Effect of pH on antibiotic resistance genes removal and bacterial nucleotides metabolism function in the wastewater by the combined ferrate and sulfite treatment

The variations of the antibiotic resistance genes removal and the bacterial nucleotide metabolism function in the wastewater by the combined ferrate and sulfite treatment at different pH levels were investigated. The total DNA as well as the genes sul2, sul3 and intI1 removal by the combined 10 mg/L ferrate and 28.5 mg/L sulfite treatment and the contributions of the sulfate radicals and the hydroxyl radicals produced by the reaction of ferrate with sulfite to the DNA removal decreased as the pH increase from 6.0 to 9.0. Bacterial nucleotide metabolism level changes affected the DNA removal, and the highest nucleotide degradation metabolism level and the lowest level of the nucleotide biosynthesis and salvage metabolism were found at pH 6.0. The reduction of the genes sul2, sul3 and intI1 host level contributed to the genes sul2, sul3 and intI1 removal. This study provides novel insights into the antibiotic resistance genes removal by the combined ferrate and sulfite treatment at different pH levels.