Synthesis of a novel CuO@GO@IR nanocomposite for the removal of tetracycline from wastewater

Antibiotics are a pressing concern because of their extensive use in human and veterinary medicines. In this study, removal of tetracycline (TC), a common antibiotic, from aqueous solutions has been investigated. The water extract of Indian rosewood tree leaves has been used to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) further loaded on graphene oxide sheets to synthesize a nanocomposite (CuO@GO@IR). The removal efficiency of this nanocomposite was evaluated under varying process conditions, viz., pH, adsorbent dosage, initial TC concentration, contact time, and temperature, using batch mode. The maximum tetracycline removal was at pH 3, 0.03 g/50mL adsorbent dose, and 240 min. contact time. The experimental data were better fitted to the Freundlich isotherm, indicating heterogeneous adsorption, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 769.23 mg/g. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, and the thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and feasible. The reusability of the nanocomposite was explored using ethanol, 0.1M HCl, 0.1 NaOH as desorbing agents. These results suggest that the CuO@GO@IR nanocomposite can be used for tetracycline removal from aqueous medium.