Sorption, photodegradation, and chemical transformation of naproxen and ibuprofen in soils and water.
Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are released into the environment where they undergo soil sorption, photodegradation, and chemical transformation into structurally similar compounds. Here we report on studies of naproxen (NAP) and ibuprofen (IBP), two widely-used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), in soils and water. Organic matter (OM) was observed to play an important role in each of these processes. Sorption was observed to be stronger and nonlinear in higher OM soils while weaker but still significant in lower OM, higher clay soils; the amphiphilic nature of these two PhACs combined with the complex charged and nonpolar surfaces available in the soil was observed to control the sorption behavior. Simulated solar photodegradation rates of NAP and IBP in water were observed to change in the presence of humic acid or fulvic acid. Structural analogs of each compound were observed as the result of chemical transformation in both photoexposed aqueous solutions and non-photoexposed soil. Two of these transformation products were detected as both soil and photo transformation products for both PhACs. OM was observed to influence the chemical transformation of both pharmaceuticals.
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, United States. Electronic address: VulavaV@cofc.edu.
Vijay M
VM
Vulava
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, United States.
Wendy C
WC
Cory
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, United States.
Virginia L
VL
Murphey
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, United States.
Candice Z
CZ
Ulmer
D000327:Adsorption; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009288:Naproxen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010782:Photolysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013022:South Carolina; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009288:Naproxen; D007052:Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen; Naproxen; Organic matter; Pharmaceutical chemicals; Photodegradation; Soil sorption; Transformation