Synergistic Removal of Ciprofloxacin and Sulfamethoxazole by Lemna minor and Salvinia molesta in Mixed Culture: Implications for Phytoremediation of Antibiotic-Contaminated Water

Aquatic macrophytes have been used for the removal of antibiotics from contaminated water. Here, we studied capacity Lemna minor and Salvinia molesta to reclaim ciprofloxacin (1.5 µg Cipro L−1) and/or sulfamethoxazole (0.3 Sulfa artificially waters when plants were exposed in monoculture (L. or S. molesta) mixed culture + molesta). Neither nor alone induced negative effects on plants. As shown by Abbot modelling, displayed antagonistic In both species, increased H2O2 concentrations antioxidant enzyme activities observed grown together. Although showed natural degradation, their concentration water treatments with was significantly lower, indicating ability uptake compounds. When co-culture, greater growth rates plant which resulted system compared those monoculture. Both tolerance antibiotics, antibiotic being reported molesta. at tested did not induce plants, exposure changed relative yield molesta, may result community structure. The use L. artificial wetlands increase phytoremediation systems.