Adsorption of norfloxacin onto titanium oxide: Effect of drug carrier and dissolved humic acid

Titanium dioxide is widely used as an effective catalyst in wastewater treatment. The effects of drug carriers (cyclodextrins, 100 μM) or dissolved humic acids (0-50 mg/L) or pH (3.0-11.0) on adsorption of norfloxacin to two TiO2 (Hombikat UV-100 and Anatase TiO2) surfaces were systematically studied. Norfloxacin shows high adsorption affinity to TiO2 surface. Specific surface area of TiO2 shows great influence on norfloxacin adsorption especially in acidic solutions. The effect of pH on norfloxacin adsorption originates from the changes of TiO2's surface charge and speciation of norfloxacin. The presence of humic acids (50 mg/L) suppresses the adsorption of norfloxacin onto Hombikat UV-100 and Anatase TiO2 prominently. The co-effect of heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (methyl-β-CD) and humic acid is similar to the solo effect of humic acid on the adsorption of norfloxacin onto Hombikat UV-100, while the co-effect shows a more retardation effect on the adsorption of norfloxacin onto Anatase TiO2. Humic acid and β-CD show a synergetic depressed effect on the adsorption of norfloxacin onto both TiO2 surfaces. These results show that both aquatic solution chemistry and drug carrier are important to norfloxacin adsorption on TiO2, which could alter the environmental fate and transport of norfloxacin.

► Co-effect of drug carriers and humic acid on norfloxacin adsorption on TiO2 is investigated; ► pH and TiO2 surface areas play an important role on norfloxacin adsorption. ► Adsorption is determined based on zeta potential and FT-IR analysis.