Efficient removal of chlortetracycline from water using magnetic Fe3O4-EDTA@Zr-MOF

A magnetic Fe 3 O 4 -EDTA@Zr-MOF composite was successfully synthesized and characterized. • The maximum adsorption capacity for chlortetracycline reached 268.10 mg/g. • The adsorbent retained around 80% removal efficiency after six regeneration cycles. The long-term accumulation and serious pollution of chlortetracycline in the environment have emerged as a global pollution concern, posing a serious threat to ecosystems and public health. To overcome the limitations of traditional adsorbents, including low adsorption capacity, poor selectivity and limited regenerative properties, this study synthesized a composite material Fe 3 O 4 -EDTA@Zr-MOF that combines magnetic separation and ligand functionality by the hydrothermal method for CTC adsorption. Successful synthesis was verified by structural characterization, including FTIR and XRD. The adsorption kinetics were well described by the PSO model, suggesting that active-site-controlled surface interactions played an important role in CTC uptake. Thermodynamic analysis showed ΔG 0  < 0 and ΔH 0  > 0, indicating a spontaneous and endothermic process. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Langmuir model well, with a maximum theoretical capacity (q max ) of 268.10 mg/g. Circulation experiments show that the adsorption capacity of the material was still around 80% after 6 cycles. Fe 3 O 4 -EDTA@Zr-MOF combines high adsorption efficiency with easy magnetic recovery and good reusability, providing a potential solution for the treatment of tetracycline antibiotics in aquatic environments. Download: Download high-res image (122KB) Download: Download full-size image