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Impact of Microplastics on Ciprofloxacin Adsorption Dynamics and Mechanisms in Soil
Summary
Researchers investigated how microplastics affect the adsorption dynamics and mechanisms of ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic) in soil, finding that microplastics competed with soil particles for antibiotic binding and altered the overall fate and mobility of ciprofloxacin in the soil environment.
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% (w/w) 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.
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[Research Progress on Adsorption, Migration, and Compound Toxicity of Microplastics and Antibiotics in Soil].
This review examined how microplastics adsorb antibiotics in soil, drive their co-migration, and produce combined toxic effects on soil fauna, plants, and microorganisms. Hydrophobic partitioning, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding are the primary adsorption mechanisms, and co-exposure often amplifies toxicity to soil ecosystems.