CW-MFC for efficient degradation of ofloxacin-containing wastewater and dynamic analysis of microbial communities

The overuse of antibiotics poses critical threats to environmental and human health. This study developed a constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) system integrated with pre-acclimated <i>Shewanella oneidensis</i> MR-1 to enhance ofloxacin (OFL) removal from wastewater. The CW-MFC demonstrated exceptional removal efficiency (> 96%) for OFL across tested concentration gradients, significantly outperforming conventional CWs in both antibiotic elimination and conventional pollutant reduction. Microbial community analysis revealed that <i>S. oneidensis</i> MR-1 inoculation enhanced microbial diversity under OFL stress while promoting enrichment of electroactive Firmicutes phylum members compared to non-inoculated systems. The synergistic integration of bioelectrochemical processes and microbial consortia modification in CW-MFCs effectively addressed antibiotic contamination challenges. These findings establish CW-MFC technology combined with electroactive bacteria acclimation as a sustainable solution for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment, providing critical insights for optimizing antibiotic removal strategies in engineered ecosystems.