Highly porous cross-linked graphene nanoplatelets-polyvinyl alcohol (GNP/PVA) aerogel for the removal of Ciprofloxacin from water

Ciprofloxacin (CIP), a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has emerged as a significant pharmaceutical contaminant in water bodies, raising environmental and public health concerns due to its persistence and resistance to conventional wastewater treatment methods. This study reports the fabrication and application of a highly porous, cross-linked graphene nanoplatelets/polyvinyl alcohol (GNP/PVA) composite aerogel for the adsorption-based removal of CIP from aqueous solutions. The aerogel was synthesized via solution casting and freeze-drying, with maleic acid serving as the cross-linking agent. Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) confirmed the aerogel’s porous structure, chemical cross-linking, and thermal stability. The adsorption of CIP by the aerogel was investigated through a batch adsorption process, optimizing various parameters such as solution pH, aerogel dosage, and initial CIP concentration over a three-day period. The optimization revealed that the adsorption process was most efficient at pH 4, using 60 mg of aerogel and an initial CIP concentration of 23 ppm. Under these conditions, the cross-linked GNP/PVA aerogel demonstrated promising potential for effective CIP removal, highlighting its applicability for treating pharmaceutical-laden effluents in municipal and hospital wastewater systems.