Efficient removal of norfloxacin by MOF@GO composite: isothermal, kinetic, statistical, and mechanistic study

Abstract

In this paper, the facile synthesis of graphene oxide and MOF based composite material for the demanded adsorption of leading antibiotic is reported. The adsorbent showed good results for removal of norfloxacin with high adsorption capacity (1114.82 mg/g) and removal efficiency (93.61 %). In addition, Langmuir model proved most suitable with highest value of R² = 0.99929 among three applied isothermal models. The thermodynamic study showed spontaneous and exothermic (ΔH = −1.1×10⁻⁵ Kj/ mol, ΔG = −13324.33 Kj/ mol) nature of adsorption process with reusability of 88.4 % after several cycles. Moreover, statistical analysis and mechanistic study were also performed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Synthesis of graphene oxide and MOF based composite material

• High surface area, void spaces, open metal sites, and tunable morphology.

• Adsorption of leading antibiotic (norfloxacin).

• MOF/GO composite with high water stability and reuseability.

• Isothermal, kinetic, statistical and mechanistic study.

Keywords:

• Metal-organic framework
• graphene oxide
• toxic antibiotics
• adsorptive removal
• water treatment

Acknowledgments

The authors are very thankful to the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan for providing necessary facilities to complete this project. Dr. Syed Shoaib Ahmad Shah is also thankful to the higher education comission of Pakistan (HEC) and Department of Chemistry, The Islamia of Bahawalpur for IPFP grant.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).