Application of nanoscale zero valent iron loaded natural zeolite for tetracycline removal process

Immobilized nanoscale zero-valent iron on natural zeolite (NI-NZ) was synthesized for remediation of antibiotics-contaminated wastewater. A series of characterization methods confirmed the success of preventing the agglomeration of nanoscale zero-valent iron particles, using natural zeolite as supporting media. The equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir and Temkin models, whereas the pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic models were suitable to describe the kinetic data. The versatility of NI-NZ was also tested in a coagulation-flocculation process which increased the removal of tetracycline from 10 to 75 %.