Adsorption Behavior of Tetracycline by Polyethylene Microplastics in Groundwater Environment

Jiahui Li, Hui Li (), Wei Zhang, Xiongguang Li, Xiangke Kong and Min Liu
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Jiahui Li: Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Hui Li: Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Wei Zhang: Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Xiongguang Li: CCCC-AECOM Eco-Environmental Co., Ltd., Beijing 100101, China
Xiangke Kong: Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Min Liu: Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-19

Abstract: Previous studies have mostly focused on the adsorption behavior of microplastics for antibiotics in soil or aqueous environments. This study explores the adsorption characteristics of microplastics for antibiotics under groundwater environmental conditions and the influence of typical influencing factors of the groundwater environment (pH, pollutant concentration, aquifer media, dissolved organic matter, and ionic strength) on the adsorption process. Polyethylene (PE) and tetracycline (TC) were selected as typical microplastics and antibiotics in the experiment. The study results showed that the adsorption of TC by PE reached equilibrium at 48 h, and the adsorption kinetics fitted pseudo-second-order kinetics models well. The adsorption isotherm was consistent with the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity of PE for TC was highest under neutral conditions and positively correlated with the initial concentration of TC. The aquifer media exhibited limited effects on the adsorption process. Fulvic acid (FA) significantly suppressed TC adsorption onto PE, attributable to competitive adsorption mechanisms. TC adsorption on PE initially increased then declined with Ca 2+ concentration due to Ca 2+ bridging and competition. This research elucidates the adsorption mechanisms of PE towards TC, providing theoretical basis and reference for assessing the environmental risk of microplastics and antibiotics in groundwater.

Keywords: groundwater; microplastics; antibiotics; adsorption; polyethylene; tetracycline (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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