Plasma and Calcium Peroxide: A Powerful Combo for Wastewater Sludge

Wastewater treatment creates a lot of sludge. This sludge is a big problem because it carries antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). These genes can spread and cause serious health issues. So, finding a way to break down sludge and get rid of these genes is crucial. One interesting approach is using a mix of plasma and calcium peroxide. This combo, called Plasma-CaO2, does two important things. First, it breaks down the sludge more effectively. Second, it helps remove those harmful ARGs. When compared to using just one of these methods, Plasma-CaO2 shows better results. It increases the disintegration rate of sludge by 9. 7%. It also boosts the release of a substance called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) by 656. 9%. This means the sludge is breaking down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This process also releases organic materials that were trapped inside the sludge. These materials become soluble and tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (S-EPS and TB-EPS). The breakdown of sludge also helps in removing ARGs. One gene, tetW, saw a significant reduction of 2. 4-log. This happens because the ARGs are released into the liquid and then broken down by reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is a clear link between sludge disintegration and ARG removal. The more the sludge breaks down, the more ARGs are removed. The family of bacteria called Burkholderiaceae seems to be a major carrier of some ARGs. One type of ROS, singlet oxygen, is the key player in breaking down sludge and removing ARGs. In short, using Plasma-CaO2 looks like a promising way to handle sludge before further treatment. It breaks down the sludge and removes harmful genes, making it a safer process overall. However, further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and efficiency of this method.