AgO/MgO/FeO@Si3N4 nanocomposite with robust adsorption capacity for tetracycline antibiotic removal from aqueous system.

• AgO/MgO/FeO/Si 3 N 4 synthesized by microwave irradiation method. • Adsorption of tetracycline. • Maximum adsorption capacity of 172.41 mg/g. • Energy sites found to be energetically heterogeneous. Present study has been designed to govern the usage of nanocomposite of Si 3 N 4 with trimetallic oxide nanoparticles of Ag, Mg and Fe (AgO/MgO/FeO@Si 3 N 4) for the tetracycline (TC) removal from aqueous solution. Characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and BET were employed for analysing the successful fabrication of AgO/MgO/FeO@Si 3 N 4 nanocomposite. Adsorption process has been found to be dependent upon the surface properties of AgO/MgO/FeO@Si 3 N 4 nanocomposite (such as charge, functionality, etc), concentration of TC, solution pH and contact time. As determined from the isotherm studies, surface of AgO/MgO/FeO@Si 3 N 4 nanocomposite has been found to be energetically heterogeneous in nature as the data fitted well to Freundlich isotherm. Maximum adsorption capacity of AgO/MgO/FeO@Si 3 N 4 nanocomposite has been found to be 172.41 mg/g. Pseudo-second order kinetic model successfully explained the rate studies of TC adsorption. Also, reusability study of AgO/MgO/FeO@Si 3 N 4 nanocomposite has also been carried out. In short, the present study could determine an effective way for the removal of toxic pollutants from the wastewater system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]