A study on the performance of a novel adsorbent UiO-66 modified by a nickel on removing tetracycline in wastewater

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 338; p. 139399
• Main Authors: Li, Guizhen, Zhang, Yao, Hu, Xinyu, Tan, Wei, Li, Jiaxiong, Su, Daiyan, Wang, Hongbin, Yang, Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Adsorption; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Ni-UiO-66; Nickel; Tetracycline; Thermodynamics; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Ni-UiO-66; Wastewater treatment; Tetracycline
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139399

In the present study, Ni-UiO-66 was synthesized to improve the adsorption efficiency of tetracycline (TC) in wastewater treatment. To this end, nickel doping was performed in the preparation process of UiO-66. The synthesized Ni-UiO-66 was characterized by XRD, SEM and EDS, BET, FTIR, TGA, and XPS for obtaining the lattice structure, surface topography, specific surface area, surface functional groups, and thermostability. More specifically, Ni-UiO-66 has a removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of up to 90% and 120 mg g−1, respectively, when used to treat TC. The presence of ions HCO3−, SO42−, NO3− and PO43− slightly affects the TC adsorption. A 20 mg L−1 humic acid reduces the removal efficiency from 80% to 60%. The performed analyses revealed that Ni-UiO-66 had similar adsorption capacity in wastewater with different ion strengths. The variation of adsorption capacity with the adsorption time was fitted using a pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. Meanwhile, it is found that the adsorption reaction occurs only on the monolayer of the UiO-66 surface so the adsorption process can be simulated using the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic analysis indicates that the adsorption of TC is an endothermic reaction. Electrostatic attraction, hydrogen-bond interaction, and π-π interaction might be the main reasons for the adsorption. The synthesized Ni-UiO-66 has well adsorption capacity and stable structure. Accordingly, it is expected to achieve a good prospect in industrial applications and wastewater treatment plants. [Display omitted] •A kind of economical, effective and thermally stable adsorbent for tetracycline adsorption was obtained.•The mechanism of Ni-UiO-66 adsorbing tetracycline is found.•A good prospect used in other contaminants is achieved because of the good adsorption performance of Ni-UiO-66.