Transformation of Tetracycline Antibiotics and Fe(II) and Fe(III) Species Induced by Their Complexation

Tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) are frequently detected micropollutants and are known to have a strong tendency to complex with metal ions such as Fe(II) and Fe(III) in aquatic environments. Experiments with Fe(II) and TCs showed that the complexation of Fe(II) with tetracycline (TTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), or chlorotetracycline (CTC) could lead to the accelerated oxidation of Fe(II) and the promoted degradation of TCs simultaneously. The reaction started with complexation of Fe(II) with TC followed by oxidation of the Fe(II)-TC complex by dissolved oxygen to generate a Fe(III)-TC complex and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS (primarily ·OH) then degraded TC. The oxidation rate constants of Fe(II) in the Fe(II)-H2L and Fe(II)-HL complexes were 0.269 and 1.511 min(-1), respectively, at ambient conditions (pH 7, 22 °C, and PO2 of 0.21 atm), which were about 60 and 350 times of the oxidation rate of uncomplexed Fe(II). Humic acids (HA) compete with TCs for Fe(II), but the effect was negligible at moderate HA concentrations (≤10 mg·L(-1)). Experiments with Fe(III) and TCs showed that the complexation of Fe(III) with TC could generate oxidized TC and Fe(II) without the need of oxygen at a relatively slower rate compared to the reaction involving Fe(II), O2, and TCs. These findings indicate the mutually influenced environmental transformation of TCs and Fe(II) and Fe(III) induced by their complexation. These newly identified reactions could play an important role in affecting the environmental fate of TCs and cycling of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in TCs-contaminated water and soil systems.