Influence of the source and molecular weights on sulfathiazole/sulfadiazine binding in sedimentary dissolved organic matter

Sedimental dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a crucial role in the migration of antibiotics in a lake environment, which is strongly associated with its physicochemical properties influenced by temporal and spatial variations. This study systematically investigated the binding behavior of sulfathiazole (ST) and sulfadiazine (SD) to DOM across different molecular weights (MWs) in sediments from Poyang Lake using multiple spectroscopic techniques. Results showed that the MW fractions of DOM from the onset of the dry season were higher than those before flooding. Additionally, key carbon parameters, including dissolved organic carbon and fluorescent components, were present in greater proportion in the truly dissolved phase and the low MW fraction of DOM. These properties of the low MW fraction of DOM enhanced its binding capacity for the two sulfonamides, with the partitioning coefficient (logK_coc) values of 5.20 and 5.06 for ST and SD, respectively. Dialysis experiments investigating the interaction between different concentrations of DOM and sulfonamides indicated that humic-like and protein-like components significantly influenced the migration of ST and SD, respectively. Moreover, protein-like components exerted a more substantial impact on the migration of sulfonamides in heavily polluted sampling sites, while the humic-like substances played a more significant role for the samples from the wetland protection area. The results enhanced the understanding of the significance of DOM sources and MW in influencing the environmental fate of antibiotics in lake ecosystems.