Sorption of Sulfamethazine Antibiotic On Cow-Dung Chars.

Sulfamethazine (SMT) is one of sulfonamide antibiotics, which is widely used in antimicrobial treatment for livestock animals. Sulfamethazine (SMT) sorption of various cow-dung chars, produced at 400¢J, 600¢J and 800¢J, was investigated in this study. The sorptions of SMT by the chars were characterized by L-shaped nonlinear isotherms, suggesting surface sorption rather than partitioning. The SMT sorptions of the chars were dependent on the solution pH and the neutral form of SMT was preferentially sorbed to the surfaces of the chars when compared to the deprotonated anionic form of SMT. With increasing heating temperature of the cow dung, the SMT sorption of the resultant char increased due to the increased surface area and enhanced aromaticity of the char. Thus, the cow-dung char obtained at higher temperatures is more effective for removing SMT from the environment.