Swine Wastewater Treatment Research Articles

Novel strategies for enhancing energy metabolism and wastewater treatment in algae-bacteria symbiotic system through carbon dots-induced photogenerated electrons: The definitive role of accelerated electron transport

The nitrogen removal efficiency of the algae-bacteria symbiotic system (ABSS) remains challenging due to competition for light capture and insufficient electron donors in aquaculture wastewater. To overcome this bottleneck issue, we first identified and reported the introduction of photogenerated electrons into ABSS by coupling them with carbon dots (CDs). The energy metabolism (21.52 %-56.25 %) and pollutant degradation efficiency (89.36 %-96.42 %) of ABSS/CDs surpassed the biochemical limit observed in traditional ABSS. Notably, the addtion of CDs facilitated an opening of the plastoquinone-pool (PQ-pool) valve and accelerated electron transfer rates, enabling photogenerated electrons to selectively target light-harvesting complexs as activation sites, thereby mobilizing photosynthesis and respiratory system activity to enhance nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced (NADH) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production while promoting tricarboxylic acid (TCA) and Calvin cycle processes. In simulated swine wastewater treatment, ABSS/CDs achieved higher removal rates for the chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) (100 %, 99.23 % and 98.62 % respectively) compared to pure culture systems alone. Network-based analysis revealed that ABSS/CDs improved microbial community structure stability within the photobioreactor while demonstrating efficient coupling between fungi, nitrifying bacteria, and denitrifying bacteria for enhanced performance in nitrogen removal processes. The upregulation of nitrogen metabolism and PQ-pool genes maintains efficient electron transport rates and contributes to nitrogen removal. This study expands our understanding of the physiological aptitudes of ABSS and provides valuable insights into applying CDs photoelectrons for enhanced wastewater treatment.

Understanding the interaction between soil ORP and enzyme activity: How does wetland type affect constructed wetland performance for the advanced treatment of swine wastewater?

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used for the advanced treatment of swine wastewater. Wetland type is the most critical parameter for engineering applications; therefore, the performance of horizontal/vertical subsurface flow CWs (HSFCWs and VSFCWs) was explored over one year of operation. The effects of five antibiotics (40 μg/L each), copper (Cu, 1.0 mg/L), and their combination on CW performance and soil oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and enzyme activity were investigated. The annual removal efficiencies of HSFCWs and VSFCWs for total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen, and phosphorus were 72.03 %–84.49 % and 87.15 %–90.72 %, for antibiotics were 91.35 %–99.52 % and 87.33 %–99.57 %, and for Cu were 97.37 %–97.44 % and 95.52 %–96.85 %, respectively. The CWs removed antibiotics through substrate adsorption, plant absorption, and biodegradation. Total antibiotic residues in HSFCW and VSFCW soils ranged from 6.29 to 17.31 and 24.57 to 589.07 μg/kg, respectively, and enrofloxacin and roxithromycin posed medium and high risks in VSFCW non-rhizosphere soil. The amount of residual antibiotics in Phragmites australis parts was in the order of fibrous roots > rhizomes > aboveground. ORP and enzyme activities were greater in rhizosphere soil than in non-rhizosphere soil and greater in the VSFCWs than in the HSFCWs. CW performance and soil enzyme activities decreased under the stress of antibiotics and coexistence of antibiotics and Cu. These findings advance our knowledge of CW design, elucidate the unique advantages of CWs, and offer efficient operation strategies for swine wastewater advanced treatment, helping researchers recognize the adverse effects of antibiotics on CWs.

Evaluating a hybrid process of anaerobic digestion, aerobic degradation, and electrochemical separation for swine wastewater treatment with methane and nutrient recovery

A hybrid process of anaerobic digestion (AD), aerobic degradation, and electrochemical separation was evaluated for treating real swine wastewater that is rich in organic and nutrient to achieve methane and nutrient recovery and industry standard discharge quality. Fe anode electrocoagulation and Mg anode struvite electrochemical precipitation (SEP) were evaluated as AD pretreatments. Both removed partial chemical oxygen demand (COD) from raw swine wastewater, but only SEP slightly enhanced the methane yield of pretreated swine wastewater. The SEP efficiency of the AD effluent was significantly better than raw swine wastewater. A further coupled micro/ultra-filtration produced high-purity (96%) struvite. SEP and struvite chemical precipitation (SCP) were evaluated for AD effluent treatment. This showed that compared with SCP following first-order reaction kinetics (reaction rate constant of 0.791 and 0.854 h−1 for NH4+-N and PO43--P), SEP not only achieved better removal of COD, NH4+-N and PO43--P, but was also shown to follow zero-order reaction kinetics (reaction rate constant of 5.72 and 5.78 mmol L−1 h−1 for NH4+-N and PO43--P). The SEP and SCP treated AD effluent was evaluated by conventional activated sludge (CAS), showing faster COD removal (first-order reaction rate constant of 0. 213 and 0.163 h−1) and lower residual COD (150 and 248 mg L−1) from SEP than SCP treated AD effluent, making the final effluent well below Chinese livestock wastewater discharge standards. Therefore, an emerging hybrid anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR)-SEP-CAS is proposed for swine wastewater treatment and proved to be more economically viable than the conventional hybrid AD-SCP-CAS process via cost-benefit analysis.

Advanced technological integration for swine wastewater: Enhancing treatment with photo-Fenton and electrocoagulation

The increase in pork consumption and its reputation as one of the best sources of protein has led to growth in this industry, however, its production generates a significant amount of swine wastewater (SWW). Conventional biological treatment methods are typically used to treat SWW. However, their applicability in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the swine industry is limited due to their high space requirements. Therefore, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as photofenton (PF) and electrocoagulation (EC) represent a potential alternative for SWW treatment due to their lower space requirements. The aim of this study was to treat SWW by integrating the PF process followed by EC as a technological couple to optimize the removal efficiency of pollutants present in SWW. Experiments were conducted in a 2 L batch reactor, examining the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration (0.5, 2.5, 5.0 g L−1) and current density (10, 50, 90 A m−2) on pH, organic matter, nutrients, and germination index (GI). The results showed that the optimum process conditions correspond to 2.6 g L−1 H2O2 and a current density of 41 A m−2. Under these conditions, an effluent is obtained with pH values of 7.8, TSS of 385 mg L−1, COD of 254 mg L−1, BOD5 of 139.8 mg L−1, TN of 190.4 mg L−1 and GI of 117 %. The results showed that the effluent complies with the Colombian standards. From a cost perspective, the use of Photo-Fenton to treat wastewater under these conditions would be US$ 0.7 per liter.

Integrating electrochemical pretreatment with microalgae treatment for nitrogen and phosphorus removal and resource recovery from swine wastewater

This study integrates electrochemical pretreatment with microalgae (Scenedesmus obliquus) treatment to enhance nitrogen and phosphorus removal and resource recovery from swine wastewater. By optimizing electrochemical and microalgae treatment conditions, the dilution factor and the hydraulic retention time for microalgae treatment were reduced to 5 times and 7 days, respectively. Under the optimized operational conditions, removal efficiencies of total nitrogen and ammonia could reach over 89 %and 96 %,respectively, and the removal efficiency of total phosphorus was over 99 %. The study also found that aluminum was more suitable than iron for anode as it produced fewer residues. Additionally, the electrochemical pretreatment reduced Cu2+ and Zn2+ concentrations, mitigating negative impacts on microalgal growth. The microalgae biomass harvested from developed processes was rich in saturated fatty acids, which was desirable for biodiesel production. This approach addresses the challenges of nutrient removal for swine wastewater treatment with high quality biomass recovery.

Methods for improving microbial electrolysis cell for swine wastewater treatment

Microbial electrolytic cell combined with anaerobic digestion faces challenges such as unstable clean energy supply and inefficient cathode performance. The integration of low-cost, durable electrodes with renewable energy can enhance the microbial electrolytic cell sustainability. In this study, a metal-organic framework-modified electrode and intermittent renewable energy sources were used in the microbial electrolytic cell to treat swine wastewater. Additionally, hydrothermal carbon composite metal-organic framework were tested to reduce cathode costs and improve biocompatibility. Results showed that with 18 h of daily power from a hybrid wind-solar system, the metal-organic framework-modified cathode achieved the highest cumulative methane production of 305.11 mL/g-chemical oxygen demand and the highest net energy recovery. Increased microbial activity during the power-on period enhanced methane output and energy efficiency, making this energy supply method ideal for microbial electrolytic cells. This approach ensures efficient use of renewable energy, improving the economic feasibility of microbial electrolytic cells for wastewater treatment. The metal-organic framework-modified cathode also promoted biofilm growth, with an average thickness of 37.6 μm and enhanced microbial activity, likely due to its lower resistance and rapid current response.

Effects of LED lights and cytokinin on the phytotreatment of simulated swine wastewater by Azolla spp.: Pollutant removal and biomass valorization

Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and affordable option for tackling wastewater pollutants. The study focused on how light-emitting diodes (LED) light exposure, measured by intensity and duration (photoperiod), along with cytokinin, impacts Azolla microphylla's simulated swine wastewater treatment performance and biomass production. Under optimal treatment conditions, high removals of COD (89.2 % to 90.8 %), N-NH4+ (72.6 % to 91.2 %), N-NO3- (84.4 % to 88.6 %), Cu (75.4 % to 86.4 %), sulfamethoxazole (77.0 % to 79.0 %), P-PO43- (54.1 % to 59.9 %) and DOC (67.4 % to 71.3 %) while Zn presented a more moderate reduction (2.0 % to 9.7 %). Biomass productivity reached up to 34.8 t ha-1 yr-1. Protein production accounted for 23 % to 27 % of dry weight, while lipids ranged from 20 % to 34 % of dry biomass. Carbohydrate content varied from 8 % to 28 % of fresh weight. Higher light intensities, with both high or low values of photoperiods, and low concentrations of cytokinin were identified as optimal conditions for removal of almost all pollutants. However, pollutant removal was impacted differently by LED light and cytokinin concentration. In treatment conditions with the shortest photoperiods (8 h), the lowest residual Cu and Zn concentrations, whereas with longer photoperiods (24 h), the lowest residual concentrations of N-NH4+ and P-PO43- concentrations were recorded. On the other hand, SMX was the only parameter in which cytokinin had a clear influence on its removal, with the lowest residual concentration observed under 8-hour photoperiods combined with the lowest tested cytokinin concentrations (0.3 mg L-1). For residual COD and N-NO3-, no discernible pattern was evident for any of the analyzed factors. Therefore, the study demonstrates the potential for treating simulated swine wastewater using Azolla microphylla, aligned with its ability to produce biomass rich in high-value compounds.

Performance evaluation and microbial community analysis of a continuous stirred tank reactor–anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactor system for practical swine wastewater treatment

To treat swine wastewater from a practical piggery, a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR)–anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactor (AnCMBR) was operated for 201 days. A high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 95 % and biogas production rate of 0.31 L/L·d were achieved at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.19 g-COD/L·d. Although the free ammonia concentration reached a maximum of 200 mg/L during the last operational phase, no evident inhibitory effect on AnCMBR performance was observed. Microbial community analyses indicated that six bacterial phyla were responsible for the hydrolysis, acidification, and fermentation of organics and environmental stabilization. Hydrotrophic methanogenic archaea were dominant, indicating that the main methane production pathway involved the use of H2 and CO2 as substrates. The results demonstrated that CSTR–AnCMBR systems exhibit excellent organics removal performance and energy recovery at high organic concentrations and possess strong anti-shock ability. Thus, they represent alternative green and sustainable anaerobic technologies for practical swine wastewater treatment.

Nitrogen removal strategy for real swine wastewater by combining partial nitrification-denitrification process with anammox

Anammox process offers reduced operational cost and energy requirement compared to nitrification-denitrification methods due to lower biomass generation and no need for external carbon sources and aeration. High ammonia concetration and low biodegradable anaerobic digester of swaine wastewater provided an advantage for the growth of anammox microorangism. An anoxic/oxic (A/O) SBR and an anammox SBR were implemented parallelly to treat the same swine wastewater with partial nitrification/denitrification and partial nitrification/anammox process, respectively, and to compare their nitrogen removal efficiency. The nitrogen removal rates (NRRs) of the A/O SBR and anammox SBR were 0.054 and 0.26 kg-N/m3/day, respectively. The lower NRR of the A/O SBR could be attributed to insufficient biodegradable organic carbon sources in the denitrification process. The kinetic parameters obtained from the two SBRs were applied to estimate the time required for using the A/O process and partial nitrification/anammox process to treat the same amount of ammonia with the same reaction volume. Results showed that the A/O process required 3.3 times the reaction time of the partial nitrification/anammox process, suggesting that the partial nitrification/anammox process is a more efficient and economic nitrogen removal process for swine wastewater treatment. The next generation sequencing results revealed that Candidatus Brocadia, ranging from 10 to 23%, was the predominant anammox bacteria in the anammox SBR. More than 78.2 % of nitrite in the anammox SBR was removed through the anammox reaction.

Aerobic granular sludge for swine wastewater treatment: Implications for antibiotic and antibiotic resistance gene elimination

Swine wastewater (SW) contains high levels of traditional pollutants, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), necessitating effective elimination. Two parallel aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactors, R1 and R2, were constructed and optimized for treating SW from two pig farms, identified as SW1 and SW2. R2 showed higher antibiotic removal efficiency, particularly in the removal of sulfonamides, while fluoroquinolones tended to adsorb onto the sludge. Process optimization by introducing an additional anoxic phase enhanced denitrification and reduced effluent ARG levels, also aiding in the improved removal of fluoroquinolones. The nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) Nitrospira accumulated after the treatment process, reaching 12.8 % in R1 and 14.1 % in R2, respectively. Mantel’s test revealed that pH, NH4+-N, and Mg significantly affected ARGs and microbial community. Sulfadiazine and sulfamethazine were found to significantly impact ARGs and the microbial communities. This study provides innovative insights into the application of AGS for the treatment of real SW.

Strong Alliance of Microalgae and Bacteria: The State-of-the-Art Review and Future Prospects of Utilizing Microalgae-Bacteria Consortia for Comprehensive Treatment of Swine Wastewater

Strong Alliance of Microalgae and Bacteria: The State-of-the-Art Review and Future Prospects of Utilizing Microalgae-Bacteria Consortia for Comprehensive Treatment of Swine Wastewater

Enhancing Swine Wastewater Treatment: A Sustainable and Systematic Approach through Optimized Chemical Oxygen Demand/Sulfate Mass Ratio in Attached-Growth Anaerobic Bioreactor

Enhancing Swine Wastewater Treatment: A Sustainable and Systematic Approach through Optimized Chemical Oxygen Demand/Sulfate Mass Ratio in Attached-Growth Anaerobic Bioreactor

Soil Chemical Alteration Due to Treated Swine Wastewater Application in a Semi-arid Area in Southeastern Brazil

Soil Chemical Alteration Due to Treated Swine Wastewater Application in a Semi-arid Area in Southeastern Brazil

Regulation and microbial response mechanism of nitric oxide to copper-containing swine wastewater treated by Pistia stratiotes

As a signaling molecule, Nitric oxide (NO) has been widely used in abiotic stress mitigation studies.Pistia stratiotes showed a good synergistic removal effect on heavy metals, nitrogen and phosphorus, but the high concentration of copper(Cu) in swine wastewater inhibited the comprehensive removal ability of Pistia stratiotes. At present, it is not clear how the addition of NO regulates the stress resistance mechanism of Pistia stratiotes to copper in swine wastewater, and the microbial response mechanism accompanying this process is not yet clear. Therefore, in the concentration range of 0.31∼4 mg·L−1Cu2+ and NO concentration of 0,0.05 and 0.1 mg L−1, the removal effect of Pistia stratiotes on copper from swine wastewater was studied. The results showed as follows: The treatment of non-available copper in groups M and H increased by 10.67% and 22.31%, respectively, compared with that in group L. The critical point of inhibiting effect of NO on growth rate was 2.03 mg·L−1Cu. By measuring three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum, combined with parallel factor analysis and principal component analysis, it was confirmed that exogenous addition of NO affected the humification degree of dissolved organic matter(DOM) and promoted the chelation of organic matter with copper. With the increase of Cu concentration, the Reyranella and Prosthecobacter with certain copper resistance gradually gained advantages. Redundancy analysis(RDA) showed that Emiticicia had a strong correlation with the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus and copper in swine wastewater, while hgcI_clade had a strong correlation with the removal rates of total nitrogen. In conclusion, controlling the dosage of NO can effectively improve the tolerance and removal effect of Pistia stratiotes on copper in swine wastewater, which is of great significance for promoting the treatment and resource transformation of swine wastewater.

Effects of long-term exposure to zinc on performances of anaerobic digesters for swine wastewater treatment under various organic loading rates

The long-term performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) often decreases substantially when treating swine wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. However, the toxicological characteristics and mechanisms of continuous exposure to heavy metals under different organic loading rates (OLR) are still poorly understood. In these semi-continuous AD experiments, it was found that zinc concentrations of 40 mg/L only deteriorated the reductive environments of AD. In comparison, a concentration of 2.0 mg/L probably facilitated the reproduction of microorganisms in the operating digesters with a constant OLR of 0.51 g COD/(L·d). Nevertheless, when the OLR was increased to 2.30 g COD/(L·d), 2.0 mg/L zinc inhibited various life activities of microorganisms at the molecular level within only 10 days. Hence, even though 2.0 mg/L zinc could promote AD performances from a macroscopic perspective, it had potential inhibitory effects on AD. Therefore, this study deepens the understanding of the inhibitions caused by heavy metals on AD and the metabolic laws of anaerobic microorganisms in swine wastewater treatment. These results could be referred to for enhancing AD in the presence of zinc in practical swine wastewater treatment.

Utilizing recycled pumice and oyster shell waste for cost-effective treatment to mitigate pollutants and toxicity in swine wastewater

Despite the abundant nutrients that could be reutilized in swine wastewater, inadequate wastewater management leads to excessive metals and organic matter, causing environmental impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we recycled waste pumice and oyster shells for the cost-effective treatment and reclamation of swine wastewater. The toxicity of the treated wastewater was assessed using the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and Chinese cabbage Brassica rapa chinensis. Our findings showed significant removal of suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, and heavy metals (As, Cu, Ni, and Zn) from the swine wastewater after treatment with pumice and oyster shells. Moreover, untreated wastewater significantly inhibited the germination of Chinese cabbage, a trend that was reversed in treated wastewater. Both treated and untreated swine wastewater stimulated the growth of Chinese cabbage. Additionally, untreated swine wastewater exhibited high toxicity to the growth and reproduction of C. elegans after 72 hours of exposure, whereas treated wastewater showed notably reduced toxicity. The recycled pumice and oyster shells significantly induced growth and showed no toxicity in Chinese cabbage. These results suggest that pumice and oyster shell waste can effectively reduce environmental toxicity in raw swine wastewater, offering a cost-effective wastewater treatment solution for small-scale pig farms.

Biological treatment of swine wastewater—Conventional methods versus microalgal processes

BackgroundSwine wastewater (SWW) contains abundant organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, posing a significant risk of pollution and eutrophication with direct environmental release. Therefore, its proper treatment before environmental release is imperative. Conventional SWW treatment methods like stabilization ponds, aerobic processes, and anaerobic digestion are energy-intensive, with limited nitrogen and phosphorus removal and challenges in secondary sludge disposal. MethodsConventional methods described above, in addition to bacterial methods, have been discussed in detail. Microalgal bioremediation is an emerging technology for bioremediation and resource recovery from a circular economy perspective. Significant findingsConventional methods are dissimilatory and do not recover nutrients. On the other hand, the nutrients in SWW serve as a beneficial growth medium for microalgae. With its suitable nutritional composition, the resulting microalgal biomass can serve as supplements for livestock and aquaculture feed, generating additional revenue in microalgae-based SWW treatment. Microalgae-based processes enhance the SWW treatment efficiency and mitigate the common issue of secondary sludge pollution found in conventional treatment methods. This review offers comprehensive insights into traditional and microalgae-based SWW treatment methods and provides a comparative analysis of the various techniques and future research perspectives.

Performance Evaluation of a Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Assisted Vermifilter for Swine Wastewater Treatment

Untreated swine wastewater is one of the main contributors to the problem of water pollution in areas where swine farming is prevalent. Lack of wastewater treatment facilities can cause nutrient buildup in bodies of water, that result in adverse environmental effects such as eutrophication and can cause the buildup of pathogens in bodies of water. This study evaluated the feasibility of a vermifilter using African Night Crawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) in treating swine wastewater. The cylindrical vermifilters each had a diameter of 35cm, 50cm of freeboard, 15cm of soil substrate, and 35cm of gravel of mixed sizes. One vermifilter was planted with taro plants (TAVF) while the other was not (VF). Water samples were collected from the effluent of the respective setups, and were analyzed for electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH. Results from the Taro Assisted Vermifilter showed an average of 70.45% and 70.50% removal efficiencies for EC and TDS, respectively. The observed average increase in pH was 0.66, while the effluent ORP values for the TAVF exceeded 220mV. The TAVF showed no signs of clogging throughout the wastewater loading period, and a significant increase in the earthworm mass was observed. The plants used were also observed to have grown significantly throughout the experiment. The TAVF, however, did not perform better than the VF in terms of removal efficiency. Overall, the system demonstrated potential as a treatment facility for swine farms with significant wastewater effluent and showed efficiency with extended periods of acclimatization.

Operation Status and Effective Operation Management Model for On-Site Swine Wastewater Treatment Facilities

This study was conducted to examine the operation statuses of on-site swine wastewater treatment facilities through surveys and field surveys on pig farms and to propose effective operation models. Field analyses and surveys of pig farms indicate that technical and financial support systems are required for both farms and on-site swine wastewater treatment facilities. Public environmental services have been proposed as an effective support system, in which private sewage treatment facilities are entrusted to professional environmental management agencies, and the costs are shared by local governments and facility owners. However, securing a stable budget represents a challenge to implementing public environmental services. Thus, this study proposes a collaborative manure management model composed of individual farms, professional environmental management agencies, and local governments to address the shortcomings of public environmental services. To effectively manage pig manure, the flexible application of discharge standards, diversification of pollutant reduction management techniques (e.g., feed management), and periodic review of permits must be considered. Additionally, the reinforcement of discharge standards for individual purification facilities, control of the livestock density and number, and impacts of livestock manure discharge on riverine ecosystems must be considered.

Enhancement of multiple antibiotics removal performance of different microalgae-based system by agricultural phytohormone and carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes induction

Novel microalgae-based technologies for eight antibiotics removal are developed and characterized in the present study based upon the screened dominant strains Scenedesmus quadricauda (S. quadricauda), Chlorella ellipsoidea (C. ellipsoidea), exogenous supplementation of the agricultural multi-phytohormone composed of 0.135 % gibberellin acid, 0.00052 % indole-3-acetic acid as well as 0.00031 % brassinolide (GIB) and carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH). Four microalgae-based systems were constructed by using S. quadricauda, C. ellipsoidea, endophytic bacterium (S395-2) and the saprophytic filamentous fungus Clonostachys rosea (C. rosea). The results demonstrated that C. ellipsoidea-S395-2- C. rosea symbiont under 10 mg L−1 GIB treatment had greatest growth rate, mean daily production, Chlorophyll a contents and highest antibiotics removal efficiencies of 99.05 ± 0.43 %, 95.45 ± 3.51 %, 99.61 ± 0.18 %, 76.07 ± 6.41 %, 74.09 ± 6.25 %, 77.53 ± 7.12 %, 81.13 ± 7.45 % and 75.43 ± 6.74 % for tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC), chlorotetracycline (CTC), ciprofloxacin (CPFX), norfloxacin (NFX), sulfadiazine (SMZ), sulfamethazine (SMX) and sulfamethoxazole (SMM), respectively. Collectively, this work demonstrates that exogenously supplementing 10 mg L−1 GIB and 2 mg L−1 MWCNT-COOH can optimally and maximally enhance the biomass production, photosynthetic activity and multiple antibiotics removal rate of C. ellipsoidea-S395-2- C. rosea symbiotic culture, which provides the foundation for complex treatment of antibiotics-containing swine wastewater by three-phase symbiont supplemented with both agricultural multi-hormone and MWCNT-COOH.