The ever-increasing use of pharmaceuticals in the 21st century has led to growing
concern about the environmental impact of pharmaceutical substances. In terms of their
mechanism of action, antibiotics pose one of the most significant risks to the environment
by altering microbiological conditions. Microbial degradation of organic matter in
soil systems is the primary driver of the carbon cycle, so antibiotic pollution can
significantly impact soil CO2 emissions. Soil organic matter is not a homogenous system;
most soil organic carbon models separate different carbon pools with shorter and longer
decomposition times. As previously published, different soil organic carbon pools
may have different chemical properties, and therefore adsorption properties. This
study focused on the adsorption properties of different soil carbon fractions.Adsorption
studies were performed on three fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin,
ofloxacin) by batch and kinetic experiments on three Luvisol samples with different
land use (arable, grassland, forest). The SOM fractionation was based on the Zimmermann
procedure, and the batch and kinetic experiments have also been carried out on the
fractions. The soil fractions were analysed by TOC, XRD, XRF, BET, FTIR during the
adsorption. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied on the equilibrium data. The
kinetics data were analysed by pseudo-first and second-order kinetics models. The
main parameters affecting adsorption were studied by principal component analysis.
Our results suggest that the long-term carbon pools are most affected by the adsorption
of antibiotics. PREPARED WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT OF THE DOCTORAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM OF THE CO-OPERATIVE DOCTORAL PROGRAM OF THE MINISTRY OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
FINANCED FROM THE NATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION FUND.
