LAUSR

Abstract We reported a direct and tunable strategy to obtain a highly porous nanostructured Cu/Cu2O/CuO@C by self-sacrificial HKUST-1 template pyrolysis. The as-synthesized composite was structurally characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X–ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The characteristic results demonstrated the existence of various species of copper oxides supported on carbon matrix. The surface of Cu/Cu2O/CuO@C monitored many functional groups/chemical bonds, hollow structure as well as high surface area (∼80 m2/g). In addition, the effect of contact time, initial concentration, solution pH and ionic strength on the adsorption of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and tetracycline (TTC) on Cu/Cu2O/CuO@C have been vigorously indicated. The results also revealed the adsorption of CIP and TTC obeyed pseudo-second order model and this process was endothermic and spontaneous. We also proposed several plausible adsorption mechanisms based on hydrogen bonding, π–π, and n–π interactions. The adsorbability efficiencies (Qm, mg/g) of Cu/Cu2O/CuO@C towards CIP and TTC from water were found, at 67.5 and 112.5 mg/g, respectively, along with excellent recyclability in comparison with other adsorbents.