Montmorillonite-based Adsorption Followed by Thermal Combustion: A Novel Approach to Purify Tetracycline-Contaminated Water

Abstract Ensuring access to clean and safe water is a critical aspect of human survival, yet water pollution caused by organic contaminants remains a significant global challenge. Adsorption, which involves using an adsorbent material to remove pollutants, is a well-established technique for purifying water from organic contaminants. However, the adsorption capacity of the material decreases over time as it becomes saturated with the adsorbed pollutants. In this study, the researchers used montmorillonite, a naturally occurring and readily available clay mineral, as an adsorbent material for the removal of tetracycline from water sources. The results demonstrate that montmorillonite is an efficient adsorbent, with complete adsorption of tetracycline achieved within 40 minutes of stirring using just 0.1g of montmorillonite with tetracycline (100 mL, 100 ppm). Furthermore, the study presents a novel approach to regenerate and activate used montmorillonite through thermal combustion, allowing for its reuse in further adsorption processes. The stability of the annealed montmorillonite was confirmed by characterization techniques such as TGA and FT-IR. The findings suggest that montmorillonite is a sustainable, low-cost, and effective adsorbent material for the removal of tetracycline from water sources and holds potential for removing other organic pollutants (such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, dyes, pharmaceuticals), presenting a valuable addition to existing water treatment methods.