Modification of activated carbon using ionic liquids for concurrent elimination of micropollutants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from wastewater

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), driven largely by improper antibiotic use, have become an emerging environmental concern, and conventional wastewater treatment often fails to remove them effectively. This study explores the use of ionic liquids (ILs) immobilized on granular activated carbon (GAC) to improve ARG removal. Two ILs were applied to GAC and tested against bacteria present in wastewater and greywater samples. The IL-modified GAC showed strong antimicrobial activity. Importantly, the impregnation did not markedly diminish GAC’s adsorption of most pharmaceuticals. Analytical and ecotoxicity assays confirmed that the ILs remained tightly bound to the GAC surface, limiting their environmental release. Overall, the results indicate that IL-impregnated activated carbon is a promising approach for mitigating the spread of antibiotic resistance in wastewater.