Microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization, and oxytetracycline antibiotic sorption performance of a novel magnetic nanohybrid material: MnFe2O4@black cumin solid waste-derived activated carbon

Using waste resources to synthesize functional materials without polluting the environment is important for sustainable life and development. In the present study, a novel magnetically separable activated carbon nanohybrid (MnFe 2 O 4 @BAC) was produced by using the microwave-assisted chemical co-precipitation method of industrially processed black cumin solid waste-derived activated carbon (BAC) and manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe 2 O 4 ). It was characterized by VSM, XRD, Raman, BET, SEM-EDX, FTIR, Boehm titration, and pH PZC analysis techniques. Spinel MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles significantly affected the pore properties of BAC. MnFe 2 O 4 @BAC exhibited a saturation magnetization property of 14.6 emu/g. Also, the optimal sorption conditions of oxytetracycline (OTC), which was chosen as a model to test the antibiotic sorption ability from water, were decided according to the optimum influences of operational variables. The kinetic and isotherm results best described the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. The maximum OTC sorption ability of MnFe 2 O 4 @BAC was determined as 591.7 mg/g under specified optimal sorption conditions. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated to show that the sorption is spontaneous volitional and endothermic. The spent MnFe 2 O 4 @BAC was accumulated after sorption using an external magnetic field for subsequent reuse and showed excellent reusability stability.