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Degradation of tetracycline in tropical river ecosystems: generation and dissipation of metabolites; kinetic and thermodynamic parameters

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Abstract

The fate and degradation of tetracycline (TC) in tropical river ecosystem was evaluated using microcosm experiments. The residual concentration of the antibiotic was monitored over a period of 90 days. Results show that multiphasic pseudo zero order kinetic model best characterize the degradation with the free form degrading at a faster rate, 6.5 and 13.6 days in the sediment and water phase. The adsorbed form degraded at a slower rate, 23.2 and 131 days in the sediment and 48.7 and 301 days in the water column. Under these environmental conditions two metabolites were observed, epi-TC and anhydro-TC which in turn also undergo complete mineralization at a faster rate than the parent compound. Furthermore the results show that the dissipation can be thermodynamically characterized in terms of the adsorption/desorption equilibrium constant and the adsorption free energy ΔGads. Adsorption ΔG values of − 3.2 kJ mol−1 and − 7.7 kJ mol−1 were obtained for the two adsorbed speciation forms in each phase, confirming that the adsorption is enthalpy driven and thermodynamically feasible. Thus the degradation of multifunctional compounds such as TC in relevant environmental conditions follow complex degradation kinetics involving speciation and adsorption/desorption hysteresis which require more information for adequate predictive estimation.

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The data that support this study are available in the article and accompanying Online Supplementary Material.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out with financial support from the Research Board of the University of Zimbabwe. The authors also acknowledge financial support provided by the African Network of Chemical Analysis of Pesticides (ANCAP) and International Program in Chemical Sciences (IPICS) to participate in ANCAP conferences and workshops. The authors acknowledge the courtesy of the Chemistry Department of Bindura University of Science Education in availing one of us (PD) the use of their laboratory facility and HPLC equipment.

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  1. Pamhidzai Dzomba

    Present address: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe

  2. Mark F. Zaranyika

    Present address: Tegwani Farm, Jumbo Road, Mazowe, Harare, Zimbabwe

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  1. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, P. O. Box MP167, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Pamhidzai Dzomba & Mark F. Zaranyika

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Dzomba, P., Zaranyika, M.F. Degradation of tetracycline in tropical river ecosystems: generation and dissipation of metabolites; kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 135, 2115–2136 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02249-z

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