N-doped activated carbon for high-efficiency ofloxacin adsorption

Preparation of high specific surface area activated carbon from rice husk for the removal of ofloxacin from medical wastewater. The optimum conditions for the preparation of activated carbon were a nitrogen doping ratio of 1:1:4 and an activation temperature of 800 °C (AC). The samples were characterised by N2 adsorption isotherms, BET, FT-IR, TGA, XPS and SEM. The data showed that the specific surface area of AC was up to 1818.20 m2 g−1 with a total pore volume of 1.12 cm3 g−1. AC formed N-containing functional groups on the surface and had good thermal stability. Scientific batch experiment studies were conducted to investigate the effect of pH, initial concentration, temperature and coexisting ions on the ofloxacin adsorption. The qe reached a maximum value of 780 ± 20 mg g−1 and maintained a removal efficiency of 51.1% after four regeneration cycles. The adsorption equilibrium data and the adsorption process were well represented by Langmuir model and general-order kinetic model, respectively. Thermodynamic studies of adsorption had shown that the adsorption process was autogenous and endothermic. Possible adsorption mechanisms for this material were also analysed. Finally, treatment of synthetic medical wastewater with AC resulted in a high removal rate of 98.3%. The superior adsorption properties combined with ease of preparation, ease of separation and excellent regeneration properties, make this material potentially effective for the removal ofloxacin from real medical wastewater.