A facile route to magnetic mesoporous core-shell structured silicas containing covalently bound cyclodextrins for the removal of the antibiotic doxycycline from water.

The excessive use of antibiotics has led to various environmental problems; the control and separation of these antibiotics are important in environmental science. Herein, a novel mesoporous nanocomposite, FeO@SiO@mSiO-CD, has been synthesized for the removal of antibiotic compounds from aqueous media. The well-designed nanocomposite is composed of β-cyclodextrin functionalized surfaces, ordered mesoporous silica shells with large radially oriented mesopores, and nonporous silica-coated magnetic cores (FeO). The synergistic action of both the mesoporous structure and the accessible cavity of β-cyclodextrin ensures the good adsorption of doxycycline. Furthermore, the FeO@SiO@mSiO-CD nanocomposite can be collected, separated and easily recycled from aqueous solution using an external magnet.