Inorganic Chemicals Industry ›› 2025, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (7): 99-109.doi: 10.19964/j.issn.1006-4990.2024-0554

• Environment·Health·Safety • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on adsorption and removal of nitroimidazole antibiotics in water by potassium carbonate-activated algae-based biochar

YANG Jingjing1,2(), XU Chenchen1,2, ZHU Liyan3, KUAI Qiang1,2, WU Bingdang1,2, HUANG Tianyin1,2()   

  1. 1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Suzhou University of Science and Technology,Suzhou 215009,China
    2. Suzhou Key Laboratory of Sponge City Technology,Suzhou 215009,China
    3. Suzhou River Management Department,Suzhou 215011,China
  • Received:2024-10-16 Online:2025-07-10 Published:2024-11-22
  • Contact: HUANG Tianyin E-mail:yangjingjing@mail.usts.edu.cn;huangtianyin111@163.com

Abstract:

To address the environmental challenges of resource recovery from microalgae residues and the removal of antibiotics from water,the protein-nucleated Chlorella pyrenoidosa residue was employed as a raw material to prepare potassium carbonate-activated algae-based biochar(KBC) through a simplified one-step alkaline activation method.The synthesized KBC was characterized using nitrogen adsorption-desorption apparatus,scanning electron microscope(SEM),Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FT-IR),and elemental analyzer(EA).The results showed that potassium carbonate-activation significantly enhanced the specific surface area and pore volume of KBC,reaching 697.70 m2/g and 0.299 3 cm3/g,respectively,while a large number of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups appeared on the surface of the biochar.The effects of adsorption time,adsorbent dosage,solution pH,and ionic strength on the removal performance of metronidazole(MNZ),dimetridazole(DMZ),and ornidazole(ONZ) by KBC were investigated.Rapid adsorption occurred within the first 5 min,achieving approximately 85% of the equilibrium adsorption capacity,with equilibrium reached within 2 h.The pH and ionic strength of the solution had minimal effects on the efficiency of KBC in adsorbing MNZ,DMZ,and ONZ.The adsorption behavior of MNZ and DMZ on KBC could be better described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model,with maximum monolayer adsorption capacities of 334.28 mg/g and 302.45 mg/g,respectively.In contrast,the adsorption behavior of ONZ on KBC was more consistent with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model,indicating a multilayer adsorption process.Thermodynamic analysis confirmed that the adsorption processes were endothermic,entropy-driven,and spontaneous.The primary mechanisms underlying the adsorption of MNZ,DMZ,and ONZ by KBC were hydrogen bonding,π-π stacking interactions,and pore filling.In addition,for the adsorption of ONZ,there was also a p-π bonding interaction.KBC demonstrated excellent regeneration capabilities and superior adsorption performance,offering a novel adsorbent for the removal of nitroimidazole antibiotics and showcasing the potential of algae-based biochar in antibiotic pollution remediation.

Key words: activation by potassium carbonate, Chlorella pyrenoidosa residue, biochar, adsorbent, nitroimidazole antibiotics

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