Various adsorbents including agricultural waste-based adsorbents, nanomaterials and layered double hydroxides have been reviewed for removal of antibiotics from water due to their unique properties. The adsorption mechanism is governed mostly by the affinity of a pollutant to adsorbent materials. However, the main adsorption mechanisms defined in this study for removal of antibiotics are the electrostatic attraction, π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding. The study highlighted the contribution of modification in the adsorption capacity of antibiotics. Some of the most important adsorbents discussed in this review are graphene-based adsorbents, binary layered double hydroxides and magnetic nanoparticles as well as the antibiotics sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and metronidazole. The key factors for the selection of the suitable materials are the structure, characteristics and other physicochemical parameters such as pH and temperature. However, the most crucial factor is the adsorption capacity. Some of the adsorption kinetics models and isotherms for antibiotic sorption are also highlighted in this study. In addition, the review summarizes the future prospects and recent challenges faced with the adsorption techniques for removal of antibiotics from wastewater. This review will help readers understand the current trend in the adsorptive removal of antibiotics from water.
Keywords: Adsorption; Agriculture wastes; Antibiotics; LDH; Nanoadsorbents; Wastewater.