Effect of pyrolysis temperature on characteristics and chloramphenicol adsorption performance of NH2-MIL-53(Al)-derived amine-functionalized porous carbons

Several activities such as aquaculture, human and feedstock therapies can directly release antibiotics into water. Due to high stability, low hydrolysis and non-biodegradation, they can accumulate in the aqueous environment and transport to aquatic species. Here, we synthesized amine-functionalized porous carbons (ANC) by a direct-pyrolysis process of NH2-MIL-53(Al) as a sacrificial template at between 600 and 900 °C and utilized them to eliminate chloramphenicol antibiotic from water. The NH2-MIL-53(Al)-derived porous carbons obtained high surface areas (304.7–1600 m2 g−1) and chloramphenicol adsorption capacities (148.3–261.5 mg g−1). Several factors such as hydrogen bonding, Yoshida hydrogen bonding, and π–π interaction, hydrophobic interaction possibly controlled adsorption mechanisms. The ANC800 could be reused four cycles along with high stability in structure. As a result, NH2-MIL-53(Al)-derived porous carbons are recommended as recyclable and efficient adsorbents to the treatment of antibiotics in water.