Metronidazole in aqueous solution removal by activated carbon fiber adsorption of systems: adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics

Metronidazole (MNZ), as a widely used nitroimidazolehas various effects on the human body. In this study, metronidazole removal by activated carbon fibers (ACFs) was investigated. The influences of adsorption temperature, adsorption time and the pH of MNZ solution have been studied and the best conditions were determined. ACFs with high BET surface area of 175.40 m(2)/g and 0.35 cm(3)/g total pore volume has been obtained from these precursors. The analyses of kinetic data showed that the adsorption of MNZ on ACFs follows closely the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Analysis data of MNZ were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich isotherms and the best correlation was achieved by the Langmuir isotherms. Results of thermodynamic studies showed endothermic, spontaneous nature and chemisorption of MNZ adsorption on ACFs.