Sorption Characteristics and Removal Efficiency of Pharmaceutical Pollutant "Tylosin" in Wastewater using Activated Carbon

Tylosin, a commonly used antibiotic, is widely detected in the aquatic environment. Its presence in water has a potentially negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health. This study focused on the removal of tylosin from water by adsorption on activated carbon. Batch experiments were carried out to study adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms and the influence of operating parameters such as adsorbent mass, temperature, pH and solution ionic strength on the adsorption capacity.  The kinetics were best described by a pseudo second-order model and the adsorption isotherm followed the sips model. Temperature and adsorbent mass, together with solution chemistry such as pH show a clear effect on the sorption of tylosin onto activated carbon.