Optimization, Nature, and Mechanism Investigations for the Adsorption of Ciprofloxacin and Malachite Green onto Carbon Nanoparticles Derived from Low-Cost Precursor via a Green Route

Abstract

The spread of organic pollutants in water spoils the environment, and among the best-known sorbents for removing organic compounds are carbonaceous materials. Sunflower seed waste (SFSW) was employed as a green and low-cost precursor to prepare carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) via pyrolysis, followed by a ball-milling process. The CNPs were treated with a nitric–sulfuric acid mixture (1:1) at 100 °C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a particle size range of 38 to 45 nm, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area was 162.9 m2 g−1. The elemental analysis was performed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and the functional groups on the CNPs were examined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, an X-ray diffractometer was employed to test the phase crystallinity of the prepared CNPs. The fabricated CNPs were used to adsorb ciprofloxacin (CFXN) and malachite green (MLG) from water. The experimentally obtained adsorption capacities for CFXN and MLG were 103.6 and 182.4 mg g−1, respectively. The kinetic investigation implied that the adsorption of both pollutants fitted the pseudo-first-order model, and the intraparticle diffusion step controlled the process. The equilibrium findings for CFXN and MLG sorption on the CNPs followed the Langmuir and the Fredulich isotherm models, respectively. It was concluded that both pollutants spontaneously adsorbed on the CNPs, with physisorption being the likely mechanism. Additionally, the FTIR analysis of the adsorbed CFXN showed the disappearance of some functional groups, suggesting a chemisorption contribution. The CNPs showed an excellent performance in removing CFXN and MLG from groundwater and seawater samples and possessed consistent efficiency during the recycle–reuse study. The application of CNPs to treat synthetically contaminated natural water samples indicated the complete remediation of polluted water using the ball-mill-fabricated CNPs.

Sweep-Out of Tigecycline, Chlortetracycline, Oxytetracycline, and Doxycycline from Water by Carbon Nanoparticles Derived from Tissue Waste

“…The CRNPs showed PD, PV, and SA values of 79.14 Ǻ, 0.58 cm 3 g −1 , and 283.04 m 2 g −1 , respectively; the obtained PD and PV seem suitable for the entrapment of pollutants. Additionally, these parameters were comparable to recent literature findings about CRMs [ 50 , 72 , 73 , 74 ].…”

“…Hence, developing new processes is necessary to avoid the widespread of PhCs. With the rise of nanomaterials, the PhCs removal from water by adsorption and photodegradation (PhTD) was expanded [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. PhTD is known for its completeness as a water treatment method that requires no further steps, such as dumping or burning pollutants.…”

“…PhTD is known for its completeness as a water treatment method that requires no further steps, such as dumping or burning pollutants. Even though the PhTD was criticized for its relatively higher energy consumption and the production of harmful degradation products [ 50 ]. In addition to treating undegradable contaminants in water, such as heavy metals, the adsorption process is simpler, consumes less energy than the PhTD, and does not liberate harmful fragments [ 37 , 51 , 54 ].…”

A Thorough Examination of the Solution Conditions and the Use of Carbon Nanoparticles Made from Commercial Mesquite Charcoal as a Successful Sorbent for Water Remediation

“…The impact of CHDNG concentration on its removal by MUCNPs was investigated (Figure 5a). The experimental q t increased proportionally as the feeding concentration increased, indicating that a 1:2 sorbent-to-solution ratio can effectively treat a 100 mg L −1 CHDNG pollution [59]. These obtained results implied the applicability of MUCNPs to remediate industrial wastewater and contaminated water resources.…”

“…The CHDNG's electron-rich sites may become protonated in low pH conditions. However, in an alkaline environment, the hydroxyl groups may deprotonate the CHDNG's acidic sites and/or compete with the pollutants for the adsorption sites [59].…”