The primary goal of this study is to examine PO 43− adsorption from aqueous solutions using zinc-doped carbon dots (Zn-N-CDs) as a new adsorbent and cost-effective technique. Zn-N-CDs were produced through a hydrothermal process and subsequently identified using various techniques. The effect of reaction time, temperature, pH, ionic strength, adsorbent dosage, initial PO 43− concentration, and anion competition (NO3−, Cl−, HCO3−, and SO42−) on PO 43− adsorption using Zn-N-CDs were investigated. The characterization results depicted that Zn-N-CDs have a spherical structure without obvious aggregation and revealed the amorphous nature of carbon dots with many pores. Zn-N-CDs had a high affinity for adsorbing PO43−, reaching equilibrium within 5 minutes. While PO43− adsorption reduced with an increase in temperature, it increased with pH and ionic strength. The optimal conditions for PO 43− adsorption were determined to be pH 8, 100 mM KCl as an ionic strength, and 5 g L−1 of Zn-N- CDs. The presence of SO42− and HCO3− as competing anions slightly decreased PO 43− adsorption. Thermodynamic studies revealed that PO 43− adsorption onto Zn-N-CDs was endothermic, spontaneous, and disordered, as evidenced by DG° < 0, DH° > 0, and DS° > 0. The experimental data fit well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.999) and the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.9754), signifying that PO43− adsorption onto Zn-N-CDs occurs through multi-layer and chemi-sorption mechanisms. Overall, Zn-N-CDs indicated a great capability to adsorb high concentrations of PO43− across a wide range of pH values, indicating their potential for environmental remediation.

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