Biological Reactor Research Articles

Biofilm on the pipeline wall is an important transmission route of resistome in drinking water distribution system

Due to the intensive use of antibiotics, the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) has become one of the hotspots of antibiotic resistance. However, little is known about the role of biofilm in the aspect of spreading resistance in DWDS. In present study, four lab-scale biological annular reactors (BAR) were constructed to investigate the transmission of ARGs exposed to a certain amount of antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) synergistic disinfectants. It was emphasized that pipe wall biofilm was an important way for ARGs to propagate in the pipeline, and the results were quantified by constructing an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) network map. The network analysis results showed the biofilm contribution to waterborne bacteria was finally estimated to be 51.45% and 34.27% in polyethylen (PE) pipe and ductile iron (DI) pipe, respectively. The proportion of vertical gene transfer (VGT) in biofilm was higher than that in water, and the occurrence of this situation had little relationship with the selection of pipe type. Overall, this study revealed how biofilm promoted the transmission of resistome in bulk water, which can provide insights into assessing biofilm-associated risks and optimizing pipe material selection for biofilm control in DWDS.

Status assessment and solutions to improve the efficiency of the aerobic process in seafood wastewater treatment: Case study in Da Nang fisheries service industrial park

This research presents the current status and solutions to improve the efficiency of the aerobic process in seafood wastewater treatment in the Da Nang fisheries service industrial park. The assessment included: (1) After pre-treatment, wastewater from seafood processing plants has a high concentration of organic matter and nutrients. The concentration of nutrients by N-NH4 + in the influence of biological reactors fluctuates over a large range from 106.5-475.3mg/l with a low ratio of BOD5/N-NH4 + (1.85-5.17). The ratio of C/N in the influence of the aerobic reactors is lower than 5, which causes the process’s instability. Therefore, it is fairly difficult to maintain the quality of treated water to meet discharge standards. (2) The environmental conditions of the aerobic process in biological reactors are not guaranteed. The concentration of operational activated sludge is 2-3 times higher than the recommended value. The aerobic process is operated with a low organic loading rate of 0.049-0.152gBOD5/gMLVSS.day; 0.073-0.183gCOD/g MLVSS.day; (3) In order to reach organic matter and nutrient values that satisfy column B-QCVN 11-MT:2015/BTNM, some suggestions are: (i) Adjusting the operating MLVSS concentration of 2.5-3.5g/l combined with ensuring environmental conditions of aerobic process in biological reactors; (ii) Operating parameters: HRT ≥ 8h; F/M: 0.25-0.35gCOD/gMLVSS.day (or 0.86-1.04gCOD/m3.day).

Odour mapping and air quality analysis of a wastewater treatment plant at a seaside tourist area.

Although wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a fundamental role in protecting the aquatic environment as they prevent organic matter, nutrients and other pollutants from reaching the natural ecosystems, near residential areas they can generate unpleasant smells and noise. The plant studied in the present work is in a seaside tourist area in the Valencian Community, Spain. The main aim was to detect any possible perceptible H2S concentrations from the WWTP by experimental measurement campaigns (including sensor readings and olfactometry measurements by two experts) plus mathematical modelling. After a thorough data analysis of the essential variables involved, such as wind speed, wind direction and H2S concentrations (the main odorant) and comparing their temporal patterns, it was found that the probability of affecting the residential area was highest from June to August before noon and in the late evening. The hourly H2S concentration, influent flow rate and temperature showed a positive correlation, the strongest (R2 = 0.89) being the relationship between the H2S concentration and influent flow rate. These two variables followed a similar daily pattern and indicated that H2S was emitted when influent wastewater was being pumped into the biological reactor. The H2S median concentration at the source of the emission was below 1393.865 μg/m3 (1 ppm), although concentrations 10 times higher were occasionally recorded. The observed H2S peak-to-mean ratio (1 min to 1 h of integration times) ranged from 1.15 to 16.03. This ratio and its attenuation with distance from the source depended on the atmospheric stability. Both H2S concentrations and variability were considerably reduced after submerging the inlet. The AERMOD modelling framework and applying the peak-to-mean ratio were used to map the peak H2S concentration and determine the best conditions to eliminate the unpleasant odour.

Mapping the Progress in Surface Plasmon Resonance Analysis of Phytogenic Silver Nanoparticles with Colorimetric Sensing Applications.

Nanotechnology is gaining enormous attention as the most dynamic research area in science and technology. It involves the synthesis and applications of nanomaterials in diverse fields including medical, agriculture, textiles, food technology, cosmetics, aerospace, electronics, etc. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively used in such applications due to their excellent physicochemical, antibacterial, and biological properties. The use of plant extract as a biological reactor is one of the most promising solutions for the synthesis of AgNPs because this process overcomes the drawbacks of physical and chemical methods. This review article summarizes the plant-mediated synthesis process, the probable reaction mechanism, and the colorimetric sensing applications of AgNPs. Plant-mediated synthesis parameters largely affect the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) characteristic due to the changes in the size and shape of AgNPs. These changes in the size and shape of plant-mediated AgNPs are elaborately discussed here by analyzing the surface plasmon resonance characteristics. Furthermore, this article also highlights the promising applications of plant-mediated AgNPs in sensing applications regarding the detection of mercury, hydrogen peroxide, lead, and glucose. Finally, it describes the future perspective of plant-mediated AgNPs for the development of green chemistry.

Performance evaluation of H2S and NH3 removal by biological trickling filter reactors with various fillers under heterotrophic conditions

A pilot-scale biological trickling filter (BTF) reactor (13.5 L) packed with different fillers (Pine bark, Cinder, Straw, and MBBR (mobile bed biofilm reactor) filler was employed to evaluate their removal performance of H2S and NH3 after heterotrophic bacterium addition, and some parameters, including different packing heights, empty bed residence time (EBRT), inlet titers, loading ratios, and restart trial, were investigated in this study. According to the experimental results, BTF filled with pine bark exhibited better removal efficiency than other reactors under a variety of conditions. The removal efficiency of H2S and NH3 reached to as high as 81.31 % and 91.72 %, respectively, with the loading range of 3.29–67.70 g/m3·h. Moreover, due to the addition of heterotrophic bacterium, the removal efficiency was enhanced and capable to eliminate majority of H2S and NH3 even though the packing height was reduced to 400 mm. After 15 days of idle, the BTF reactor was able to resume rapidly and execute deodorization with high efficiency. The degradation mechanism was further explored by a thorough examination of microbial species which degraded contaminants, as well as by functional prediction and correlation analyses. In a word, these results laid a foundation for the application of heterotrophic microorganisms in BTF, which could improve the removal efficiency of biological deodorization.

Towards a better understanding concerning carbon to nitrogen ratio and the carbon source in aerobic granular sludge

This study investigated the effects of the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) using two identical biological reactors (C/N = 5 and C/N = 10). After 84 days of operation, the reactors' organic substrate was switched from a simple synthetic carbon source (acetate and propionate) to a more complex carbon source (50% volatile fatty acids and 50% fermentable substrate). The C/N = 10 resulted in smaller, uniform granules (200 < Diameter(D)(μm) < 500) with improved settling characteristics (sludge volumetric index - SVI5 < 30 mL gTSS L−1). The nitrogen compounds in the influent influenced the protein/polysaccharide ratio (PN/PS), with higher PS content observed under C/N = 5 and lower PS content under C/N = 10. Both C/N ratios achieved high carbon removal rates (∼90%), but ammonia oxidation was lower under C/N = 5 (up to 45%) due to alkalinity deficiency. Insufficient alkalinity and higher nitrogen compounds in the influent negatively affected phosphorus removal by reducing the activity of phosphorus-accumulating organisms and promoting the growth of glycogen-accumulating organisms. The complexity of the organic substrate hindered microbial activities through intermediate products from glucose and amino acid metabolic pathways. EPS-producing denitrifying organisms (Thauera and Xanthomonas) were favored in C/N = 5, while at C/N = 10, organisms associated with granular biomass stability (Zoogloea and Flavobacterium) were selected. The addition of glucose in the effluent led to a significant increase in fermentative organisms (Aeromonadaceae). This study emphasizes the crucial role of the C/N ratio and organic substrate complexity in achieving optimal performance in AGS systems.

Tracing the fate of microplastic in wastewater treatment plant: A multi-stage analysis of treatment units and sludge

Microplastic (MP) pollution is ubiquitous in the environment presenting a global problem for both scientists and the general public. One of the major pathways of MPs entering the natural environment is through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Once MPs reach the natural environment, they are posing threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health. The aim of this study is to investigate the concentration, morphology, and composition of MPs in different treatment units of a WWTP. Sampling included different points across WWTP in the water and sludge lines. Pre-treatment of the samples consists of advanced Fenton oxidation, and alkaline and enzymatic digestion followed by density separation. Once the particles were isolated, their morphology and size were studied using a stereoscopic and optical microscope followed by final confirmation with ATR-FTIR and micro-FTIR spectroscopy. Microplastic particle concentrations exhibit significant reductions as water undergoes treatment in the WWTP. For summer sampling, concentrations decreased from 351 MP/L (influent) to 35 MP/L (primary clarifier), 32 MP/L (biological reactor), and 13 MP/L (2.3 MP/L) (secondary clarifier). Similarly, winter sampling showed reductions from 403 MP/L (influent) to 159 MP/L (primary clarifier), 178 MP/L (biological reactor), and 26 MP/L (5.6 MP/L) (secondary clarifier). Removal efficiency of WWTP is high and exceeds 96%. The most abundant morphology is fibers followed by fragments and films. Polymers such as PE, synthetic cellulose, PP, PVC, PE-PP, PEEA, PA, acrylamide, and PES are widely detected in different units of WWTP. The number of MPs that are avoided from being emitted into the environment through direct water discharge was estimated to be 9.1 × 1012 MP/year. Removed MPs tend to accumulate in the sludge that is used for agricultural purposes although it should be managed as waste properly, avoiding the transition of MPs pollutants to terrestrial ecosystems adding to the number of MPs that will inevitably end up in receiving water bodies through direct WWTP effluent discharge that was set in 5.1 × 1010 MP/year in the studied WWTP.

Effect of the association of coagulation/flocculation, hydrodynamic cavitation, ozonation and activated carbon in landfill leachate treatment system

Mature landfill wastewater is a complex effluent due to its low biodegradability and high organic matter content. Currently, mature leachate is treated on-site or transported to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Many WWTPs do not have the capacity to receive mature leachate due to its high organic load leading to an increase in the cost of transportation to treatment plants more adapted to this type of wastewater and the possibility of environmental impacts. Many techniques are used in the treatment of mature leachates, such as coagulation/flocculation, biological reactors, membranes, and advanced oxidative processes. However, the isolated application of these techniques does not achieve efficiency to meet environmental standards. In this regard, this work developed a compact system that combines coagulation and flocculation (1st Stage), hydrodynamic cavitation and ozonation (2nd Stage), and activated carbon polishing (3rd Stage) for the treatment of mature landfill leachate. The synergetic combination of physicochemical and advanced oxidative processes showed a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of over 90% in less than three hours of treatment using the bioflocculant PGα21Ca. Also, the almost absolute removal of apparent color and turbidity was achieved. The remaining CODs of the treated mature leachate were lower when compared to typical domestic sewage of large capitals (COD ~ 600 mg L−1), which allows the interconnection of the sanitary landfill to the urban sewage collection network after treatment in this proposed system. The results obtained with the compact system can help in the design of landfill leachate treatment plants, as well as in the treatment of urban and industrial effluents which contains different compounds of emerging concern and persistence in the environment.

FexO/FeNC modified activated carbon packing media for biological slow filtration to enhance the removal of dissolved organic matter in reused water

The biological slow filtration reactor (BSFR) process has been found to be moderately effective for the removal of refractory dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the treatment of reused water. In this study, bench scale experiments were conducted using a mixture of landscape water and concentrated landfill leachate as feed water, to compare a novel iron oxide (FexO)/FeNC modified activated carbon (FexO@AC) packed BSFR, with a conventional activated carbon packed BSFR (AC-BSFR), operated in parallel. The results showed that the FexO@AC packed BSFR had a refractory DOM removal rate of 90%, operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 h at room temperature for 30 weeks, while under the same conditions the removal by the AC-BSFR was only 70%. As a consequence, the treatment by the FexO@AC packed BSFR substantially reduced the formation potential of trihalomethanes, and to a less extent, haloacetic acids. The modification of FexO/FeNC media raised the conductivity and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency of the AC media to accelerate the anaerobic digestion by consuming the electrons that are generated by anaerobic digestion itself, which lead to the marked improvement in refractory DOM removal.

Impact of Moving/Exponentially Accelerated Vertical Plate on Unsteady Flow and Heat Transfer in Hybrid Nanofluids

The main goal of this work is to explore exact analytical solutions for the transient hybrid nanofluid flow with heat transfer owing to a moving/exponentially accelerating infinite flat vertical plate with heat flux boundary conditions. Further, the uniqueness of this work is to investigate the impact of different types of hybrid nanofluids on heat transfer and unsteady flow features in the existence of thermal radiation and heat flux boundary conditions. For engineering variables like Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient, along with temperature and velocity profiles, graphs are used to reveal the results of the Laplace transform method. Increased heat transfer and friction values have been found for an exponentially accelerating plate. The findings can be utilized in heat exchangers as well as in electronics and chemical and biological reactors.

Planning, Design and Estimation of Waste Water Treatment Plant Sector 1 of Virat Khand

Abstract: This study's primary goal is to carry out the design of a sewage treatment facility for Lucknow's Virat Khand Sector 1. due to constant domestic and municipal sewage will be produced at a faster rate as the population grows. All species become sick from the foul stench that sewage produces. To prevent this however, appropriate treatment is required prior to disposal on land in order to utilise the treated water and avoid dumping sewage directly into natural resources, which ultimately lowers the demand for fresh water as a whole. Its goal is to generate solid waste and fluid waste that are safe for the environment and can be recycled or disposed of. In a single day, how much sewage was produced overall, based on the anticipated population of Virat Khand Sector 1 over the following 20 years? As a result, the sewage generation in the Virat Khand area is the main topic of this study, and a sewage treatment plant is constructed in accordance with it. It is suggested that the different parts of the sewage treatment plant be designed taking into account the various standards and allowable limits of treated sewage water. Screening, a grit chamber, a main sedimentation tank, a biological reactor, a secondary clarifier, an activated sludge tank, and drying beds are some of the parts of a sewage treatment plant.

Low-cost ceramic filter bioreactor for treatment and reuse of residential septic tank effluent: A decentralized approach for small communities

Membrane biological reactors (MBRs) have recently become widely accepted as an advanced technology for treating domestic wastewater for improved water recovery, reuse, and recycling. The present study investigated the application of a low-cost ceramic filter bioreactor (CFBR) to treat septic tank effluent for smaller communities in Saudi Arabia (KSA). Filter fouling behavior, pollutant removal, and effluent quality were assessed under varying flux (0.2, 0.4, and 0.65 m/d) and aeration on/off cycle (60 min/60 min, 40 min/80 min, 30 min/90 min, 24 h/24 h) conditions. Operating CFBR at a flux value of 0.4 m/d ensured moderate fouling propensity, reasonable flux decline, and a higher volume of treated effluent. In the continuous aeration mode experiments, CFBR demonstrated the removal of various pollutants. Except for NO3N, CFBR effectively reduced all other pollutants of concern (BOD, COD, TSS, NH3N) in the effluent to acceptable levels meeting the water quality standards for unrestricted irrigation set by the KSA. An enhanced NO3N removal at the 24 h/24 h on/off cycle, indicating the effectiveness of cyclic aeration for promoting both nitrification/denitrification in the CFBR, with sufficient removal of other pollutants, is an original finding of the present study. Simple and cost-effective operations, high-quality effluent, and reduced energy consumption with shorter aeration duration promote the sustainability of the CFBR system for wastewater reclamation and reuse in small communities and rural settlements.

Assessing the feasibility of a downstream heterogeneous Fenton process for the oxidative degradation of biologically treated ranitidine, diclofenac, and simvastatin

This work assesses the feasibility of coupling the heterogeneous Fenton process to biologically treated domestic sewage to remove diclofenac, ranitidine, and simvastatin (50 µg L−1 each). The catalyst was a purified natural zeolite, which was impregnated with iron (2Fe4A). First, batch tests (10 g L−1 catalyst, 2 g L−1 H2O2, and pH 7) were performed to gather information about the performance of the process. Simvastatin could not be significantly removed as its molecular dimensions were larger than the zeolite pores. Drugs removal by adsorption and mineralization were not observed. After five cycles of 30 h each, leached iron was approximately 2%, with no significant change in the drugs removal performance. Second, a fixed-bed reactor packed with 2Fe4A was placed after the exit of the biological reactor, with hydraulic retention time of 12 min. 98 and 82% of diclofenac and ranitidine, respectively, were removed, as well as 93% of the added hydrogen peroxide. The coupled system was stable for, at least, 10 days. The operating cost of the heterogeneous Fenton process combined to the biological one was estimated and, although diclofenac and ranitidine could be significantly removed in a short period of time, it was concluded that it is a relatively expensive process that has the disadvantages of high hydrogen peroxide consumption and size exclusion effects.

Oxygen requirement analysis in the wastewater treatment plant using machine learning

The research presented in this article refers to the optimization of oxygen requirement in biological wastewater treatment using machine learning (ML) techniques with the highest efficiency of the process. The treatment technology of wastewater treatment plant consists of sequential biological reactor with nutrient removal. The analysis is based on the daily data over a period of 2 years, influent, respectively effluent wastewater characteristics, wastewater flow rate and concentration of oxygen in biological reactor. Octave software was used to build the model and it was obtained an accuracy of 85%.

Wastewater Treatment Using Active Microorganisms and Evaluation of Results

In this study, samples are taken from the facility where the wastewater is located, and tests and analyzes are made with an active microorganism (EM). EM Technology means technology using Active Microorganisms. EM is not composed of a single microorganism, but a mixture of various groups of microorganisms. It has a positive and healthy effect on people, animals, and nature. EM is effective in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. For this reason, it would be beneficial to apply it at all stages of treatment in conventional wastewater treatment systems, except for the biological reactor. When used in EM-activated wastewater, various compounds are formed that may be beneficial for wastewater (enzymes with high hydrolytic activity and some antioxidant substances). These compounds together with EM microorganisms provide high-capacity purification of wastewater. As a result of analyses using EM, it is seen that the desired values are achieved. Heavy metal determination is made in Çankırı wastewater and water treated with EM using an ICP-OES device at a lower detection limit (LOD) value of the device at ppm level. As a result of treatment with EM, it has been determined that a high concentration of strontium fell to the lower detection limit. This result shows that EM has an effective role in removing heavy metals. It has been seen that the use of EM in wastewater is extremely beneficial in terms of eliminating bad odors, increasing the sedimentation rate of organic matter, and reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and suspended solids amount (SSM). Besides, ionization is suppressed by the anti-oxidation effect. When EM is used, the operating cost will be lower as O2 consumption can be reduced. Since the water will still contain EM microorganisms after being treated, it is thought that wherever it is discharged from the wastewater plant to nature, a great improvement will be observed in terms of vegetation and the environment.

Математична модель та чисельне дослідження процесу біологічного очищення стічних вод за умов нерівномірного навантаження системи очистки

The main goal of this article is to design a multifactorial model for rapid evaluation of the effec-tive operation of reactors for biological wastewater treatment, which is based on: changes in the concentration of organic pollutants in the bioreactor over time; changes in the concentration of activated sludge in the bioreactor over time; changes in the concentration of activated sludge in the reactor over time, taking into account the unevenness of the flow of wastewater to treatment facilities; the process of transporting the substrate to the bioreactor (it is possible to obtain dif-ferent amounts at different times). The software implementation of the proposed algorithm for finding the appropriate model problem in the Python environment has been developed. The re-sults of computer experiments on the study of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment in bio-logical treatment reactors for different operating modes of the installations are given. The ob-tained results will be useful during calculations in the case of designing biological treatment fa-cilities or during the reconstruction of existing bioreactors for their promising operation in new operating conditions.

Selection of Wastewater Treatment Technology: AHP Method in Multi-Criteria Decision Making

Wastewater treatment is a process that reduces pollution to those quantities and concentrations at which purified wastewater is no longer a threat to human and animal health and safety and does not cause unwanted changes in the environment. Municipal wastewater is classified as biodegradable water. Special importance should be given to wastewater with a high content of organic matter (COD), phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). MBBR technology, developed on the basis of the conventional activated sludge process and the bio filter process, does not take up much space and does not have problems with activated sludge, as in the case of conventional biological reactors, and has shown good results for the removal of organic matter, phosphorus and nitrogen. The aim of this paper is to optimize the wastewater treatment process in the municipality of Dojran, North Macedonia. Three alternative solutions for improving the capacity for wastewater treatment in the municipality of Dojran were analyzed. The shortlist of variants was made on the basis of several criteria, including: analysis of the system in the tourist season and beyond, assessment of the condition and efficiency of the existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in combination with a new treatment plant, treatment efficiency when using different wastewater treatment technologies, the size of the site needed to accommodate the capacity, as well as the financial parameters for the proposed system. The selection of the most favorable solution for the improvement of the wastewater treatment system was made using the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method. In order to select the optimal solution, a detailed analysis was conducted, considering several decision-making criteria, namely the initial investment, operating costs and management complexity. Based on the obtained results, Variant 3 was recommended, that is, the construction of a completely new station with MBBR technology, with a capacity for 6000 equivalent inhabitants.

A novel integrated industrial-scale biological reactor for odor control in a sewage sludge composting facility: Performance, pollutant transformation, and bioaerosol emission mechanism

In order to remove multiple pollutants in the sewage sludge (SS) composting facility, a novel integrated industrial-scale biological reactor based on biological trickling filtration and fungal biological filtration (BTF-FBF) was developed. This study examined bioaerosol emission, odour removal, pollutant transformation mechanism, and project investment. At an inlet flow rate of 7200 m3/h, the average removal efficiencies of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the steady stage were 97.2 %, 98.9 %, and 92.2 %. The BTF-FBF separates microbial phases (bacteria and fungi) of different modules. BTF removed most hydrophilic compounds, while FBF removed hydrophobic ones. Moreover, the reactor could effectively remove pathogens or opportunistic pathogens bioaerosols, such as Escherichia coli (61.9%), Salmonella sp. (85%), and Aspergillus fumigatus (82.1%). The pollutant transformation mechanism of BTF-FBF was proposed. BTF-FBF annualized costs were 324,783 CNY/year at 15 years. In conclusion, BTF-FBF provides new insights into composting facility bioaerosol, odour, and pathogen emission control.

Deciphering the distribution and microbial secretors of extracellular polymeric substances associated antibiotic resistance genes in tube wall biofilm

Antibiotics and disinfectants have both been proposed to exert selective pressures on the biofilm as well as affecting the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the transfer mechanism of ARGs in drinking water distribution system (DWDS) under the coupling effect of antibiotics and disinfectants has not been completely understood. In the current study, four lab-scale biological annular reactors (BARs) were constructed to evaluate the effects of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and NaClO coupling in DWDS and reveal the related mechanisms of ARGs proliferation. TetM was abundant in both the liquid phase and the biofilm, and redundancy analysis showed that the total organic carbon (TOC) and temperature were significantly correlated with ARGs in the water phase. There was a significant correlation between the relative abundance of ARGs in the biofilm phase and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Additionally, the proliferation and spread of ARGs in water phase were related to microbial community structure. Partial least-squares path modeling showed that antibiotic concentration may influence ARGs by affecting MGEs. These findings help us to better understand the diffusion process of ARGs in drinking water and provide a theoretical support for technologies to control ARGs at the front of pipeline.

Integrated sonophotocatalytic oxidation and SBR processes for the effective treatment of antibiotics with an emphasis on process optimization and microbial diversity

The presence of antibiotics in water and wastewater is a serious environmental concern of emerging interest globally. Their effective removal with a single treatment process is, however, challenging because of their widely varying characteristics, and requires innovative integration of treatment processes. In this study, sonophotocatalytic oxidation process was integrated with an aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the comprehensive removal of a mixture of antibiotics. Initially, a Central Composite Design using Response Surface Methodology was used to optimise the operational parameters, viz. ultrasound (US) frequency, pH, and catalyst dosage, for the removal of Ciprofloxacin (CPX), Amoxicillin (AMX), and Tetracycline (TTC) in simulated wastewater. An optimised condition of 20 kHz US frequency, 6.59 initial pH, and 0.94 g L−1 catalyst dosage was observed for the maximum pollutant removal. These experimental conditions were subsequently used for combined sonophotocatalysis-aerobic SBR treatment. Three SBR systems representing a control system, pre-treated system, and untreated system, were used for the study. All three systems were able to achieve an average COD and NH4+-N removal of 85 % and 98 %, respectively. Results from the biological systems concluded that an enhanced CPX and TTC removal was observed in the pre-treated system, whereas maximum AMX removal was observed in the untreated SBR system. The metagenomic analysis confirmed the significant difference of microbial species with the addition of pretreated and untreated wastewater into the biological reactor, and pretreated system having higher number of species and greater biodiversity in comparison to untreated system.