The Use of Converter Slag (Magnetite) and Bentonite Clay for Amoxicillin Adsorption from Polluted Water

Abstract

The presence of pharmaceuticals compounds in the aquatic environment has attracted much interest from the academic community, since these compounds are potential endocrine disrupters and persist in the environment causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem. In Brazil little research has been conducted to measure, treat and remove β-lactam antibiotics such as amoxicillin present in surface water. Thus, the development and implementation of new treatment method which allow the removal or reduction of these compounds in surface waters are need. This study, focus on the development of low cost adsorbent material composed by steel manufacture converter slag (magnetite) and bentonite clay to adsorb and remove amoxicillin (amox) from water under laboratory conditions. To demonstrate the favorable aspects, the study was performed by experimental calculations of thermodynamics, kinetic and empirical model. The obtained results were similar with others found in literature which indicate the steel industry residue -magnetite and bentonite clay can be use to remove amoxicillin, with approximately 50% of removal percentage.

Keywords

• amoxicillin
• magnetite
• bentonite clay
• endocrine disrupters