Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil

The co-occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics as emerging contaminants demonstrates significant ecological perturbations in soil matrices. Of particular scientific interest is the potential for MPs to mediate the environmental fate and transport dynamics of co-existing antibiotics. This s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qian Xu, Hanbing Li, Sumei Li, Ziyi Li, Sha Chen, Yixuan Liang, Yuyang Li, Jianan Li, Mengxin Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/294
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850155076490887168
author Qian Xu
Hanbing Li
Sumei Li
Ziyi Li
Sha Chen
Yixuan Liang
Yuyang Li
Jianan Li
Mengxin Yuan
author_facet Qian Xu
Hanbing Li
Sumei Li
Ziyi Li
Sha Chen
Yixuan Liang
Yuyang Li
Jianan Li
Mengxin Yuan
author_sort Qian Xu
collection DOAJ
description The co-occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics as emerging contaminants demonstrates significant ecological perturbations in soil matrices. Of particular scientific interest is the potential for MPs to mediate the environmental fate and transport dynamics of co-existing antibiotics. This study investigated MP-mediated ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption in lateritic soils. Batch experiments with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and poly (ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) revealed soil components dominated CIP retention, while 10% (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) MPs reduced soil adsorption capacity by ≥10.8%, with inhibition intensity following PET > PE > PP. Adsorption thermodynamics exhibited significant pH dependence, achieving maximum sorption efficiency at pH 5.0 (± 0.2), which was approximately 83%. Competitive adsorption analysis demonstrated inverse proportionality between ionic strength and CIP retention, with trivalent cations exhibiting superior competitive displacement capacity compared to mono- and divalent counterparts. Isothermal modeling revealed multilayer adsorption mechanisms governed by hybrid chemisorption/physisorption processes in both soil and MP substrates. Spectroscopic characterization suggested differential adsorption pathways: MP-CIP interactions were primarily mediated through hydrophobic partitioning and π-π electron coupling, while soil–MP composite systems exhibited dominant cation exchange capacity and surface complexation mechanisms. Notably, electrostatic attraction/repulsion forces modulated adsorption efficiency across all experimental conditions, particularly under varying pH regimes. This work advances understanding of co-contaminant dynamics in soil ecosystems, informing risk assessment frameworks.
format Article
id doaj-art-c26f4d95d3d14ff7a3e490be8a7ea449
institution OA Journals
issn 2305-6304
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-c26f4d95d3d14ff7a3e490be8a7ea4492025-08-20T02:25:03ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-04-0113429410.3390/toxics13040294Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in SoilQian Xu0Hanbing Li1Sumei Li2Ziyi Li3Sha Chen4Yixuan Liang5Yuyang Li6Jianan Li7Mengxin Yuan8Department of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaThe co-occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics as emerging contaminants demonstrates significant ecological perturbations in soil matrices. Of particular scientific interest is the potential for MPs to mediate the environmental fate and transport dynamics of co-existing antibiotics. This study investigated MP-mediated ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption in lateritic soils. Batch experiments with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and poly (ethylene-terephthalate) (PET) revealed soil components dominated CIP retention, while 10% (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) MPs reduced soil adsorption capacity by ≥10.8%, with inhibition intensity following PET > PE > PP. Adsorption thermodynamics exhibited significant pH dependence, achieving maximum sorption efficiency at pH 5.0 (± 0.2), which was approximately 83%. Competitive adsorption analysis demonstrated inverse proportionality between ionic strength and CIP retention, with trivalent cations exhibiting superior competitive displacement capacity compared to mono- and divalent counterparts. Isothermal modeling revealed multilayer adsorption mechanisms governed by hybrid chemisorption/physisorption processes in both soil and MP substrates. Spectroscopic characterization suggested differential adsorption pathways: MP-CIP interactions were primarily mediated through hydrophobic partitioning and π-π electron coupling, while soil–MP composite systems exhibited dominant cation exchange capacity and surface complexation mechanisms. Notably, electrostatic attraction/repulsion forces modulated adsorption efficiency across all experimental conditions, particularly under varying pH regimes. This work advances understanding of co-contaminant dynamics in soil ecosystems, informing risk assessment frameworks.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/294microplasticssoiladsorptionciprofloxacinmechanism
spellingShingle Qian Xu
Hanbing Li
Sumei Li
Ziyi Li
Sha Chen
Yixuan Liang
Yuyang Li
Jianan Li
Mengxin Yuan
Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
Toxics
microplastics
soil
adsorption
ciprofloxacin
mechanism
title Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
title_full Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
title_fullStr Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
title_short Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
title_sort impact of microplastics on ciprofloxacin adsorption dynamics and mechanisms in soil
topic microplastics
soil
adsorption
ciprofloxacin
mechanism
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/294
work_keys_str_mv AT qianxu impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT hanbingli impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT sumeili impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT ziyili impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT shachen impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT yixuanliang impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT yuyangli impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT jiananli impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil
AT mengxinyuan impactofmicroplasticsonciprofloxacinadsorptiondynamicsandmechanismsinsoil