Sorption mechanisms of cephapirin, a veterinary antibiotic, onto quartz and feldspar minerals as detected by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate sorption mechanisms of cephapirin (CHP), a veterinary antibiotic, onto quartz (SiO2) and feldspar (KAlSi3O8) at different pH. Sorption occurs by electrostatic attraction, monodentate and bidentate complexation. The zwitterion (CHPo) adsorbs to a quartz(+) surface by electrostatic attraction of the carboxylate anion group (–COO−) at low pH, but adsorbs to a quartz(−) surface through electrostatic attraction of the pyridinium cation, and possibly COO− bridge complexes, at higher pH. CHP− bonds to quartz(−) surfaces by bidentate complexation between one oxygen of –COO− and oxygen from carbonyl of an acetoxymethyl group. On a feldspar(+/−) surface, CHPo forms monodentate complexes between CO, and possible –COO− bridges and/or electrostatic attachments to localized edge (hydr)oxy-Al surfaces. CHP− adsorbs to feldspar(−) through monodentate CO complexation. Similar mechanisms may operate for other cephalosporins. Results demonstrate, for the first time, that Raman techniques can be effective for evaluating sorption mechanisms of antibiotics.