Synthesis of magnetic activated nanocarbons (Fe3O4 / AC) using flaxseed waste as the green antibiotic adsorbent of cefixime and optimization of effective parameters by Taguchi and Bax-Beckman methods

In this study, carbon was extracted using flaxseed plant waste and activated carbon was obtained by potassium hydroxide. Magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were loaded by in situ method onto activated carbon. Magnetic activated carbon (MGAC) was used to remove the antibiotic Cefixime. The results show that magnetically activated carbon is formed in nanoscale and has a specific surface area of 11.23 m 2 g -1 , which is a desirable and acceptable. Optimization of the important factors in the adsorption of cefixime on magnetic activated carbon was performed by Design Expert 7 software. First, a pre-design was performed using Taguchi method, which showed that the two factors of initial adsorption concentration and contact time had little effect on the adsorption percent, which was omitted. Then, using Box-Beckman method, the effect of three effective factors of pH, adsorbent dose (minimum possible value) and temperature were investigated. Their optimal values were 2, 0.02 g and 85 °C, respectively, which by considering these optimal values, absorption percent of the drug by the adsorbent is equal to 95.33%.