Adsorptive Removal of Norfloxacin Antibiotic from the Aqueous System Using Boron Nitride Nanosheets Incorporated PVDF Membranes

Abstract

Although the antibiotics treat diseases well, a significant fraction of them are not consumed in metabolism that leads to contamination of surface, ground and drinking water. In this work, we have synthesized mixed matrix membranes by incorporating boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for removal of norfloxacin (NOR) from contaminated water. The membranes have been characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The static adsorption experiments reveal that the incorporation of the BNNSs has led to an increase in the adsorption of PVDF polymeric membrane by approximately 39%. Further, monolayer adsorption has been followed by the antibiotic. This shows the successful application of the fabricated membrane for the adsorptive removal of the NOR from the aqueous system.