Ofloxacin Adsorption on Chitosan/Biochar Composite: Kinetics, Isotherms, and Effects of Solution Chemistry

Chitosan/reed biochar composite (CRBC) was synthesized and employed as an adsorbent to remove ofloxacin (OFL) from aqueous solution. The physical and chemical properties of CRBC were characterized by SEM, FTIR, and BET surface area. The initial OFL concentration, solution pH, and ion strength affecting the adsorption process were investigated. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that OFL adsorption amounts on CRBC increased with the increasing of initial OFL concentration. Furthermore, the solution pH and ion strength had significant effects on OFL adsorption. The adsorption was enhanced in neutral pH condition and was inhibited by the presence of NaCl. The adsorption kinetics was fitted by the pseudo-second-order model with higher correlation coefficients. The adsorption isotherms were better described by the Langmuir model, indicating monolayer adsorption process. The aim of current work was to develop a reed biochar and chitosan composite and explore the adsorption behavior of OFL.