Adsorption of antibiotics and dyes with individual and simultaneous mechanisms onto halloysite nanoclay and regeneration by cold plasma bubbling technology of saturated adsorbent

Methylene blue (MB) dye and the antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENRO) were individually and simultaneously removed from aqueous solutions while halloysite nanoclay (HNC) was also regenerated using cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) bubbling. In contrast to Fenton oxidation, the CAP-bubbling method efficiently regenerated the saturated HNC, while in parallel enhanced adsorption capacity of the CAP-regenerated HNC (compared to raw HNC) was noticed after reuse in new adsorption cycles which indicates the activation of the absorbent activation during the regeneration process. This study proposes a safe, long-lasting, and highly efficient method for contaminated water remediation in which pharmaceuticals and dyes co-exist.