Effects of bio-compatible metal ions on rufloxacin photochemistry, photophysics and photosensitization: Copper(II)

Effect of Different Lead and Cadmium Salts on the Photolytic Degradation of Two Typical Fluoroquinolones under Natural Sunlight Irradiation

This study investigated the effects of different lead and cadmium salts (Pb(NO₃)₂, Cd(NO₃)₂, PbCl₂, and CdCl₂) on the photolytic degradation of two typical fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin (LVF) and norfloxacin (NOR)) under natural sunlight irradiation. Their half-life time and photolytic kinetic constants (k) were calculated at different molar ratios. The results indicated that the photolytic degradation curves of LVF and NOR followed apparent first-order kinetics. After 42 days of sunlight irradiation, approximately 48.3-69.4% of NOR was decomposed when the initial concentration increased from 0.006 to 0.06 mmol/L. In comparison, only 9.8-43.4% of LVF was decomposed. The k of NOR ranged from 0.79 × 10^-3 to 1.30 × 10^-3 h^-1, and the k of LVF increased from 6.82 × 10^-4 to 1.61 × 10^-4 h^-1. Compared with the control, the Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ participation tended to enhance the LVF and NOR photodegradation. The effects of Cd²⁺ on the photodegradation efficiency were more significant than those of Pb²⁺. It was inferred that the presence of aqueous NO₃^- obviously suppressed the NOR degradation, but Cl^- had slight effects on these two fluoroquinolones' photodegradation. These results are of importance toward the understanding of the persistence of FQs under natural sunlight irradiation in surface waters.

Photochemical behavior of antibiotics impacted by complexation effects of concomitant metals: a case for ciprofloxacin and Cu(II)

Many water bodies, especially those adjacent to aquaculture and livestock breeding areas, are contaminated by both antibiotics and transition metals. However, the effects of the interaction between antibiotics and transition metals on the environmental behavior and the ecotoxicology of antibiotics are largely unknown. We hypothesized that antibiotics may coordinately bind with metal ions, and this complexation may affect the environmental photochemical behavior of antibiotics. We took ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Cu(ii) as a case, and employed simulated sunlight experiments and density functional theory calculations to investigate the underlying reaction mechanisms. The results showed that monovalent cationic ciprofloxacin (H2CIP(+)) that is predominant in the normal pH range (6-9) of surface waters can chelate with hydrated Cu(ii) to form [Cu(H2CIP)(H2O)4](3+). Compared with H2CIP(+), [Cu(H2CIP)(H2O)4](3+) has different molecular orbitals, and atomic charge distribution. As a result, [Cu(H2CIP)(H2O)4](3+) showed dissimilar light absorption properties, slower direct photolytic rates, lower (1)O2 generation ability and weaker reactivity towards (1)O2. Due to the Cu(ii) complexation, the apparent photodegradation of H2CIP(+) was inhibited, and the photolytic pathways and product distribution were altered. This study implies that for an accurate ecological risk assessment of antibiotics under transition metal co-contamination conditions, the effects of metal complexation should be considered.