Sorption–desorption and transport of trimethoprim and sulfonamide antibiotics in agricultural soil: effect of soil type, dissolved organic matter, and pH

Abstract

Use of animal manure is a main source of veterinary pharmaceuticals (VPs) in soil and groundwater through a series of migration processes. The sorption-desorption and transport of four commonly used VPs including trimethoprim (TMP), sulfapyridine, sulfameter, and sulfadimethoxine were investigated in three soil layers taken from an agricultural field in Chongming Island China and two types of aqueous solution (0.01 M CaCl2 solution and wastewater treatment plant effluent). Results from sorption-desorption experiments showed that the sorption behavior of selected VPs conformed to the Freundlich isotherm equation. TMP exhibited higher distribution coefficients (K d = 6.73-9.21) than other sulfonamides (K d = 0.03-0.47), indicating a much stronger adsorption capacity of TMP. The percentage of desorption for TMP in a range of 8-12 % is not so high to be considered significant. Low pH (<pK a of tested VPs) and rich soil organic matter (e.g., 0-20 cm soil sample) had a positive impact on sorption of VPs. Slightly lower distribution coefficients were obtained for VPs in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, which suggested that dissolved organic matter might affect their sorption behavior. Column studies indicated that the transport of VPs in the soil column was mainly influenced by sorption capacity. The weakly adsorbed sulfonamides had a high recovery rate (63.6-98.0 %) in the leachate, while the recovery rate of TMP was only 4.2-10.4 %. The sulfonamides and TMP exhibited stronger retaining capacity in 20-80 cm and 0-20 cm soil samples, respectively. The transport of VPs was slightly higher in the columns leached by WWTP effluent than by CaCl2 solution (0.01 M) due to their sorption interactions.

Assessment of Soil to Mitigate Antibiotics in the Environment Due to Release of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent

“…Due to its lower sorption coefficients ( K d = 0.3–36 L kg −1 ), SMX was expected to have weak interactions and sorption potential in the soil profile (Drillia et al, 2005; Figueroa‐Diva et al, 2010; Liu et al, 2010; Zhang et al, 2014). With a soil pH of ~7 in the cropped location of the Astronomy Site, the speciation of SMX would be predominately anionic with a smaller proportion in the neutral state.…”

“…Trimethoprim was expected to exhibit lower sorption with soil particles than OFL but higher sorption than SMX, because of its K d range of 6.73 to 9.21 L kg −1 (Zhang et al, 2014). At the pH of the cropped soil at the Living Filter (typically ?7), TMP would be in its neutral form and prefer to interact with OC in the soil, rather than be in the soil solution.…”

Uptake of Three Antibiotics and an Antiepileptic Drug by Wheat Crops Spray Irrigated with Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent

“…Given the weekly application rate of the effluent at the Living Filter site, approximately 295 mg ha -1 of the compound would have been spray-irrigated in the summer. Sulfamethoxazole is characterized by weak interactions and sorption in soil, indicated by low sorption coefficients (K d = 0.03-0.47 L kg −1 ) (Zhang et al, 2014). Given the soil pH in the cropped area of the Astronomy site (~6.5), the majority of SMX would be in the anionic species, with a smaller proportion remaining neutral.…”

“…In the summer, an approximate mass of 11 mg TMP ha −1 would have been spray-irrigated at the Living Filter within a week. Trimethoprim typically exhibits higher sorption with soil particles than other antibiotics, such as SMX, with a high sorption coefficient (K d = 6.73-9.21 L kg −1 ) (Zhang et al, 2014). When the pH range of a soil system is between 4 and 6, sorption of TMP is at its highest.…”

The rGO/BiOBr/Bi4O5Br2 Composites with Stacked Nanosheets for Ciprofloxacin Photodegradation under Visible Light Irradiation

“…Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a synthetic third‐generation fluoroquinolone, mainly used for urinary tract infections and skin infections, which is the most widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic at present. Most of them cannot be completely metabolized by animals, and 30 % to 90 % of the intake is excreted as prototype drugs and metabolites . Consequently, a large number of FQs in livestock and poultry excreta enter the natural environment through soil manure and reuse of irrigation water .…”