Cellulose-based activated carbon/layered double hydroxide for efficient removal of Clarithromycin residues and efficient role in the treatment of stomach ulcers and acidity problems

Abstract

The terrible rise of antibiotic residues which possesses a serious threat to the ecological and aquatic environments. So, the development of highly cost-effective, highly operation-convenient and recyclable adsorbents was a must. In our study, we utilized the ternary layered double hydroxide (CoZnAl LDH) as an efficient adsorbent and nano-carrier for Clarithromycin (CLA) residues for their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Also, we enhanced the removal efficiency of the synthesized ternary LDH using cellulose-based activated carbon which was obtained using the hydrothermal carbonization method followed by chemical activation via static air converting the cellulose derivative (hydroxy ethyl cellulose HEC) into highly porous activated carbon that played an important role in the adsorption process. Full characterization of the synthesized activated carbon (AC) and the adsorbents before and after the adsorption processes were carried out using different techniques. The differences between the two adsorbents were investigated in a comparative study in terms of factors affecting the adsorption process like pH, the dose of adsorbent, time, and temperature. The adsorption isotherm was investigated at pH 10 with high regression coefficient (R2) of 0.99 showing maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 61.5 mg/g for (CLA) using LDH as adsorbent, whereas, the investigation using the modified LDH (LDH-AC) with high regression coefficient (R2) of 0.99 shows maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 495 mg/g for (CLA). Kinetic studies were estimated. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔS°, ΔG° and ΔH° were estimated showing that the adsorption processes undergo exothermic and spontaneous routes.The safety and cytotoxicity of the modified, synthesized LDH (LDH-AC) were investigated besides the investigation of the gastroprotective efficacy against generated stomach ulcers. (LDH-AC) showed significant reduction for the generated ulcer in addition to the enhancement of the gastro protective efficacy revealing the safe use of LDH-AC/CLA for biological purposes like ulcer reduction and the enhancement of the ulcer inhibition.