Preparation and characterization of a novel activated carbon from wheat dust and its adsorption mechanism for tetracycline hydrochloride

In this study, a method for preparing activated carbon (AC) from wheat dust (WD) was developed to achieve efficient removal of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The AC, prepared through response surface methodology with a carbonization temperature of 590 °C, a NaOH to WD ratio of 4:1, and an activation temperature of 800 °C, exhibited a high specific surface area of 2821.58 m 2 /g. It demonstrated a remarkable TCH removal capacity of 1414.65 mg/g in aqueous solution. The AC retained an adsorption capacity of 1035.36 mg/g after five cycles and maintained over 80% of its adsorption capacity in different water bodies. The adsorption of TCH by AC, primarily controlled by surface sites through chemical and physical interactions, involved mechanisms such as pore-filling, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-cation interactions, and π-π interactions. This study highlights the potential of WD in preparing effective adsorbents, providing valuable insights for the comprehensive utilization of similar byproducts.