Investigating the efficiency of single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in removal of penicillin G from aqueous solutions

Background: Drugs, especially antibiotics, are one of the serious problems of modern life and the main pollution sources of the environment, especially in the last decade, which are harmful to human health and environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of penicillin G from aqueous solutions using single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Methods: In this study, the effect of different parameters including pH (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11), initial concentration of pollutant (50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/l), absorbent dose (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 g/L), mixing speed (0, 100, 200, and 300 rpm), and temperature (10, 15, 25, 35, 45°C) were investigated. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, BET, Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms and adsorption kinetics of the first- and second-order equations were determined. Results: The results showed that the efficiency of single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the removal of penicillin G was 68.25% and 56.37%, respectively, and adsorption capacity of the nanotubes was 141 mg/g and 119 mg/g at initial concentration of 50 mg/l and pH=5 with adsorption dose of 0.8 g/L for 105 minutes at 300 rpm and temperature of 10°C from aqueous solutions. Also, it was revealed that the adsorption process had the highest correlation with the Langmuir model and secondorder kinetics, and the maximum adsorption capacity based on Langmuir model was 373.80 mg/g. Conclusion: According to the results, it was found that single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes can be used as effective absorbents in the removal of penicillin G from aqueous solutions.