The impacts of Cu(II) complexation on gatifloxacin adsorption onto goethite and hematite

Gatifloxacin (GAT) is a new generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic and its adsorption onto iron minerals influenced by coexisting trace elements [e.g., Cu(II)] has not been well investigated. To evaluate the adsorption behavior of GAT and Cu(II) onto goethite and hematite, the complexation constants of GAT with Cu(II) were determined using potentiometric titration, and the effects of Cu(II) concentration and solution pH on GAT adsorption were investigated using batch experiments. It was observed that GAT adsorption was negatively correlated with molar concentration ratio of Cu(II) to GAT. In our experimental pH range (i.e., 3.0-10.8), the calculated main species involved in GAT adsorption were Cu(GAT^± )²⁺ and Cu(GAT^± )₂ ²⁺ under acidic to neutral conditions, and formation of Cu(GAT^- )₂ (s) facilitated the removal of GAT from solution under alkaline condition. The adsorption data were well fitted by the Freundlich model and showed high nonlinearity. In adsorption onto goethite, the primary interactions shifted from electrostatic repulsion to formation of goethite-Cu(II)-GAT ternary surface complexes with increase of GAT concentration. For hematite, electrostatic repulsion was the main inhibiting mechanism and became stronger with increase of Cu(II) concentration. Our findings suggest that it is necessary to consider the complexation between GAT and coexisting metal cations in evaluating its transport in soils rich in different iron minerals.