Original scientific paper
Published in: Holistic Approach Environ. 4(2014) 1, pp. 3 – 15
Paper reference number: HAE-49
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ADSORPTION OF ENROFLOXACINE ON NATURAL ZEOLITE – CLINOPTILOLITE

Danijela Ašperger^*, Ines Varga^*, Sandra Babić^*, Lidija Ćurković^**

^* Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

^** Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

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ABSTRACT

The potential use of Croatian natural zeolite – clinoptilolite as alternative adsorbents for removal of enrofloxacin (ENRO) as model pollutant was studied in a batch system. The influence of contact time and initial ENRO concentration on the sorption process was investigated. The percentage removal of ENRO from aqueous phase decreased with an increase in initial concentration. The experimental data were analyzed using the pseudo-second- order kinetic model. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using two widely applied isotherms: Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. A linear method was used for comparing the best fitting of the isotherms. The little bit better fit was found to be Langmuir isotherm for adsorption of ENRO onto natural zeolite. The maximum ENRO capacity of natural zeolite from the Langmuir isotherm model at 318 K was 2.4307 mg/g.

Keywords: enrofloxacin, adsorption isotherms, kinetics of sorption, natural zeolite
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