OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 13 2 (April 2023) 2022 05 19 Towards efficient ciprofloxacin adsorption using magnetic hybrid nanoparticles prepared with κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan 10.1007/s40097-022-00498-x EN Sofia F. Soares Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, PT João Nogueira Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, PT Tito Trindade Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, PT Ana L. Daniel-da-Silva Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, PT Journal Article 2022 05 19 Abstract The efficient removal of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous samples using magnetic nanosorbents prepared using three sulfated polysaccharides, κ-, ι- and λ-carrageenan and an alkoxysilane agent containing a reactive epoxide ring is described. The prepared nanosorbents were characterized in detail using FTIR spectroscopy, solid-state 29 Si and 13 C NMR spectroscopy and elemental microanalysis. The synthesis method was more effective for incorporating higher amounts of κ-carrageenan in the siliceous shells. Although being less sulfated, κ-carrageenan is cheaper than the other carrageenan tested. The CIP adsorption was a cooperative process, well described by the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 878, 969 and 865 mg/g for κ-, ι- and λ-carrageenan sorbents, respectively. Overall, the produced magnetic nanosorbents are among the best magnetic systems with high adsorptive efficiency for CIP. It is suggested that protonated CIP molecules are exchanged with ester sulfate counterions of carrageenan at the particles’ surface as the main pathway for CIP adsorption. The adsorption process was exothermic and entropically favorable for the three sorbents. However, at 298 K, the adsorption was spontaneous for κ-carrageenan-based sorbents and non-spontaneous for ι- and λ-carrageenan particles. The magnetic sorbents could be reused and maintained their ability towards CIP removal up to four cycles. The removal efficiency in wastewater was enhanced with the sorbent dose. Graphical abstract Magnetic carrageenan nanosorbents were prepared using three carrageenan polysaccharides (κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan). The resulting magnetic particles removed the antibiotic ciprofloxacin efficiently from ultra-pure water and wastewater samples. Magnetic features enabled the fast magnetic separation of the nanosorbents from water.