Mohammad Asfour
Research Mentor(s): Nuha Alfahham
Mentor Department: Civil and environmental engineering
Authors: Nuha Alfahham, Ismail Asfour, Reem Suleiman
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 84
Abstract
The persistence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in wastewater poses a significant global health challenge, as traditional disinfection methods may not effectively control these pathogens. In collaboration with The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and industry partners, this study evaluates performic acid (PFA), an emerging disinfectant known for its strong oxidizing properties, against peracetic acid (PAA) and chlorination to determine their effectiveness in inactivating ARB in wastewater.
Experiments focused on the inactivation of vancomycin-resistant and susceptible Enterococci in secondary effluent samples using varied doses of the three disinfectants. Bacterial inactivation is assessed using culture-dependent and enzymatic methods. Bacterial log inactivation and antibiotic resistance percentage were determined.
Preliminary findings of recent research indicate that PFA and PAA demonstrate great inactivation efficiency with fewer harmful byproducts than chlorination which may select for resistant strains.
The goal of this study is to evaluate whether PFA offers a superior alternative for reducing ARB of concern in wastewater, ultimately guiding strategies to mitigate the environmental spread of antibiotic resistance and safeguard public health.
