title: Preparation, characterization, and application of activated carbon from low-cost material for the adsorption of tetracycline antibiotic from aqueous solutions.
abstract: In this study, a new zinc chloride (ZnCl2) impregnated activated carbon (Zn-AC) was prepared from oak charcoals as low-cost material and used as adsorbent for tetracycline (TC) adsorption. The Zn-AC was characterized using field emission-scanning electron microscope, powder X-ray diffraction, and CHNS-O analyses. Specific surface area of the adsorbent was also measured using the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) isotherm model. The TC adsorption onto the Zn-AC was investigated as a function of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and inorganic cations (Li+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, and Fe3+) and anions (HCO3-, NO3-and SO42-) that could interfere in the adsorption of TC. The adsorbate solution pH had no considerable effect on TC adsorption. The adsorption of TC onto the adsorbent was relatively fast and reached the equilibrium after about 120 min. The results showed that all studied cations and anions decreased TC adsorption onto the Zn-AC, but this decrease in TC adsorption was strongly significant for Fe3+and Ni2+ions. The general order kinetic model and the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model provided the best fit to the experimental data. The maximum amount of TC adsorbed onto the Zn-AC (Qmax) is 282.06 mg g-1, indicating this adsorbent is a good adsorbent for the removal of TC from aqueous solutions.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technologies Research Center (ETRC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takdastan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahvi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eder C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com; Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirmardi
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technologies Research Center (ETRC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Babaei
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technologies Research Center (ETRC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goudarzi
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technologies Research Center (ETRC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abdolkazem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com; Department of Waste Management, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Abadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heidari Farsani
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran E-mail: shirmardim@yahoo.com; Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vosoughi
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D012996:Solutions; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002712:Chlorides; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D002606:Charcoal; C016837:zinc chloride; D013752:Tetracycline