tetracycline and clinoptilolite

The detection of emerging contaminants in bodies of water has steadily increased in recent years, becoming a severe problem threatening human and ecosystem health. Developing new materials with adsorption properties to remove these pollutants represents an important step toward a potential solution. In this paper, a polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) nanofibrous membrane incorporating clinoptilolite zeolite was developed and its excellent performance in removing tetracycline (TC) and methylene blue (MB) from water was demonstrated. The composite membrane was prepared in two steps: firstly, a homogeneous dispersion of clinoptilolite (1 wt% respect to polymer) in a PBAT solution (12.6 wt%) was electrospun; secondly, the electrospun membrane was subjected to an acid treatment that improved its wettability through the protonation of the surface silanol groups of clinoptilolite. The resulting membrane was hydrophilic and showed higher adsorption for TC (800 mg/g) and MB (100 mg/g), using a low dose (90 mg/L) powdered zeolite. The maximum removal capacity was obtained at neutral pH, being the cation exchange reaction the main adsorption mechanism. Pseudo-second-order kinetics and Henry's law agree well with the proposed chemisorption and the high affinity of TC and MB for the adsorbent. The material can be reused after the removal process without generating additional contamination, although losing some effectivity.

Topics: Adipates; Adsorption; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ecosystem; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Methylene Blue; Tetracycline; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zeolites

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nanostructures; Nitriles; Oxidation-Reduction; Photochemical Processes; Silver; Tetracycline; Ultrasonic Waves; Water; Zeolites

Photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) aqueous solution by FeO doped onto nano-clinoptilolite particles was investigated using a high pressure Hg lamp as radiation source. Nano-particles of clinoptilolite were prepared using ball-milling of micro crystals of zeolite. The pretreated nano-particles ion exchanged in a ferrous solution and the Fe(II)-exchanged form was calcined at 450°C. All samples were characterized by FT-IR, DRS, SEM and XRD. The degradation extent was determined via UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and COD. Based on the study of the effect of key operating parameters, the optimal conditions were determined to reach the higher efficiency of the process. The best photocatalytic activity was obtained in presence of the catalyst containing 5.4% FeO.

Topics: Catalysis; Ferrous Compounds; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nanoparticles; Photolysis; Surface Properties; Tetracycline; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zeolites