(Mg-Fe) LDHs decorated 3D reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for adsorption of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin

The extensively used fluoroquinolones antibiotics are frequently detected in various water bodies, posing a severe threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In view of this, tumor-like Mg-Fe layered double hydroxides (Mg-Fe) LDHs nanoparticles were in situ decorated onto 3D reduced graphene oxide (3D-rGO) using a one-step hydrothermal method for removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and norfloxacin (NOR) in this work. Benefiting from the synergistic effects associated with abundant hydroxyl groups of (Mg-Fe) LDHs, the it-conjugated electron cloud structure of 3D-rGO and high specific surface area of the resulted nanocomposite, the (Mg-Fe) LDHs decorated 3D-rGO exhibited high adsorption capacity of 245.296 mg/g for CIP and 100. 650 mg/g for NOR. The kinetic and isotherm studies elucidated that the adsorption processes were dominated by chemisorption and involved with both monolayer and multilayer adsorption. Thermodynamic calculation revealed the spontaneous nature and feasibility of the adsorption processes. The nanocomposite also exhibited good recyclability. This study holds significant implications for development of novel adsorbent and the remediation of antibiotics polluted wastewater.