Intraparticle sorption and desorption of antibiotics

Intraparticle domains are the critical locations for storing contaminants and retarding contaminant transport in subsurface environments. While the kinetics and extent of antibiotics sorption and desorption in subsurface materials have been extensively studied, their behaviors in intraparticle domains have not been well understood. This study investigated the sorption and desorption of antibiotics (ATs) in the intraparticle domains using quartz grains and clay, and antibiotic tetracycline (TC) and levofloxacin (LEV) as examples that are commonly present in groundwater systems. Batch experiments coupled with the analyses using various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were performed to investigate the sorption and desorption kinetics, and to provide insights into the intraparticle sorption and desorption of TC and LEV. Results indicated that both TC and LEV with different physiochemical properties can migrate into intraparticle domains that were consistent with sorptive diffusion. The rate and extent of the sorption are a function of intraparticle surface area and properties, pore volume and connectivity, and ionic properties of the ATs. The sorptive diffusion led to the slow desorption of both TC and LEV after their sorption, apparently showing an irreversible desorption behavior (with desorption percentage about 1.86–20.51%). These results implied that intraparticle domains can be important locations for storing ATs, retarding ATs transport, and may serve as a long-term secondary source for groundwater contamination. [Display omitted] •Antibiotics sorb to intraparticle domains containing microfractures and interlayers.•Intraparticle sorption is rate-limited by sorption-retarded diffusion.•Antibiotic ionic properties and intraparticle surface charges control the sorption extent.•Desorption of the sorbed antibiotics from intraparticle domains show apparent irreversibility.