Efficient Removal of Tetracycline from Aqueous Media with a Fe 3 O 4 Nanoparticles@graphene Oxide Nanosheets Assembly

Xinjiang Hu, Yunlin Zhao, Hui Wang, Xiaofei Tan, Yuanxiu Yang and Yunguo Liu
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Xinjiang Hu: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Yunlin Zhao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Hui Wang: Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Xiaofei Tan: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Yuanxiu Yang: College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Yunguo Liu: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: A readily separated composite was prepared via direct assembly of Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles onto the surface of graphene oxide (GO) (labeled as Fe 3 O 4 @GO) and used as an adsorbent for the removal of tetracycline (TC) from wastewater. The effects of external environmental conditions, such as pH, ionic strength, humic acid (HA), TC concentration, and temperature, on the adsorption process were studied. The adsorption data were analyzed by kinetics and isothermal models. The results show that the Fe 3 O 4 @GO composite has excellent sorptive properties and can efficiently remove TC. At low pH, the adsorption capacity of Fe 3 O 4 @GO toward TC decreases slowly with increasing pH value, while the adsorption capacity decreases rapidly at higher pH values. The ionic strength has insignificant effect on TC adsorption. The presence of HA affects the affinity of Fe 3 O 4 @GO to TC. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir model fit the adsorption data well. When the initial concentration of TC is 100 mg/L, a slow adsorption process dominates. Film diffusion is the rate limiting step of the adsorption. Importantly, Fe 3 O 4 @GO has good regeneration performance. The above results are of great significance to promote the application of Fe 3 O 4 @GO in the treatment of antibiotic wastewater.

Keywords: tetracycline; antibiotic wastewater; Fe 3 O 4 @GO; humic acid; ionic strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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