Binding of tetracycline on soil phyllosilicates with Cd(II) as affected by pH and mineral type

Purpose Antibiotics often coexist with heavy metals in contaminated soils, making their behaviors more complicated than their individual presences. Sorption to soil components deeply affects the mobility, bioavailability, and fate of contaminants. However, limited studies have investigated the cosorption characteristics of tetracycline (TC) and heavy metals to typical soil minerals, particularly phyllosilicates. Materials and methods This study investigates the effect of Cd(II) on TC sorption by kaolinite (Kao, 1:1-type) and montmorillonite (Mont, 2:1-type) via isothermal adsorption, coupled with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results and discussion Isothermal results show that TC sorption on both kaolinite (Kao, 1:1-type) and montmorillonite (Mont, 2:1-type) is little affected by Cd(II) at pH 4.5 but increases significantly at pH 8.5. The overall effect of Cd(II) on TC sorption depends on the intensities of two positive processes, i.e., (1) the formation of soluble Cd-TC complex increases sorption compared to free TC molecules and (2) the formation of a ternary clay-Cd-TC complex at clay variable edge sites increases sorption, and one negative process, i.e., competition of Cd(II) with cationic and zwitterionic TC species at the permanently charged sites decreases sorption. XRD analyses demonstrate that TC intercalates into the interlayer ( d 001 = 18.7 Å) of Mont as one monolayer parallel molecule both with and without Cd(II) but adsorbs predominately on external surface of Kao. FTIR results suggest a flat-lying horizontal configuration of adsorbed TC molecules on clays, accompanied by a strong complexation between the carbonyl and amino groups of TC molecules and the surfaces. Besides, the presence of Cd(II) more or less facilitates this complexation. Conclusions We propose that Cd(II) can significantly promote TC adsorption on clay minerals at alkaline pH rather than acidic pH. TC and Cd(II) interact intensely and form strong surface complexation on clay surfaces. Hence, coexistence with Cd(II) may lower the mobility and thus the bioavailability of TC in alkaline soils, which provides a new direction for soil remediation by regulating soil pH using alkaline materials. Graphical abstract