Design a new photocatalyst of sea sediment/titanate to remove cephalexin antibiotic from aqueous media in the presence of sonication/ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide: Pathway and mechanism for degradation

Selective Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural Coupled with H2 Production over Surface Sulfur Vacancy-Rich Zn3In2S6/Bi2MoO6 Heterojunction Photocatalyst

The construction of heterojunctions and surface defects is a promising strategy for enhancing photocatalytic activity. A surface sulfur vacancy (VS)-rich Zn3In2S6/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst (ZIS-VS/BMO) was herein developed for the selective oxidation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) to value-added 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) coupled with H2 production. The ZIS-VS/BMO heterojunction consisted of Bi2MoO6 (BMO) with preferentially exposed high-index (131) facets and VS-rich two-dimensional (2D) Zn3In2S6 (ZIS-VS) nanosheets with preferentially exposed high-index (102) facets. The directional transfer of light-driven electrons from BMO to ZIS-VS occurs in the heterojunction interface, as confirmed by an in situ irradiated XPS (ISI-XPS) measurement, which facilitates the electron-hole separation. The benefits of VS in activating HMF, suppressing overoxidation of DFF, and accelerating electron transport were disclosed by molecular simulation. ZIS-VS/BMO displays outstanding performance with a DFF yield of 74.1% and a DFF selectivity of 90%, as well as a rapid rate of H2 evolution. This research would help design highly efficient photocatalysts and develop a new technology for biomass resource utilization.

Two-step fabrication of cellulose embedded Fe3O4/Fe3+ composite beads as catalyst in degradation of sulfamethoxazole in floating bed reactor

In this study, magnetite particles were successfully embedded in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as beads using FeCl₃ as the cross-linker in two step-method and it was used as a Fenton-like catalyst to degrade sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution. The surface morphology and functional groups influence of the Na-CMC magnetic beads was studied using FTIR and SEM analysis. The nature of synthesized iron oxide particles was confirmed as magnetite using XRD diffraction. The structural arrangement of Fe³⁺ and iron oxide particles with CMC polymer was discussed. The influential factors for SMX degradation efficiency were investigated including the pH of the reaction medium (4.0), catalyst dosage (0.2 g L^-1) and initial SMX concentration (30 mg L^-1). The results showed that under optimal conditions 81.89% SMX degraded in 40 min using H₂O₂. The reduction in COD was estimated to be 81.2%. SMX degradation was initiated neither by the cleaving of C-S nor C-N followed by some chemical reactions. Complete mineralization of SMX was not achieved which could be due to an insufficient amount of Fe particles in CMC matrix that are responsible for the generation of *OH radicals. It was explored that degradation followed pseudo-first order kinetics. Fabricated beads were successfully applied in a floating bed column in which the beads were allowed to float in sewage water spiked with SMX for 40 min. A total reduction of 79% of COD was achieved in treating sewage water. The beads could be used 2-3 times with significant reduction in catalytic activity. It was found that the degradation efficiency was attributed to a stable structure, textural property, active sites and *OH radicals.

Photodegradation of ibuprofen laden-wastewater using sea-mud catalyst/H2O2 system: evaluation of sonication modes and energy consumption

The main goal of the current investigation was to decontaminate ibuprofen (IBP) from hospital wastewater using sea mud as an H2O2 activator. Sea sludge was converted into catalysts at different temperatures and residence times in furnaces, and then tested in the removal of IBP, and the most efficient ones were reported for the production of catalysts. The catalyst was optimized at 400 °C and 3 h. SEM-mapping, FTIR, EDX, BET, and BJH experiments were used to characterize the catalyst. Experiments were done at two pulsed and continuous ultrasonication modes in a photoreactor, and their efficiencies were statistically compared. The designed variables included IBP concentration (10-100 mg/L), the catalyst concentration (0-3 g/L), pH (4-9), and time (10-90 min). The oxidation process had the maximum efficiency at pH 4, treatment time of 60 min, catalyst quantity of 5 g/L, and IBP content of 50 mg/L. The catalyst was recycled, and in the fifth stage, the removal efficiency of IBP was reduced to 50%. The amount of energy consumed for treating IBP laden-wastewater using the evaluated catalyst in two modes of continuous and pulsed ultrasonic was calculated as 102 kW h/m3 and 10 kW h/m3, respectively. IBP oxidation process was fitted with the first-order kinetic model. The system can be proposed for purifying hospital and pharmaceutical wastewaters.

Application of pier waste sludge for catalytic activation of proxy-monosulfate and phenol elimination from a petrochemical wastewater

This investigation aimed to remove phenol from real wastewater (taken from a petrochemical company) by activating peroxy-monosulfate (PMS) using catalysts extracted from pier waste sludge. The physical and chemical properties of the catalyst were evaluated by FE-SEM/EDS, XRD, FTIR, and TGA/DTG tests. The functional groups of O-H, C-H, CO₃^2-, C-H, C-O, N-H, and C-N were identified on the catalyst surface. Also, the crystallinity of the catalyst before and after reaction with petrochemical wastewater was 103.4 nm and 55.8 nm, respectively. Operational parameters of pH (3-9), catalyst dose (0-100 mg/L), phenol concentration (50-250 mg/L), and PMS concentration (0-250 mg/L) were tested to remove phenol. The highest phenol removal rate (94%) was obtained at pH=3, catalyst dose of 80 mg/L, phenol concentration of 50 mg/L, PMS concentration of 150 mg/L, and contact time of 150 min. Phenol decomposition in petrochemical wastewater followed the first-order kinetics (k> 0.008 min^-1, R²> 0.94). Changes in pH factor were very effective on phenol removal efficiency, and maximum efficiency (≈83%) was achieved in pH 3. The catalyst stability test was performed for up to five cycles, and phenol removal in the fifth cycle was reduced to 42%. Also, the energy consumption in this study was 77.69 kW h/m³. According to the results, the pier waste sludge catalyst/PMS system is a critical process for eliminating phenol from petrochemical wastewater.

Study on the degradation of tetracycline in wastewater by micro-nano bubbles activated hydrogen peroxide

Recently, the micro-nano bubble (MB) technology has attracted people's attention due to its special advantages. Here, we carried out the technology of combining MB and hydrogen peroxide (MB/H₂O₂) to achieve efficient degradation of tetracycline wastewater. The effect of MB/H₂O₂ technology on the degradation efficiency of tetracycline was deeply analysed by investigating the reaction time, H₂O₂ dosage, pH and MB inlet flow. The results showed that the degradation rate of tetracycline hydrochloride by MB/H₂O₂ technology can reach 92.43%, which is 9.44 and 3.94 times that of MB and H₂O₂ alone. Through electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis and free radical quenching experiments, a possible mechanism for MB/H₂O₂ technology to efficiently degrade TC was proposed. In the MB/H₂O₂ system, the high temperature and high pressure environment generated when MB ruptures can activate H₂O₂ to obtain a higher number of active oxygen species. •OH is the main reactive oxygen radical in the process of MB/H₂O₂ degradation of TC, followed by HO₂•/•O₂-. In addition, the possible intermediate products of the oxidation TC process were identified by HPLC-MS technology. Under the action of •OH and HO₂•/•O₂- free radicals, TC molecules undergo demethylation and hydroxylation, ring-opening reactions, isomerization, deethylation, deacylation, deamination and dehydration reactions to generate intermediate products and finally convert them into CO₂ and H₂O. The development of MB/H₂O₂ technology can potentially be used to efficiently remove TC substances in the water environment and provide a new method for water purification.

Cephalexin degradation initiated by OH radicals: theoretical prediction of the mechanisms and the toxicity of byproducts

In this work, the density functional theory is used to study the local reactivity of cephalexin (CLX) to radical attack and explain the mechanism of the reaction between CLX and hydroxyl radical attack leading to degradation byproducts. The reaction between •OH and CLX is supposed to lead to either an addition of a hydroxyl radical or an abstraction of a hydrogen. The results showed that the affinity of cephalexin for addition reactions increases as it passes from the gas to the aqueous phase and decreases as it passes from the neutral to the ionized form. Thermodynamic data confirmed that OH addition radicals (R_add) are thermodynamically favored over H abstraction radicals (R_abs). The ecotoxicity assessments of CLX and its byproducts are estimated from the acute toxicities toward green algae, Daphnia, and fish. The formation of byproducts is safe for aquatic organisms, and only one byproduct is harmful to Daphnia.

Recent progress in Fenton/Fenton-like reactions for the removal of antibiotics in aqueous environments

The frequent use of antibiotics allows them to enter aqueous environments via wastewater, and many types of antibiotics accumulate in the environment due to difficult degradation, causing a threat to environmental health. It is crucial to adopt effective technical means to remove antibiotics in aqueous environments. The Fenton reaction, as an effective organic pollution treatment technology, is particularly suitable for the treatment of antibiotics, and at present, it is one of the most promising advanced oxidation technologies. Specifically, rapid Fenton oxidation, which features high removal efficiency, thorough reactions, negligible secondary pollution, etc., has led to many studies on using the Fenton reaction to degrade antibiotics. This paper summarizes recent progress on the removal of antibiotics in aqueous environments by Fenton and Fenton-like reactions. First, the applications of various Fenton and Fenton-like oxidation technologies to the removal of antibiotics are summarized; then, the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies are further summarized. Compared with Fenton oxidation, Fenton-like oxidations exhibit milder reaction conditions, wider application ranges, great reduction in economic costs, and great improved cycle times, in addition to simple and easy recycling of the catalyst. Finally, based on the above analysis, we discuss the potential for the removal of antibiotics under different application scenarios. This review will enable the selection of a suitable Fenton system to treat antibiotics according to practical conditions and will also aid the development of more advanced Fenton technologies for removing antibiotics and other organic pollutants.

Elimination of amoxicillin using zeolite Y-sea salt as a good catalyst for activation of hydrogen peroxide: Investigating degradation pathway and the effect of wastewater chemistry

The sea contains elements that can play a useful role in catalyzing reactions. Therefore, this research was done to focus on eliminating amoxicillin (AMX) from wastewater utilizing zeolite Y- sea salt catalyst in the presence of H₂O₂. The influences of furnace temperature (200-500 °C) and time duration in the furnace (1-4 h) were optimized during catalyst generation. Also, the effects of different parameters on AMX removal, such as pH (5.0-9.0), catalyst dose (0-10 g.L^-1), AMX concentration (50-300 mg.L^-1), contact time (10-130 min), and H₂O₂ concentration (0-6 mL/100 mL distilled water) were investigated. Different analyses like Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were conducted to reveal catalyst properties. The BET-specific surface area of the catalyst (12.69 m²g^-1) insignificantly (p-value > 0.05) changed after AMX removal (13.04 m²g^-1), indicating the strength of the prepared catalyst. The active groups of N-H, O-H-O, O-Si-O, C-H, Si-O-Si, and Si-O-Al were determined in the catalyst structure. The highest removal of AMX (93%) was achieved in the zeolite-sea salt/H₂O₂ system at a pH level of 6.0 and an H₂O₂ concentration of 0.1 mL/100 mL. Elimination of the AMX followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The catalyst was reclaimed up to 7 times and the removal efficiency was suitable up to the fifth stage. The by-products and reaction pathways were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that zeolite-sea salt can be utilized as an H₂O₂ activator for the effective degradation of AMX from wastewater.

Cephalexin removal by persulfate activation using simulated sunlight and ferrous ions

This study presents the main results related to the use of activated persulfate (PS) in the elimination of the beta-lactam antibiotic cephalexin (CPX). Experiments were done using K₂S₂O₈ and simulated sunlight. A face-centered central composite experimental design was used to analyze the effects of the solution pH and the PS concentration on the reaction, and to determine the optimized conditions that favor the CPX elimination. The results indicated that the removal of CPX is promoted by an acidic pH and under the higher evaluated PS dose (7.5 mg L^-1). CPX total removal was achieved in 30 min. The analysis of the effect of the pollutant initial concentration indicated that a pseudo-first-order kinetics model can be used to describe the reaction. Likewise, the use of Fe²⁺ ions for PS activation (in the dark) was evaluated and established that a higher concentration of ions favors the pollutant removal. Control tests and under the presence of scavenger agents indicated that both HO• and SO₄^-• radicals would be present in the solution and promote the CPX elimination. The assessment of the solution dissolved organic carbon, nitrates and sulfates was also carried out, and indicated that a portion of the organic matter was mineralized.

Photocatalyst production from wasted sediment and quality improvement with titanium dioxide to remove cephalexin in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and ultrasonic waves: A cost-effective technique

In this study, wasted sediment (sludge waste from shipping docks) was coupled with titanium isopropoxide by the thermal and sol-gel method as a new photocatalyst. The sediment-titanate catalyst alongside ultrasonic and UV was activated hydrogen peroxide to produce OH radicals and decompose cephalexin (CEP). The photocatalyst was crystalline with 52.29 m²/g BET area. The best destruction rate of 87.01% based on COD test was achieved at optimal conditions (pH: 8, cephalexin concentration: 100 mg/L, H₂O₂: 1.63 mg/L, UV: 15 W/m², ultrasonication time: 100 min at 40 kHz, photocatalyst quantity: 1.5 g/L). The trend of anions effect was NO₃^- ≤ SO₄^2- ≤ Cl^-. Decomposition of cephalexin in water solution followed the first-order kinetics (k > 0.01 min^-1, R² > 0.9). The percentage of cephalexin removal from urban water (76%) and hospital wastewater (63%) has decreased compared to the distilled water solution (87%), which is probably due to the presence of radical inhibitors. The consumed electrical energy of the studied system was calculated by 0.031 kW/h. The developed system is a promising and economical method to remove cephalexin.

Insights into the degradation mechanisms and pathways of cephalexin during homogeneous and heterogeneous photo-Fenton processes

The widespread occurrence of antibiotics in the environment poses a potential threat to human health. The photo-Fenton process has demonstrated better degradation performance compared with the conventional wastewater treatment processes. In this study, the degradation of cephalexin was evaluated comparatively by homogeneous (Fe²⁺/H₂O₂/UV) and heterogeneous (MoS₂@Fe/H₂O₂/UV) photo-Fenton processes. Key influencing factors affecting photo-Fenton performance were assessed, confirming the optimum Fe²⁺ concentration at 0.2016 mg L^-1 and H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ molar ratio at 6. Higher degradation efficiency (73.10%) and pseudo-first-order degradation rate constant (0.0078 min^-1) were achieved with the assistance of MoS₂@Fe as the heterogeneous catalyst. Completely different degradation products were identified in the homogeneous and heterogeneous photo-Fenton processes, with main degradation pathways proposed as β-lactam ring-opening, sulfoxide formation, demethylation, N-dealkylation, decarbonylation, hydroxylation and deamination in the Fe²⁺/H₂O₂/UV system and β-lactam ring-opening, hydroxylation, dehydration, amide hydrolysis, and demethylation and ring contraction in the MoS₂@Fe/H₂O₂/UV system, respectively. The formation of newly identified products might root in the attack on cephalexin from active species (i.e., OH, h⁺, e^-, O₂^-) photoinduced by the MoS₂@Fe catalyst. Results also indicated the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms and pathways to eliminate the antimicrobial activities of antibiotics in the future.

Phenol removal kinetics from synthetic wastewater by activation of persulfate using a catalyst generated from shipping ports sludge

Disposal sludges from shipping docks contain elements that have the potential to catalyze the desired treatment process. The current work was designed to decompose phenol from wastewater by activation peroxymonosulfate (PMS) using a catalyst made from sea sediments (at 400 °C for 3 h). The catalyst had a crystalline form and contained metal oxides. The parameters of pH (3-9), catalyst dose (0-80 mg/L), phenol concentration (50-250 mg/L), and PMS dose (0-250 mg/L) were tested to specify the favorable phenol removal. The phenol removal of 99% in the waste sludge catalyst/PMS system was achieved at pH 5, catalyst quantity of 30 mg/L, phenol content of 50 mg/L, PMS dose of 150 mg/L, and reaction time of 150 min. From the results, it was implied that the pH factor was more important in removing phenol with the studied system than other factors. By-products and phenol decomposition pathways were also provided. The results showed that the sea sediment catalyst/PMS system is a vital alternative for removing phenol from wastewater medium.

Sustainable approaches for removal of cephalexin antibiotic from non-clinical environments: A critical review

In this article, the removal of cephalexin (CFX) antibiotic from non-clinical environment is reviewed. Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation techniques are widely used to remove CFX from waters and wastewaters, the combination of these methods is becoming more common for CFX removal. The treatment methods of CFX has not been reviewed before, the present article aim is to organize the scattered available information regarding sustainable approaches for CFX removal from non-clinical environment. These include adsorption by nanoparticles, bacterial biomass, biodegradation by bacterial enzymes and the photocatalysis using different catalysts and Photo-Fenton photocatalysis. The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) appeared to have high potential for CFX degradation. It is evident from the recently papers reviewed that the effective methods could be used in place of commercial activated carbon. The widespread uses of photocatalytic degradation for CFX remediation are strongly recommended due to their engineering applicability, technical feasibility, and high effectiveness. The adsorption capacity of the CFX is ranging from 7 mg CFX g^-1 of activated carbon nanoparticles to 1667 mg CFX g^-1 of Nano-zero-valent iron from Nettle. In contrast, the photo-degradation was 45% using Photo-Fenton while has increased to 100% using heterogeneous photoelectro-Fenton (HPEF) with UVA light using chalcopyrite catalyst.

Application of Saccharomyces cerevisiae/Calcium Alginate Composite Beads for Cephalexin Antibiotic Biosorption from Aqueous Solutions

Cephalexin (CPX) is recognized as a water pollutant, and it has been listed in a number of countries with a risk factor greater than one. Herein, the present work focused on the synthesis, characterization and biosorption capacity evaluation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized in calcium alginate as a biosorbent to remove CPX from aqueous solutions. Biosorbent was characterized by SEM and FTIR techniques. Batch biosorption experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the effect of the initial pH, biosorbent dose and CPX initial concentration. The removal efficiency, in considered optimal conditions (pH = 4, CPX initial concentration = 30 mg/L, biosorbent dose = 1 g/L) was 86.23%. CPX biosorption was found to follow the pseudo–second-order kinetics. The equilibrium biosorption data were a good fit for the Langmuir model with correlation coefficient of 0.9814 and maximum biosorption capacity was 94.34 mg/g. This study showed that the synthesized biosorbent by immobilization technique is a low-cost one, easy to obtain and handle, eco-friendly, with high feasibility to remove CPX antibiotic from aqueous solution. The findings of this study indicate that the biosorbents based on microorganisms immobilized on natural polymers have the potential to be applied in the treatment of wastewater.

Removal of amoxicillin from wastewater in the presence of H2O2 using modified zeolite Y- MgO catalyst: An optimization study

In this paper, Zeolite-MgO was generated using alkali-thermal method and was utilized as a catalyst to decrease amoxicillin (AMX) concentration in the presence of H₂O₂ from wastewater. Different tests like Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FESEM-EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were done to determine catalyst properties. Active groups of C-S-C, CO, CC, C-N, C-O, N-O, and N-H were identified in catalyst frame. According to XRD results, lower crystallinity of nanoparticles after modification of zeolite by MgO can lead to improvement of AMX removal. Active surface of zeolite (2.32 m²/g) was increased after optimization by MgO to 2.96 m²/g, indicating an increase in the catalyst capacity for activation of H₂O₂. In addition, furnace temperature (200-500 °C), residence time in the furnace (1-4 h), and Mg(NO₃)₂: zeolite ratio (0.25: 2, 0.5:2, 1:2 w/w) were studied to achieve the optimized catalyst for AMX removal. Different parameters like pH (5-9), H₂O₂ concentration (0-6 mL/100 mL), dose of catalyst (0-10 g/L), AMX concentration (50-300 mg/L), and reaction time (10-130 min) were also studied. The best efficiency (97.9%) of AMX removal was achieved at acidic pH with the lowest amount of H₂O₂ (0.1 mL/100 mL) and 7 g/L of catalyst. AMX removal using the developed process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Reclaimable Zeolite-MgO catalyst can be effectively utilized in wastewater works.

Ibuprofen elimination from water and wastewater using sonication/ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide/zeolite-titanate photocatalyst system

The present investigation was designed to remove ibuprofen from aqueous solutions and wastewater by activating hydrogen peroxide using ultrasonication (US)/ultraviolet (UV) radiation/zeolite-titanium. The physical-chemical properties of the photocatalyst were determined using BET, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and EDX-mapping techniques. The titanium oxide crystal size and the catalyst BET were determined to be 4.97 nm and 39.88 m²/g, respectively. Tests were performed in a reactor (with a volume of 316 mL) located in an ultrasonic bath to intensify reactions. The synergistic impact of the components of the UV/US/H₂O₂/Photocatalyst system was explored. The maximum efficiency (99.58%) was obtained at H₂O₂ concentration of 0.05 mM, pH 5, UV power of 6 W, photo-catalyst dose of 1 g/L, and contact time of 100 min. The pH variable was more effective than the other parameters. Ions of NO₃^-, Cl^-, and SO₄^2- had a slightly negative effect on contaminant removal efficiency. The ibuprofen removal (based on COD) from urban water and hospital wastewater was attained 77.82% and 66.24%, respectively. The ibuprofen removal by the developed system followed the first-order kinetic. The results show that the system has high efficiency and reasonable costs (with treatment cost of 6.25 €/m³) for ibuprofen decontamination.

Sonochemical processes for the degradation of antibiotics in aqueous solutions: A review

Antibiotic residues in water are general health and environmental risks due to the antibiotic-resistance phenomenon. Sonication has been included among the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) used to remove recalcitrant contaminants in aquatic environments. Sonochemical processes have shown substantial advantages, including cleanliness, safety, energy savings and either negligible or no secondary pollution. This review provides a wide overview of the different protocols and degradation mechanisms for antibiotics that either use sonication alone or in hybrid processes, such as sonication with catalysts, Fenton and Fenton-like processes, photolysis, ozonation, etc.

Waste sludge from shipping docks as a catalyst to remove amoxicillin in water with hydrogen peroxide and ultrasound

The waste sludge from shipping docks contains important elements that can be used as a catalyst after proper processing. The purpose of this study was to remove of amoxicillin (AMX) from the aquatic environment using waste sludge from shipping docks as catalyst in the presence of hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound waves. The catalyst was produced by treating waste sludge at 400 °C for 2 h. N₂ adsorption, SEM, XRD, XRF, and FTIR techniques characterized the structural and physical properties of the catalyst. The BET-specific surface area of the catalyst reduced after AMX removal from 4.4 m²/g to 3.6 m²/g. To determine the optimal removal conditions, the parameters of the design of experiments were pH (5-9), contaminant concentration (5-100 mg/L), catalyst dosage (0.5-6 g/L), and concentration of hydrogen peroxide (10-100 mM). The maximum removal of AMX (98%) was obtained in the catalyst/hydrogen peroxide/ultrasound system at pH 5, catalyst dose of 4.5 g/L, H₂O₂ concentration of 50 mM, AMX concentration of 5 mg/L, and contact time of 60 min. The kinetics of removal of AMX from urine (k = 0.026 1/min), hospital wastewater (k = 0.021 1/min), and distilled water (k = 0.067 1/min) followed a first-order kinetic model (R²>0.91). The catalyst was reused up to 8 times and the AMX removal decreased to 45% in the last use. The byproducts and reaction pathway of AMX degradation were also investigated. The results clearly show that to achieve high pollutant removal rate the H₂O₂/ultrasound and catalyst/ultrasound synergy plays a key role.

Sonication alkaline-assisted preparation of Rhizopus oryzae biomass for facile bio-elimination of tetracycline antibiotic from an aqueous matrix

The present study aimed to remove tetracycline (TET) antibiotic molecule from an aqueous medium using adsorbents prepared from Rhizopus oryzae biomass. The TET adsorption process was discontinuous and the adsorbent biomass was crude and NaOH-sonication-modified Rhizopus oryzae fungi. Specific active surface area for crude and modified Rhizopus oryzae was 10.38 m²/g and 20.32 m²/g, respectively. The results showed that the maximum TET adsorption efficiency was determined at pH 4, temperature 25 °C, initial TET concentration 10 mg/L, contact time 80 min, and biomass quantity 2 g/L. The equilibrium behavior showed that the Langmuir model suitably described the process. The maximum TET adsorption capacity was determined to be 38.02 mg/g and 67.93 mg/g, respectively, indicating that the method of biomass modification promoted the bio-adsorption capacity. A higher correlation coefficient (R²) and lower RMSE for the pseudo-first-order kinetic than other models showed its ability to describe the behavior of TET bio-adsorption. The enthalpy thermodynamic parameter (ΔH°) for the TET adsorption process was determined - 63.847 kJ/mol and - 85.226 kJ/mol for the raw and modified Rhizopus oryzae, respectively. Therefore, it can be suggested that the biomass of Rhizopus oryzae especially the modified version can be effectively used for the TET removal from aqueous environments.