Evaluating Nanoparticles Decorated on Fe3O4@SiO2-Schiff Base (Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS-HBA) in Adsorption of Ciprofloxacin from Aqueous Environments

Abstract

The aim of this study is synthesize of Fe3O4@SiO2-Schiff base nanocomposite (Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS-HBA) as a new and effective adsorbent in the removal of CIP antibiotic from aqueous medium. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analyses were used to investigate the morphological, structural, and magnetic properties of Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS-HBA. The parameters affecting the adsorption process including, initial pH solution, adsorbent concentration, CIP concentration and contact time were investigated. The maximum removal was achieved with 96% efficiency under optimum process conditions, including pH 7, contact time = 5 min, CIP concentration = 10 mg/L, and adsorbent concentration 50 mg/L. In the isotherms and kinetic studies of the adsorption process, the results showed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-quadratic kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) was obtained as 415.3 mg/g. Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS-HBA had advantages such as fast pollutant adsorption power, easy magnetic separation from aqueous solutions by the magnet, and reusability in several stages without changes in the magnetic property. Therefore, Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS-HBA nanocomposite can be used in the removal of recalcitrant pollutants such as CIP antibiotics.