Performance and mechanism of sulfonamide-antibiotic adsorption by Ti3C2 MXene

Abstract

Since their inception in 2011, MXenes have evolved into avant-garde nanomaterials renowned for their high specific surface area and abundant functional groups. Their unique attributes make them well-fitted for use as adsorbents in remedying water contaminants. This study examined Ti₃C₂ MXene as an adsorbent, investigating its adsorption performance and the mechanisms involved in its interaction with sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) antibiotics. Characterization results from SEM, TEM, XRD confirmed the typical Ti₃C₂ MXene structure as an accordion-like multilayer morphology and well-defined crystalline structure. Adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic experiments were also conducted; the outcomes affirm the spontaneous and endothermic attributes of the adsorption, with a noted maximum adsorption capacity of 22.62 mg g⁻¹ for SCP in an aqueous medium. Moreover, characterization (SEM, TEM, FTIR and XPS) and experiment results indicated that the adsorption mechanisms of SCP on Ti₃C₂ MXene can be primarily attributed to chemical adsorption based on functional groups and defects of adsorbents. It also effectively removes SCP from actual aquaculture wastewater. These results highlight the extensive potential of MXenes in addressing the remediation of sulfonamide antibiotics from water environments, signaling a broad and favorable application outlook.