Molecular level decontamination of trace quinolones and Serratia marcescens in wastewater via in situ Cu(III) complexes mediated Fenton-like oxidation.

Co-pollution caused by antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in wastewater has led to widespread concerns. Hence, their targeted and synergistic decontamination is urgently required. A homogeneous Fenton-like oxidation system comprising cupric complexes-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was demonstrated to synergistically decontaminate trace quinolones (QNs) and QNs-resistant Serratia marcescens (QRSM) in wastewater. More than 99 % of QNs were degraded within 60 min under alkaline condition, and the degradation efficiency was only slightly influenced by humic acid (up to 1 %) and various anions (up to 20 %), furthermore, the degraded pathway was proposed and the environmental risk after QNs degradation were also reduced. The activation of PMS via cupric complexes coupling in situ Cu(III) complexes generation promoted intramolecular electron transfer (IET) featuring the targeted oxidation of QNs. The produced Cu(III) and •OH played primary and secondary roles in the synergistic inactivation of QRSM by destroying the cell membranes and walls, DNA bases (T, A, C, and G), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs, including intracellular ARGs and extracellular ARGs), and total DNA (including intracellular DNA and extracellular DNA). This study demonstrates a successful strategy and provides an innovative perspective for the molecular level decontamination of trace antibiotics and ARB using a homogeneous cupric complexes-activated Fenton-like oxidation system from metal ions inherent in breeding wastewater under alkaline condition.