Toward broader applications of iron ore waste in pollution control: Adsorption of norfloxacin

Norfloxacin, a kind of antibiotic frequently detected in environments, represents a group of non-persistent organic pollutants with latent risks to the ecosystem. Iron ore waste, generated and accumulated in large quantities from the iron/steel industry, was evaluated as a potential sorbent for norfloxacin removal. Kinetics analysis showed that the adsorption process reached equilibrium at 72 h, and the adsorption process could be best defined by the pseudo-second-order kinetics with the primary mechanism of norfloxacin adsorption suggested to be cation exchange. Further, adsorption of norfloxacin to iron ore waste was shown to be facilitated by the pH range of 2–10, low cation concentration, and low temperature, which are characteristic of natural surface waters, suggesting the potential of practical applications in aquatic environments. These findings provide new insight into the potentials of beneficial reuse for iron ore waste in the adsorptive removal of environmental pollutants. [Display omitted] •The iron wastes were evaluated as a sorbent for norfloxacin removal for the first time.•The optimal parameters in adsorption were suitable for the natural aquatic environment.•The iron ore wastes were suitable for a wider pH range from 2 to 11 for the removal of norfloxacin.•The cation exchange suggested to be a mechanism for norfloxacin adsorption by iron ore wastes.