Adsorption of cefazolin on organoclay: experimental design, characterization, and a complete batch study

Cefazolin (CFZ) is a ubiquitous antibiotic in hospital settings and has been recognized as an emerging contaminant due to its ecotoxicity. Despite the growing concern around this compound, the literature addressing feasible advanced techniques for CFZ uptake from aqueous matrices is still scarce. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the adsorption of cefazolin on Spectrogel® organoclay in a batch system as an efficient remediation method. The optimization of experimental conditions was determined by a central composite rotational design. A pH study, as well as equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic assays, was performed to assess the adsorption of CFZ on Spectrogel®. The kinetic and equilibrium models that best described the system were the external mass transfer resistance and Sips models, respectively. A removal efficiency above 80% was achieved, and the maximum adsorption capacity at 25 °C was 398.6 mg g^-1. The post-process contaminated organoclay was thermally regenerated. The outcomes of this work indicate that Spectrogel® is an environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of cefazolin from wastewater.