Enhanced removal of ciprofloxacin using humic acid modified hydrogel beads

In this study, humic acid coated biochar (HA-BC) and chitosan were combined to prepare an adsorbent with enhanced reactivity for the removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP). With initial CIP concentrations of 250 mg/L, the maximum adsorbed amount was 154.89 mg/g. Removal rates reached equilibrium after 12 h, obeying the pseudo second-order kinetic model . Adsorption isotherm data was better fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. The sorption capacity of humic acid-biochar/chitosan hydrogel beads (HBCB) decreased by 11.42%, 6.66%, 9.32%, and 23.92% in the presence of NaCl , NaNO 3 , Na 2 SO 4 , and Na 3 PO 4 , respectively. A complex mechanism was found to be responsible for the adsorptive removal of CIP including, hydrogen bonding , π-π electron donor–acceptor (EDA) interactions and hydrophobic interactions. After four regeneration steps, sorption capacity remained sufficient (61.23 mg/g). These removal results indicate that HBCB is durable and effective for long term CIP removal.