. Ying, C.G. Pan, Y.S. Liu, J.L. Zhao Comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics emission and fate in the river basins of China: source analysis, multimedia modeling, and linkage to bacterial resistance Environ. Sci. Technol., 49 (2015), pp. 6772-6782. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5b00729
[13] J.L.  Wang, R. Zhuan Degradation of antibiotics by advanced oxidation processes: An overview Sci. Total Environ., 701 (2020), Article 135023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135023
[14] X. Li, Z. Cheng, C. Dang, M. Zhang, Y. Zheng, X. Yu Metagenomic and viromic data mining reveals viral threats in biologically treated domestic wastewater Environ. Sci. Ecotechnol., 7 (2021), p. 100105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2021.100105
[15] V. Homem, L. Santos Degradation and removal methods of antibiotics from aqueous matrices – a review J. Environ. Manag., 92 (2011), pp. 2304-2347 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.05.023
[16] X. Wang, R. Yin, L. Zeng, M. Zhu A review of graphene-based nanomaterials for removal of antibiotics from aqueous environments Environ. Pollut., 253 (2019), pp. 100-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.067                                                                 
[17] M.B. Ahmed, J.L. Zhou, H.H. Ngo, W.S. Guo, N.S. Thomaidis, J. Xu Progress in the biological and chemical treatment technologies for emerging contaminant removal from wastewater: A critical review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.045
[18] Saba S.B. Alshididi*, Mahmood K.H. Al-Mashhadani1 and Ibrahim J. Abed (2024 ). Wastewater Treatment by the Cyanobacterium Species: Synechococcus elongatusas Biosorption Material for Pb, Cr and Ni Heavy Metals.  Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Vol. 21, No. 6 :pp. 111-118. DOI 10.3233/AJW240078. https://doi.org/10.3233/AJW240078
[19] Zainab H. Razooki1, Ibrahim J. Abed1 and MahmoodK.H. Al-Mashhadani (2019). EFFECT OF THE AQUEOUS CARBON SOURCE ON GROWTH RATE OF THE MICROALGAE COELASTRELLA MH923012. Plant Archives Vol. 19, Supplement 2, pp. 1420-1425 https://www.plantarchives.org/SPL%20ISSUE%20SUPP%202,2019/247%20(1420-1425).pdf
[20] Makki, M. J., Al-Mashhadani, M. K., & Al-Dawery, S. K. (2023). Removal of ranitidine using chlorella Sorokiniana Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, 24(2), 31-39.‏ https://doi.org/10.31699/IJCPE.2023.2.4
[21] Hong JW, Kim OH, Jo S, Kim H, Jeong MR, Park KM, et al. Biochemical composition of a Korean domestic microalga Chlorella vulgaris biochemical composition of a Korean domestic microalga Chlorella vulgaris KNUA027. Microbiol Biotechnol Lett. 2016. https:// doi. org/ 10. 4014/ mbl. 1512. 12008. https://doi.org/10.4014/mbl.1512.12008
[22] Abed, I. J.; Abdulhasan, G. A. and Moushib, L. I. (2019). Molecular and Immunological Methods to Confirm Toxiginicity (Microcystin Production) of Westiellopsis Prolifica Isolated from Tigris River – Iraq, Baghdad Science Journal  16(4).  http://dx.doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2019.16.4(Suppl.).0978
 [23] C. Becker, J.B. Dressman, H.E. Junginger, S. Kopp,  K.K. Midha, V.P. Shah, S. Stavchansky, D.M. Barends, "Biowaiver monographs for immediate release solid oral dosage forms: Rifampicin," Journal of  Pharmaceutical Sciences https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.21624 Vol. 98 (7), pp.   2252-2267, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.21624
[24] Li K.Q., Li M., He Y.F., Gu X.Y., Pang K., Ma Y.P., Lu D.L. Effects of pH and nitrogen form on Nitzschia closterium growth by linking dynamic with enzyme activity. Chemosphere. 2020;249: 126154. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126154
[25] Becker, C., Dressman, J. B., Junginger, H. E., Kopp, S., Midha, K. K., Shah, V. P., ... & Barends, D. M. (2009). Biowaiver monographs for immediate release solid oral dosage forms: rifampicin. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 98(7), 2252-2267.‏. https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.21624
[26] Danalıoğlu ST, Bayazit ŞS, Kerkez Kuyumcu O, Salam MA. Efficient removal of antibiotics by a novel magnetic adsorbent: magnetic activated carbon/ chitosan (MACC) nanocomposite. J Mol Liq. 2017 ;240:589–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2017.05.131
[27] Babel S, Kurniawan TA. Cr (VI) removal from synthetic wastewater using coconut shell charcoal and commercial activated carbon modified with oxidizing agents and/or chitosan. Chemosphere. 2004; 54:951–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2003.10.001
[28] Li N, Wang P, Wang S, Wang C, Zhou H, Kapur S, et al. Electrostatic charges on microalgae surface: mechanism and applications. J Environ Chem Eng. 2022;10: 107516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107516
[29] Vandekerckhove, T. G., Kobayashi, K., Janda, J., Van Nevel, S., & Vlaeminck, S. E. (2018). Sulfur-based denitrification treating regeneration water from ion exchange at high performance and low cost. Bioresource technology, 257, 266-273.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.02.047
[30] Jaiswal, K. K., Kumar, V., Verma, R., Verma, M., Kumar, A., Vlaskin, M. S., ... & Kim, H. (2021). Graphitic bio-char and bio-oil synthesis via hydrothermal carbonization-co-liquefaction of microalgae biomass (oiled/de-oiled) and multiple heavy metals remediations. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 409, 124987.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124987
[31] Liu, Y., et al. (2020). "Adsorption of antibiotics by algae: Mechanisms and applications." *Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2022.100145
[32] Magdalini Tsarpali,John N. Kuhn andGeorge P. Philippidis Hydrothermal Carbonization of Residual Algal Biomass for Production of Hydrochar as a Biobased Metal Adsorbent  Journal: Sustainability, 2022 Volume: 14 Number: 455. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010455
[33] Xu, X., Li, H., Wang, D., & Wang, J. (2020). “Biosorption of antibiotics from aqueous solutions using macroalgae: Kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics.” Chemical Engineering Journal, 390, 124541. https://doi.org/10.31699/IJCPE.2023.4.1
[34] Li, Z., Zhang, L., Chen, C., & Zhao, X. (2019). “Influence of biomass dosage on the removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of pollutants in aqueous solutions.” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(24), 24356–24367. 1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.058
[35] Li Y, Du Q, Liu T, Sun J, Jiao Y, Xia Y et al (2012) Equilibrium, [33] kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the adsorption of phenol onto graphene. Mater Res Bull 47(8):1898–190.4 1016/j.materresbull.2012.04.021
[36] Zeng Z, Tan X, Liu Y, Tian S, Zeng G, Jiang L, Liu S, Li J, Liu N, Yin Z (2018) Comprehensive adsorption studies of doxycycline and ciprofloxacin antibiotics by biochars prepared at different temperatures. Frontiers in Chemistry 6:80–81. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00080
[37] Chen Y, Zou C, Mastalerz M, Hu S, Gasaway C, Tao X. Applications of micro-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the geological sciences—a review. Int J Mol Sci. 2015; 16:30223–50. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161226227
[38] Mecozzi M, Pietroletti M, Scarpiniti M, Acquistucci R, Conti ME. Monitoring of marine mucilage formation in Italian seas investigated by infrared spectroscopy and independent component analysis. Environ Monit Assess. 2012;184:6025–36. 1007/s10661-011-2400-4
[39] Koochi ZH, Jahromi KG, Kavoosi G, Ramezanian A. Fortification of Chlorella vulgaris with citrus peel amino acid for improvement biomass and protein quality. Biotechnol Rep. 2023;39: e00806. 1016/j.btre.2023.e00806
[40] Singh S, Verma E, Niveshika N, Tiwari B, Mishra AK. Exopolysaccharide production in Anabaena PCC 7120 under different CaCl2 regimes. Physiol Mol Biol Plant. 2016; 22:557–66. 10.1007/s12298-016-0380-0
[41] Chen, H. et al. (2021). *Growth inhibition and biochemical changes in algae under antibiotic exposure*. Bioresource Technology, 321, 124458 https://doi.org/10.31351/vol33iss4pp219-237
[42] Zhang, J., Yang, W., Li, Z., Huang, F., & Zhang, K. (2023). Multigenerational exposure of cadmium trans-generationally impairs locomotive and chemotactic behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans. Chemosphere, 325, 138432.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138432
[43] Yan, W., Qian, T., Zhang, L., Wang, L., & Zhou, Y. (2021). Interaction of perfluorooctanoic acid with extracellular polymeric substances-Role of protein. Journal of hazardous materials, 401, ‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123381
[44] Vandekerckhove, T. G., Kobayashi, K., Janda, J., Van Nevel, S., & Vlaeminck, S. E. (2018). Sulfur-based denitrification treating regeneration water from ion exchange at high performance and low cost. Bioresource technology, 257, 266-273.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.02.047
Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Volume 59, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 427-446

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 06 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 02 July 2025
  • Accept Date: 05 October 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics