Mobility of contaminants of emerging concern in soil column experiments

In this study, laboratory column experiments under water saturated conditions were conducted for over 35 days to investigate the transport of nine pharmaceuticals (nadolol, sulfamethizole, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethoxypyridazine, carbamazepine, ibuprofen, diclofenac, hydrochlorothiazide, and gemfibrozil) and four artificial sweeteners (acesulfame, saccharin, cyclamate, and sucralose) in two soils (S and C) with similar organic carbon content (between 0.8 and 1.1%) and pH (7.90 and 7.25) but different texture (58.3 and 85.5% of silt+clay, respectively). Ibuprofen and artificial sweeteners reached maximum concentrations at the outlet of the columns and showed a homogenous vertical profile in the aqueous phase, with the same concentration in all sampling ports under flow percolation conditions. Regarding carbamazepine and hydrochlorothiazide, apparent retardation was observed for both and was attributed to sorption. Nadolol, a positively charged beta-blocker, did not show any apparent breakthrough. After 35 days, the columns were washed using tap water for over one week. Soils were then analyzed at different depths and vertical concentration profiles were plotted. Overall, highest concentrations were measured in the top most layers for contaminants in the soil column with higher clay content (C), whereas vertical profiles were more uniform in that with lower clay content (S).