Recycling flue gas desulphurization gypsum (FGDG) for removal of tetracycline from aqueous solutions

ABSTRACT

The present research aimed to explore the feasibility of removing tetracycline (TC) by flue gas desulphurization gypsum (FGDG). The adsorptive properties of FGDG for TC, such as pH values, adsorption isotherms and kinetics, and thermodynamics parameters, were investigated in the batch experiments. The results revealed that the process of TC adsorption was pH dependent and the optimal pH value was pH 8.0. The adsorption mechanism could attribute to the formation of TC-FGDG complexation. Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model can be described the better adsorption behaviors. The thermodynamics parameters indicated that adsorption process was endothermic and chemisorption in nature. FGDG would be an ideal adsorbent for removal of TC from aqueous solutions with the characteristics of low-cost and good adsorption properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Flue gas desulphurization gypsum
• tetracycline
• adsorption
• mechanism

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support by Key Scientific Research Projects in 2015 at North Minzu University [2015KJ33], National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 21467023], Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia [NZ 16089], Scientific Research Projects of Ningxia Provincial Education Department [NGY 2015143] and Innovative Research Team in University of Ningxia Province for Functional Materials and Separation Technology.