Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 modified bacterial cellulose/sodium alginate composite aerogel for efficient removal of tetracycline hydrochloride

Antibiotics released in the water pose a serious threat to human and ecological health. Therefore, it is of great importance to effectively remove antibiotics from wastewater. In this study, recyclable bacterial cellulose/sodium alginate/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (BC/SA/ZIF-8) aerogel composites were prepared by chemical cross-linking and in situ growth in freeze-drying. The successful preparation of the composite aerogel was confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results reveal that BC/SA/ZIF-8 aerogel composite has significantly high BET specific surface area of 165.24 m2/g than that of BC/SA at 7.39 m2/g. The BC/SA/ZIF-8 composite aerogel exhibited excellent adsorption performance for tetracycline hydrochloride, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 746.27 mg/g. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Moreover, the reusability test on BC/SA/ZIF-8 composite aerogel revealed an insignificant decline in adsorption after six cycles. Therefore, BC/SA/ZIF-8 composite aerogel has a high potential as a novel and recyclable adsorbent for efficient removal of tetracycline hydrochloride from water.