Evaluation of tetracycline removal by magnetic metal organic framework from aqueous solutions: Adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics, and Box-Behnken design optimization

Abstract

In our current research, an intriguing magnetic nano sorbent Fe3O4@Zr-MOF was synthesized in the lab. We used this adsorbent for successfully removing tetracycline (TC) from water. We performed a number of experiments and studies to further support this, including the following: vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BET). Our studies have determined that the Fe3O4@Zr-MOF boasts a considerable surface area of 868 m2/g with the highest adsorption capacity (qmax) of 942.12 mg/g. Study the factors that effect on adsorption process such as pH, TC concentration, adsorbent dose, and temperature. The adsorption isotherm was fitted to the Langmuir equation, whereas the kinetic isotherm to the pseudo-second-order equation. The adsorption process was chemisorption as well as the adsorption energy was 20 kJ/mol. Adsorption thermodynamics indicated that the adsorption process was both endothermic and spontaneous. As temperatures increased, the amounts of materials absorbed also increased. The Fe3O4@Zr-MOF has magnetic properties as it easily to remove from the solution after adsorption process. The adsorbent was used for five cycles with high efficiency and without change in the chemical composition as well as the XRD was the same before and after reusability. The mechanism of the interaction between Fe3O4@Zr-MOF and TC was expected on: Electrostatic interaction, π-π interaction, hydrogen bonding, and pore filling. The adsorption results were optimized using Box Behnken-design (BBD).

Keywords

• Metal-organic frameworks
• Fe3O4@Zr-MOF
• Adsorption isotherm
• Kinetics
• BBD