Microporous carbon derived from waste plastics for efficient adsorption of tetracycline: Adsorption mechanism and application potentials

• Published in: Environmental research 2025-03, Vol.268, p.120785, Article 120785
• Main Authors: Bian, Shiyu, Cai, Zhuoyu, Xing, Weinan, Zhao, Chunyu, Pan, Yuwei, Han, Jiangang, Wu, Guangyu, Huang, Yudong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorbent; Tetracycline removal; Waste plastic utilization
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.120785

In recent years, the accumulation of waste plastics and emergence plastic-derived pollutants such as microplastics have driven significantly the development and updating of waste plastic utilization technology. This study prepared the porous carbon (PC-1-KOH) material directly from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in waste plastic bottles using KOH activation and molten salt strategy for efficient removal of antibiotic tetracycline (TC). The maximum removal efficiency of TC was 100.0% with a PC-1-KOH weight of 20 mg. In addition, the TC removal efficiency stayed over 80.0% within the rage of pH of 3–9 and different water bodies. The adsorption process was described by the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting that the adsorption of TC was predominantly chemical in nature and occurred on a homogeneous surface. The pores filling, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking interactions and electrostatic interaction are the main mechanisms of TC adsorption. This work demonstrates a sustainable approach to converting plastic waste derived materials into functional materials for effective pollution removal and environmental remediation. [Display omitted] •Porous carbons were derived from PET plastic wastes.•Porous carbon exhibited a high tetracycline adsorption capacity (242.46 mg/g).•The adsorption mechanism of porous carbons was proposed.•These porous carbons exhibit great potential for environmental remediation.