High Efficient Removal of Tetracycline from Solution by the Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron

The degradation and flocculation of tetracycline (TC) with nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) modified by starch were investigated using batch experiments as a function of reactant concentration, pH, and ion strength. The 500 mg/L TC was processed with 0.20 mg/L NZVI, the adsorption and degradation effect was only 30.0% and flocculation effect was 69.0 %, the total removal efficiency was as high as 99.2%. At processed with NZVI, the flocculation kinetics of TC was strongly dependent on pH and ion strength. Neutral environment and high ion strength can improve the sedimentation rate.