High-capacity oxytetracycline sorption using a sustainable microwave-synthesized magnetic CuFe2O4@carbon nanocomposite from agro-industrial waste.

The widespread occurrence of antibiotic residues in aquatic environments represents a growing environmental concern due to their persistence and potential ecological impacts. In this study, an environmentally sustainable sorbent was developed by valorizing industrially processed black seed (Nigella sativa) waste into a magnetically recoverable CuFe2O4-coated activated carbon (CuFe2O4@BAC) via microwave-assisted co-precipitation for the removal of oxytetracycline (OTC) from water. Characterization revealed a high specific surface area (455 m2 g-1), a predominantly mesoporous structure (64.5%), and a saturation magnetization of 15.01 emu g-1, enabling rapid magnetic separation from aqueous media. The sorption behavior toward oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) was systematically investigated. The pseudo-second-order model best described the sorption kinetics, and the equilibrium data conformed well to the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer sorption onto energetically uniform sites. The maximum sorption capacity reached 669 mg g-1, demonstrating strong affinity for OTC. Thermodynamic evaluation showed that the sorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. Additionally, the nanocomposite maintained high removal efficiency over four sorption-desorption cycles, highlighting its structural stability and reusability. In conclusion, the synthesized magnetic nanocomposite offers a sustainable, high-performance, and easily recoverable sorbent for effective removal of antibiotics from wastewater systems.