Physicochemical controls on transport of veterinary pharmaceuticals and hormones to surface watersCheng-Hua Liu, Ya-Hui Chuang, Hui Li, Brian J. Teppen, Stephen A. Boyd, and Wei Zhang

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Javier M. Gonzalez, National Soil Erosion Research Lab, USDA-ARS, West Lafayette, IN

Cliff T. Johnston, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Veterinary pharmaceuticals and hormones in animal

manures are chemicals of emerging concerns (CECs), resulting

in surface water contamination, bacteria antibiotic resistance,

and endocrine disruption in humans and animals. CEC-

contaminated manures are typically applied to agricultural

fields. As CECs tend to sorb strongly to major soil geosorbents,

i.e., clay minerals, amorphous organic matter (AOM), and black

carbon/biochar (BC), top-soils and specifically certain

geosorbent particles become highly enriched in CECs. We

envision that CEC-enriched geosorbent particles mobilized

from top-soils and transported in surface runoff or to shallow

tile-drainage water can contribute a substantial CEC load to

surface waters. We will mechanistically examine CEC sorption

and transport in surface runoff and subsurface flows. We are

investigating a novel management tool, i.e., biochar soil

amendment for enhanced sequestration of CECs in soils,

thereby reducing CEC bioavailability. Knowledge gained will

help improve process-based modeling of CEC transport in

surface runoff and shallow drainage waters. Improved

assessment of CEC fate and transport in soil ecosystems will

contribute to management strategies to mitigate the spread of

CECs in the environment, thus protecting human and

ecosystem health.

Conclusion

Lincomycin sorption process was characterized by fast and slow

sorption stages.

The fast sorption within the first two days is primarily contributed

from surface adsorption, and the long-term slow sorption is

controlled by pore diffusion.

Biochar had a greater sorption capacity for 17β-estradiol than sand.

Greater transport of 17β-estradiol was observed in the biochar-free

sand than in the biochar-amended sand.

Acknowledgment

This project was supported Agriculture and Food Research

Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2013-67019-21377 from the

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Introduction

Long-term sorption kinetics of lincomycin on 17 manure-

derived biochars was investigated by batch sorption

experiments. Sorption of 17β-estradiol on biochars was studied

by both batch sorption experiments and fixed bed column

experiments

Figure 1. Long-term sorption kinetics for 17 manure-derived biochars (initial concentration [C0] = 1000 μg/L,

temperature [T] = 23 °C, pH = 10, ionic strength [IS] = 0.02 M, dosage [D] = 1.0 g/L, particle size [PS] = 75-150 μm,

reaction time = 1 - 360 days)

Biochar Feedstock

BM Bull Manure w/ Sawdust

DM Dairy Manure w/ Rice Hulls

PS Poultry w/ Sawdust

RDM Raw Dairy Manure

CDM Composted Dairy Manure

CDMWComposted Dairy Manure w/

Wood Waste 1:1

DDM Digested Dairy Manure

WW Wood Waste

ARS Mixed softwoodShort-term

Surface sorption

Long-term

Pore diffusion

lincomycin

Figure 3. Breakthrough curves of 17β-estradiol in the biochar-free

and biochar-mixed sand fixed bed columns (0.1 wt% biochar). (C0 =

10 mg/L, pH = 7.0, IS = 0.01M NaCl, bed depth = 12 cm , flow rate = 2

mL/min , and Darcy velocity = 0.41 cm/min)

Figure 2. Adsorption isotherm of 17β-estradiol on biochar

(ARS450) and quartz sand (Unimin Co.) in the batch experiments.

(C0 = 1 to 10 mg/L, T = 23 °C, pH = 7.0, IS = 0.01M NaCl, D = 10 g/L

for biochar and 100 g/L for sand, PS = 75-150 μm for biochar and

250-500 μm for sand, reaction time = 1 day)

Batch sorption study Fixed-bed column study