Comparison of by-products as adsorbents for the removal of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim and clarithromycin
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Antibiotics in the environment are considered emerging pollutants, with special relevance and concern due to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes. Therefore, finding ways to remediate antibiotics-contaminated soil and water through the use of bio-adsorbents is imperative. In this research, we investigate three by-products (hemp waste, oak ash, and mussel shell) as potential low-cost bio-adsorbents for the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Clarithromycin (CLA), and Trimethoprim (TRI), using batch-type and stirred flow chamber experiments to study their retention and release. The results indicate that hemp waste has higher sorption capacity for CIP and TRI (20891.8 and 2481.6 μmol L −1 , respectively), while oak ash yields the highest retention for CLA (3078.4 μmol L −1 ). In addition, it was shown that the pH value significantly influences the sorption of these pollutants onto hemp waste. Among the three antibiotics, CLA was the most mobile, given the release experiments (903.9–1758.9 μmol kg −1 ), while ciprofloxacin (440.3–542.4 μmol kg −1 ) and trimethoprim (639.4–1652.1 μmol kg −1 ) are released less. Overall, the results of this research (the first of this kind including these antibiotics and sorbents simultaneously) suggest that while the individual antibiotics retention on each of the three by-products may not be entirely satisfactory, its potential combination (among them and/or with other low-cost sorbents) could significantly contribute to addressing antibiotics environmental pollution, favouring recycling and promoting a circular economy, which is a matter of global relevance. • Hemp waste (HW) is a successful adsorbent for some antibiotics here studied. • pH is a determining factor for some of the antibiotics used in this research. • Maximum adsorption of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim on HW achieved at neutral pHs. • Antibiotics adsorption was low on mussel shell (MS) and oak ash (OA). • Freundlich and Linear models successfully described adsorption on HW, MS, and OA.
Institutions: Universidade de Vigo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,850
Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Universidade de Vigo, Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia, Xunta de Galicia, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Consorcio Interuniversitario do Sistema Universitario de Galicia, Ministerio de Universidades
OpenAlex ID: W4403320691