Highly operative removal of amoxicillin (AMX) from aqueous solution by MnFe2O4 nanoparticles and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) composite

Abstract

In recent work, manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanoparticles and manganese ferrite carboxy methyl cellulose (MnFe₂O₄/CMC) composite were synthesized using Salvadora persica extract (SPE). Characterization of green synthesized nanoparticles and composite was performed by different techniques such as FTIR, SEM, UV–visible spectroscopy, XRD, and EDX. These techniques evaluated the size, shape, composition, morphology, and crystallinity of bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) and nano-composites (NCs). These techniques demonstrated the presence of oxygen with metals, 3.28 nm size of MnFe₂O₄ and CMC hump between the 22-26° and the spherical, cubic, and mostly irregular shape of MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and rougher surface of MnFe₂O₄/CMC composite. Nanoparticles and nanocomposites were utilized for the degradation of Amoxicillin (AMX). The maximum degradation of AMX occurred at optimum conditions such as adsorbent dosage (6 mg MnFe₂O₄, 2 mg MnFe₂O₄/CMC), pH (4,6) within 60 min at 5 mg/L initial AMX concentration. Results revealed that the catalytic activity of NCs (97 %) was more than BMNPs (93 %) which may be attributed to the incorporation of reduced Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC). It reduced the e-hole recombination rate and enhanced the AMX degradation at ambient conditions. The nature of adsorption was illustrated by Langmuir and Freundlich models and results demonstrated that the Freundlich model followed more closely. Thermodynamics parameters described the endothermic and spontaneous nature of the adsorption process, negative Gibbs energy variation, and positive entropy and enthalpy change. The recovery and reusability of BMNPs and NCs were investigated and concluded that MnFe₂O₄ and NCs can be used many times for the AMX adsorption process.