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Effect of Molecular Dissociation and Sorbent Carbonization on Bisolute Sorption of Pharmaceuticals by Biochars

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Abstract

Understanding the sorption behavior of mixtures of pharmaceuticals is critical for predicting their environmental behavior and for risk assessment. Experiments on ketoprofen (KTP) and triclosan (TCS) sorption by wheat straw-derived biochars at 300 °C (WS300) and 700 °C (WS700) in single solute and bisolute systems were conducted to probe the sorption mechanisms. The results of the single solute sorption indicated that WS700 with higher degree of carbonization had higher sorption coefficient (K d) and nonlinearity than WS300. In a bisolute system, no competitive effect was observed for partition of neutral KTP and TCS in the noncarbonized phase of WS300, but they competed for the adsorptive sites on the carbonized phase of WS300 and WS700 for sorption, in which π-π interaction is proposed as the main mechanism. The competition in the bisolute system varied with degree of dissociation of KTP and TCS, and led to a lower and less nonlinear sorption compared with that in the single solute system. TCS was more competitive than KTP due to its higher hydrophobicity, and sorption inhibition of KTP was enhanced with increasing TCS concentration. Degree of both molecular dissociation and sorbent carbonization should be considered in bisolute sorption of organic pollutants by biochars.

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Abbreviations

KTP:

Ketoprofen

TCS:

Triclosan

WS:

Wheat straw

PPCPs:

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatograph

SSA:

Specific surface area

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

pHPZC :

Point of zero charge

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41472231 and No. 51238001) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No. 8162021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water Resources and Environment, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment Engineering, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Lin Wu & Erping Bi

  2. Beijing Water Science and Technology Institute, Beijing, 100048, China

    Binghua Li

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  1. Lin Wu
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  2. Binghua Li
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  3. Erping Bi
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Correspondence to Erping Bi.

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Highlights

• Noncompetitive partition can occur in the noncarbonized phase of WS300.

• KTP and TCS competed for sorption sites on the carbonized phase of biochars.

• Competitive sorption varied with degree of dissociation of KTP and TCS.

• TCS was more competitive than KTP due to its higher hydrophobicity.

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Wu, L., Li, B. & Bi, E. Effect of Molecular Dissociation and Sorbent Carbonization on Bisolute Sorption of Pharmaceuticals by Biochars. Water Air Soil Pollut 228, 242 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3424-3

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