Removal of tetracycline by magnetic chitosan nanoparticles from medical wastewaters

In this study, chitosan (CHT)-based nanoparticles loaded with iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were gained magnetic properties. The coating of CHT onto the iron oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC). The effects of the initial pH value of tetracycline solution, the amount of CHT-Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the initial concentration of tetracycline solution on the removal of tetracycline by CHT MNPs were investigated in batch reactors operated at 25 degrees C. The maximum amount of adsorbed tetracycline per unit weight of CHT MNPs at equilibrium and adsorption efficiency obtained at 50 mg/L initial tetracycline concentration, at pH 5.0 and at 0.5 g/L CHT MNPs concentration was found to be 78.11 mg/g and 78.8 %, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption of tetracycline by CHT MNPs was represented by the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. The adsorption kinetics of tetracycline on CHT MNPs was represented better by the pseudo-second-order rate equation than by Lagergren pseudo-first order rate equation.