Antibiotic removal efficiency by microalgae: A systematic analysis combined with meta-analysis

Abstract

The removal of antibiotics from the environment have become a critical issue due to their toxicity and persistence. Among various approaches, microalgae-based technology has emerged as a promising, cost-effective, and eco-friendly option. Unfortunately, a systematic and quantitative analysis of the antibiotic removal efficiency by microalgae is still lacking. Therefore, this study conducted a meta-analysis including 27 peer-reviewed publications to address this gap. The study analyzed the overall antibiotic removal efficiency and influencing factors (antibiotic type, microalgae genus, temperature, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and light intensity), and identified appropriate microalgae for specific antibiotic removal, using the effect size of response ratio. Results showed that microalgae had a significant positive effect on the removal of antibiotics, and antibiotic type, microalgae genus, HRT, and light intensity significantly impacted the overall antibiotic removal efficiency. Haematococcus exhibited better removal efficacy than the commonly used Chlorella and Scenedesmus. For specific antibiotic removal, Chlamydomonas and Chlorella were recommended for macrolide antibiotic, Chlorella for beta-lactam antibiotic, and Haematococcus for sulfa antibiotic. This study offers valuable insights for future research and can help locate the most appropriate microalgae for removing specific antibiotics.