The preliminary study on the natural zeolite as a potential carrier of tetracycline

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate adsorption of the antibiotic tetracycline on the natural zeolite - clinoptilolite. The adsorption was followed at the different initial concentrations of the drug in buffer solution at pH 3.4. Characterization of adsorbent before and after adsorption of tetracycline was done by the determination of zeta potential and by FTIR spectroscopy. Results showed that adsorption of the drug increased with increasing of its initial concentration and maximum adsorbed amount of the tetracycline was 27.5 mg/g. Characterization results confirmed presence of tetracycline at the zeolitic surface.