Manganese ferrite modified biochar from vinasse for enhanced adsorption of levofloxacin: Effects and mechanisms

Abstract The primitive biochar (BC) and NiFe2O4/biochar composites (NFBC), biological adsorbents prepared from vinasse wastes, possess the environmental application in levofloxacin (LEV) removal. In this study, the efficient adsorption of LEV onto biochar synthesized by pyrolysis of vinasse wastes from aqueous environment was investigated. The influencing factors (i.e., pH, reaction time, and temperature) of adsorption process were also well studied. The results indicated that the maximum adsorption capacities of both BC and NFBC were occurred in mildly acidic condition (pH 6). In addition, the biochar adsorption capacities were obviously increased in higher temperature (25–45 °C). The chemistry adsorption and monolayer homogeneous dominated adsorption process of LEV onto BC and NFBC. The adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic by thermodynamic analysis. The SEDA (site energy distribution analysis) explained that the adsorption effectivity increased by increasing site energy of biochar surface. The SEDA revealed the more energy heterogeneity in NFBC, fitting the characterization result of Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) interactions and hydrogen bonds is suggested as the major adsorption mechanism. And as for the adsorption of the various biowaste recycled synthetic, this study can be referred in discussion of performance analysis and optimal condition.