Synthesis of a novel CuO@GO@IR nanocomposite for the removal of tetracycline from wastewater

In this study, water extract from Indian rosewood tree leaves was used to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), further loaded on graphene oxide sheets to synthesize a novel nanocomposite (CuO@GO@IR). The maximum tetracycline removal was achieved at optimum conditions of pH 3, adsorbent dose 0.03g/50 mL, and 240 min contact time. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was 769.23 mg/g. Experimental data was better fitted with the Freundlich isotherm and followed pseudo-second-order. The adsorption process was thermodynamically spontaneous and feasible. Nanocomposite has shown excellent regeneration efficiency with 0.1 M HCl as a desorbing agent. The overall performance of the nanocomposite suggests that it can be used as a promising adsorbent for treating antibiotics containing wastewater.