Efficient Removal of Oxytetracycline and Some Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions by Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide Nanomaterial

Abstract

T HE development of an efficient method for the removal of oxytetracycline and some heavy metals from aqueous solutions by Mg-Al layered double hydroxide nanomaterial. Preparation and characterization of [Mg-Al]-LDH and its evaluation for the removal of Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Zn 2+ , Fe 2+ and oxytetracycline from aqueous solutions. Water contamination by antibiotic contaminants and heavy metal ions represents an important environmental remediation problem. Oxytetracycline is an antibacterial drug used for human, fish, plants and animals' treatment, so it is found in large concentrations in wastewater. Mg-Al LDH nanoparticles with nitrate intercalated anions, as an adsorbent, was prepared through coprecipitation technique of solutions of magnesium nitrate hexahydrates and aluminum nitrate (with percentage 3:1 molar ratio respectively). The nanomaterial was characterized before and after adsorption of some pollutants in wastewater by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) surface area analysis (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Various factors such as pH (3-10), dose of Mg-Al LDH (0.025-0.2g), concentration of metal ions (15-60 ppm) and effect of shaking time (5-120 min) were applied to optimize the removal ability of Mg-Al LDH. The adsorption efficiency of the pollutant by Mg-Al LDH was calculated, the kinetics and the isotherm of adsorption strength over the adsorbent were further studied. The adsorption capability of the adsorbent was studied with regard to several pollutants in wastewater like (copper, zinc, iron, cobalt, nickel metal ions and oxytetracycline) in single solution.