Abstract
Activated carbon (AC) was modified by FeCl3. Batch experiments were carried out to evaluate the characteristics of equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics of Sulfamethazine adsorption onto original and modified AC. The results showed that Fe3+ treatment changed the surface area, pore volume and surface zeta potential and increased the number of surface oxygenic functional groups. The adsorption of Sulfamethazine on modified activated carbon (MAC) was significantly improved. Isotherm test results revealed that the adsorption isotherms of Sulfamethazine on MAC fit the Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin equations well. The maximum adsorption quantity of Sulfamethazine on MAC was 17.2414 mg/g at 25 °C. The adsorption kinetics of Sulfamethazine on AC and MAC can be characterized by the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption process was affected by membrane diffusion, surface adsorption and internal diffusion. The adsorption quantities of Sulfamethazine first increased and then decreased for pH between 3 and 10. The removal efficiencies decreased with increasing temperature, which is favorable for adsorption at low temperature. It was also found that the mechanisms of adsorption included micropore capture and electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, π-π electron donor-acceptor (EDA) and coordination interactions as well as other interactions.
Highlights
Traditional wastewater treatment technology can only remove some antibiotics from wastewater[9,10,11]
The adsorption characteristics of Sulfamethazine on original and modified activated carbon were investigated by adsorption kinetics, adsorption thermodynamics, and adsorption isotherms, which can provide the scientific basis for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater
The surface area, total pore volume, micropore volume and mesopore volume of activated carbon all increased to some extent after modification by Fe3+, which can provide more adsorptive sites for Sulfamethazine
Summary
Traditional wastewater treatment technology can only remove some antibiotics from wastewater[9,10,11]. This has motivated researchers to develop new technologies that are simple and more efficient for effective removal of sulfonamides in wastewater. Activated carbon can effectively remove chroma, odor, and some inorganic compounds and most organic contaminants[12], due to its large specific surface area and complex pore structure. The adsorption characteristics of Sulfamethazine on original and modified activated carbon were investigated by adsorption kinetics, adsorption thermodynamics, and adsorption isotherms, which can provide the scientific basis for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater
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