Adsorptive removal of antibiotic pollutants from wastewater using biomass/biochar-based adsorbents Oluwaseyi Aderemi AJALA, a Solomon Oluwaseun AKINNAWO, † bc Abayomi BAMISAYE, † d Demilade Tunrayo ADEDIPE, † e Morenike Oluwabunmi ADESINA,† d Omolabake Abiodun OKON-AKAN,† bf Tosin Adewumi ADEBUSUYI, † g Adedamola Titi OJEDOKUN,† b Kayode Adesina ADEGOKE * b and Olugbenga Solomon BELLO * b This study explores adsorptive removal measures to shed light on current water treatment innovations for kinetic/isotherm models and their applications to antibiotic pollutants using a broad range of biomass- based adsorbents. The structure, classifications, sources, distribution, and different techniques for the remediation of antibiotics are discussed. Unlike previous studies, a wide range of adsorbents are covered and adsorption of comprehensive classes of antibiotics onto biomass/biochar-based adsorbents are categorized as b-lactam, fluoroquinolone, sulfonamide, tetracycline, macrolides, chloramphenicol, antiseptic additives, glycosamides, reductase inhibitors, and multiple antibiotic systems. This allows for an Olugbenga Solomon Bello is a Professor of Physical Chemistry in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. He completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 2008. He was the recipient of the 2019 Nigerian Academy of Science Gold Medal Award in Physical Sciences. He received the African Union- Third World Academy of Science (AU-TWAS) Young Scientists National Award in 2012 and the Prof. Kayode Adebowale Young Scientist Prize in Chemical Sciences organized by Nigerian Young Academy in 2016. He beneted from the USM-TWAS Postdoctoral and Visiting Scholar Fellowships to the School of Chemical Engineering University of Science Malaysia. He won TWAS research grant (2012 and 2015) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Institutional Based Research (IBR) in 2016. He was nomi- nated and recognized as one of the “175 Faces of Chemistry” worldwide by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. He was listed among the 2% most cited Scientists in the world by a group of Stanford University researchers. His research interest is focused on adsorption of heavy metals, dyes and phar- maceuticals from wastewaters using agricultural waste materials as adsorbents in lieu of expensive commercial activated carbon to bio-remediate the environment. His accomplishment, as well as the signicant impact of his research ndings has contributed immensely to environmental protection and conservation. It has positively impacted stakeholders like environ- mentalists, water purication experts and those in the medical disciplines. He has mentored several postgraduate students and published over one hundred articles in high impact national and international journals. He has delivered keynote and lead papers at national and international conferences. He has served as external examiners and assessors to many universities at national and international levels. He has served on various committees as chairman and members at the departmental, faculty and university levels. He is the Managing Editor of Science Focus Journal published by the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso. Cite this: RSC Adv. , 2023, 13, 4678 Received 12th October 2022 Accepted 22nd December 2022 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra06436g rsc.li/rsc-advances a Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8527, Japan b Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria c Department of Chemical Sciences, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, P. M. B. 353, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria d Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria e State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China f Wood and Paper Technology Department, Federal College of Forestry Jericho, Ibadan, Nigeria g Department of Chemical Sciences, Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria. E-mail: kwharyourday@gmail.com; osbello@lautech.edu.ng † Share the same second authorship. 4678 | RSC Adv. , 2023, 13, 4678–4712 © 2023 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry RSC Advances REVIEW Open Access Article. Published on 03 February 2023. Downloaded on 2/4/2023 8:48:50 AM. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. View Article Online View Journal | View Issue