Synthesis of multi-layered nanoswabs for simultaneous and expeditious removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, dyes, and antibiotics from wastewater

Multi-layered glyoxylic-functionalized triptycene nanoswabs (G-TCNS) were synthesized using a novel one-step intercalation cross-linked polymerization process for simultaneous removal of different types of water contaminants. In this study, expeditious adsorption of the dyes methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB), the antibiotics gentamicin (GM) and ofloxacin (OFL), and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), and the removal of three types of emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from water were studied. A contaminant removal efficiency of 99 % was achieved within 7 min using G-TCNS dosage of 20 mg L−1 at pH 8 and 295 K. The adsorption capacities (Qe) of G-TCNS for the different contaminants were in the range 450–556 mg g−1. The G-TCNS exhibited high adsorption capacities as a result of their multi-layered micro-porous structure and high surface area, and improved water purification due to their excellent water selectivity. The NRs also showed high efficiencies of bacteria removal and inactivation against 107 CFU mL−1 of ARB. They were more effective as an antibacterial agent compared to (unfunctionalized) triptycene nanoswabs (TCNS) and other commercially available antibiotics. The results also revealed that G-TCNS is an efficient, highly recyclable, and eco-friendly adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of various contaminants from water.