Preparation of biochar by simultaneous carbonization, magnetization and activation for norfloxacin removal in water

•AMB can be prepared by simultaneous calcination, magnetization, and activation.•AMB has the large surface area and can be conveniently recycled.•AMB showed the strong adsorption of norfloxacin.•AMB had a good adsorption effect on norfloxacin in a wide pH range.

Activated magnetic biochar (AMB) was prepared with corn stalks, reed stalks, and willow branches by simultaneous carbonization, magnetization, and activation, and used for norfloxacin removal in water. The exploration results showed that the zeta potential was positively charged at pH 2-10. These prepared activated magnetic biochars have a large specific surface area (>700 m2·g−1) and pore volume (>0.3 cm3·g−1). The quasi-second-order kinetic adsorption equation could better describe the adsorption of NOR on AMB. The Langmuir isotherm showed the better fitting results on AMB. The AMB showed the strong adsorption of NOR, and the saturated adsorption capacity of corn activated magnetic biochar was the highest, 7.6249 mg·g−1. The adsorption of NOR on AMB was a spontaneous endothermic process. The effect of pH on the adsorption behaviors of NOR on AMB was not obvious, and AMB had a good adsorption effect on NOR in a wide pH range.

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