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Environmental sustainability

Breakthrough in Sustainability Research: Fe-Mn-Boosted Waste-Derived Cellulose for Sustainable Tetracycline Treatment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran, have made a significant breakthrough in sustainability research by developing an environmentally friendly adsorbent made from readily available waste materials. The adsorbent, prepared from newspaper waste, uses Fe and Mn cluster nanostructures to selectively remove tetracycline (TC) from antibiotic-contaminated wastewater with an adsorption efficiency of over 80%. This innovative solution showcases remarkable potential to enhance the performance of adsorption systems and promote environmentally sustainable ecosystems.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed an adsorbent made from newspaper waste, utilizing cellulose and Fe and Mn cluster nanostructures (FeMn NCs), to selectively remove tetracycline (TC) from wastewater.
  • The adsorbent maintained an adsorption efficiency of over 80% even in the presence of competing anions.
  • The FeMn NCs enhanced fast adsorption kinetics and improved mass transport of TC to the active sites of the adsorbent.
  • The adsorbent showed remarkable regeneration ability, maintaining a removal efficiency of over 80% after four cycles.
  • The maximum adsorption capacity for TC was observed at 103 mg/g, utilizing 0.3 g/L of adsorbent and 10 mg/L TC.
  • The study pioneers a promising frontier in the design of cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbents for enhancing the performance of adsorption systems across various applications.

Statistics:

  • 80% adsorption efficiency in the presence of competing anions
  • 103 mg/g maximum adsorption capacity for TC
  • 0.3 g/L of adsorbent used
  • 10 mg/L TC concentration
  • 80% removal efficiency maintained after four cycles
  • 147286 as the journal ID of the publication
  • Transmission date of the news not specified, but the day is specified as Monday, September 19, 2025

Sources:

  • Islamic Azad University
  • International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 147286
  • Sara Sadat Hosseini, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  • Ali Mashinchian Moradi, Amir Hossein Javid, and Amir Hossein Mahvi, authors of the research
  • International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, p159 (September 19, 2025)

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