Removal of the nalidixic acid antibiotic from aqueous solutions using bovine serum albumin nanoparticles

The presence of antibiotic pollutants in water and wastewater can cause significant risks to the environment in different aspects. Therefore, antibiotics need to be removed from water. This study investigates the adsorption of nalidixic acid (NA), a common antibiotic, using bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs). These NPs were synthesized via desolvation technique and characterized using SEM, DLS, FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The effects of adsorbent dosage (0.02–0.9 mg), initial NA concentration (30–80 mg L− 1) and contact time (0.5–24 h) on adsorption efficiency were considered. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were determined experimentally. The Freundlich isotherm best described the adsorption equilibrium, while the pseudo-second-order kinetic model accurately represented the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters confirmed the spontaneous and exothermic nature of NA adsorption onto BSA NPs. Under optimal conditions, BSA NPs achieved a removal efficiency of 75% for NA with a maximum adsorption capacity of 240 mg g− 1. These results demonstrate the potential of BSA NPs as an effective adsorbent for removing NA from aqueous solutions.