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. 2023 Mar 7;13(11):7413-7424.
doi: 10.1039/d2ra08331k. eCollection 2023 Mar 1.

Optimal preparation of a core-shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent for efficient tetracycline removal

Xinyu Zheng  1   2 , Cong Shen  1 , Yongfu Guo  1 , Huaili Zheng  2
Affiliations

Optimal preparation of a core-shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent for efficient tetracycline removal

Xinyu Zheng et al. RSC Adv. .

Abstract

As emerging contaminants, tetracyclines pose a severe threat to aquatic environments and human health. Therefore, developing efficient approaches to remove tetracyclines from water has attracted a large amount of interest. Herein, a novel core-shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent (FSMAS) was facilely prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SSS) monomers on the surface of vinyl-modified Fe3O4@SiO2 (FSM). From single factor experiments, the optimal graft copolymerization conditions were concluded to be the following: initiator concentration = 1.2‰, reaction pH = 9, monomer molar ratio = 7 : 3. The surface morphology, microstructure and physicochemical properties of as-prepared FSMAS were fully evaluated by different characterization techniques, including SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, XRD and VSM. The adsorption performance of FSMAS towards tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) was systematically studied by batch adsorption experiments. Results showed that the adsorption capability of the adsorbent was largely enhanced after graft copolymerization. The removal rate of TCH by FSMAS reached 95% at solution pH = 4.0, almost 10 times higher than FSM. Besides, the adsorption process of TCH by FSMAS was very efficient, 75% of pollutant could be adsorbed after only 10 minutes, attributed to the stretch of polymer chains and the strong affinity provided by abundant functional groups. Furthermore, TCH-loaded FSMAS was easily regenerated with HCl solution, the regeneration rate was higher than 80% after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Superior adsorption capability, fast solid-liquid separation speed and satisfactory reusability demonstrated the great potential of FSMAS in practical tetracycline removal.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1. Preparation of core–shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent Fe3O4@SiO2–MPS-g-P(AM-SSS) (FSMAS).
Fig. 1
Fig. 1. SEM images of (a) Fe3O4 and (b) FSMAS; TEM images of (c) Fe3O4 and (d) FSMAS.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Characterization: (a) FTIR spectra; (b) XPS spectra; (c) XRD patterns; and (d) magnetic hysteresis curves.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Effects of graft copolymerization conditions on the anionic quantity of FSMAS: (a) initiator concentration; (b) reaction pH; (c) monomer molar ratio; and (d) proposed reaction routes.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. (a) Chemical structure of TCH; effects of solution pH on (b) TC species; (c) zeta potential; and (d) removal rate.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Effects of (a) adsorption time and (b) adsorbent dosage on the adsorption process.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. (a) Adsorption kinetics of TCH adsorbed onto FSMAS; (b) adsorption isotherms of TCH adsorbed onto FSMAS.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7. Adsorption mechanism of TCH by core–shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent at different solution pH.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8. (a) Comparison of Fe loss between FSMAS and Fe3O4 in different pH solutions and (b) regeneration rate of FSMAS in five adsorption–desorption cycles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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