Research progress and trend of antibiotics degradation by electroactive biofilm: A review

Antibiotics were extensively utilized worldwide to eradicate disease-causing microorganisms and control infections. However, the presence of antibiotics in sewage, in their active form, not only disrupted the normal balance of bacteria within the human body but also eradicated beneficial bacteria in the environment, thereby disturbing ecological equilibrium. Electroactive biofilm was economical and efficient, especially its secondary pollution-free characteristics were in line with the background of dual carbon targets. In bioelectrochemical systems, electroactive biofilms attached to electrodes could significantly enhance antibiotic degradation efficiency. Consequently, research on relevant systems and technologies based on electroactive biofilms has emerged as a prominent area of study within the international environmental energy field. This approach was conducive to addressing the limitations associated with traditional biofilm technology units, including low treatment efficiency, challenges in activity control, and lack of resource recovery capability. Herein, the structural mechanism and characterization methods of electroactive biofilms were expounded, and the research status regarding antibiotic treatment at both cathodes and anodes was summarized. Finally, the existing research difficulties and outlines future development directions were clarified to provide valuable insights for researchers aiming to develop novel antibiotic treatment technologies based on electroactive biofilm that achieved the dual efficacy in wastewater treatment and energy recovery.