The removal of antibiotic drugs from aqueous solution with magnetically graphene oxide nanosheets

The removal of antibiotic clindamycin phosphate as model compond for antibiotic drugs from aqueous solution was investigated using magnetically graphene oxide nanosheets (M-GONSs) as an efficient sorbent. M-GONSs were prepared by mixing GONSs with freshly prepared magnetite nanopartilcles, and characterized using IR, SEM and XRD. The effects of different operational parameters which affect the removal process were explored; adsorbent amounts, contact time, initial pH, temperature, and the initial concentration of clindamycin. The results showed the great affinity of the M-GONSs toward the clindamycin and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 188.67 mg g-1. The adsorption mechanism of clindamycin by the M-GONSs involved π-π stacking [1] and electrostatic [2] interactions. The adsorption was studied kinetically and thermodynamically, and was found to mainly follow pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and was spontaneous and exothermic in nature.