Efficient removal of aqueous ciprofloxacin antibiotic by ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites synthesized via carbon-bed pyrolysis of bentonite and metal co-precipitation.

Antibiotics are of emerging concern due to their widespread use, lack of adequate treatment, and for their potential to threaten human health and the environment. Here, a facile fabrication approach for synthesizing ZnO/CuO-bentonite composites was investigated via carbon-bed pyrolysis of bentonite followed by ZnO/CuO co-precipitation. Sorbents were synthesized using a range of bentonite pyrolysis temperatures, metal oxide contents, and ZnO:CuO mass ratios.