Innovative Ti/Fe/Eu-Carbon composite for Cephalexin adsorption

The study focused on developing an innovative material for the adsorption of antibiotics in contaminated water. A biochar modified with titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), and europium (Eu) (Ti/Fe/Eu-Carbon) was synthesized to adsorb cephalexin (CEX) from aqueous solutions. The biochar was characterized using techniques such as SEM, EDS, and XPS, which confirmed the presence and energy states of Ti, Fe, and Eu. The material exhibited an impressive specific surface area of 232 m² g⁻¹ and a mesoporous structure. Adsorption experiments revealed that CEX adsorption occurs through both physisorption and chemisorption, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 600 μg g⁻¹, compared to 90 μg g⁻¹ for unmodified biochar. Optimal adsorption conditions were identified at pH 7 and a temperature of 20°C, as the process was found to be exothermic and spontaneous. Furthermore, the material demonstrated reusability for up to eight cycles.