A new way to combine carboxymethyl cellulose with Fe: Application and mechanism analysis.

A new, effective powdered adsorbent (CMCFe) for removing oxytetracycline (OTC) was synthesized successfully in an acidic environment using a thermal fusion technique. CMC-Fe underwent comprehensive SEM, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, XPS, TGA, and BET analyses before and after adsorbing OTC. These studies systematically examined preparation variables such as CMC and FeCl ratios, acetic acid quantity, reaction duration, and temperature. Batch adsorption experiments evaluated how well CMC-Fe absorbs OTC, with detailed analyses of adsorption mechanisms through kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic methods. Characterization analysis of CMC-Fe pre- and post-OTC adsorption confirmed its stability, high adsorption capacity, and the presence of OTC on its surface. Within 2 h, batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that CMC-Fe could adsorb up to 1005 mg·g of OTC. Examination of kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics showed that OTC adsorption by CMC-Fe is a complex, multilayered, endothermic process where physical adsorption prominently contributes to OTC removal. Key factors driving the adsorption process include chelation involving Fe, Fe, and OTC, π-π stacking, pore filling, and strong electrostatic interactions. CMC-Fe exhibits exceptional adsorption capacity for OTC, demonstrating strong environmental adaptability and promising potential for pollutant removal in aquatic environments.