Background: Antibiotic in environment can be accumulated in soil and sediment and then adversely affect the ecosystem function as well as decrease the natural degradation rate of pollutants by producing a antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The antibiotic-resistant genes can also transfer to drinking water resources and then, leading untreatable human disease.

Methods: Natural LECA was supported from rural resources and washed with deionized water for several time and then used as natural adsorbent. The adsorbents were characterized with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and X ray diffract meter (XRD). All experiments were conducted in a batch reactor. Various parameters such as initial adsorbent mass (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/L), initial antibiotic concentration (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/L), initial solution pH (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11) and contact time (1-210 min) were investigated.

Results: The Results of present work showed the high removal efficiency of the adsorbent for adsorption of Tetracycline from aqueous solution. Higher removal efficiency was observed for Tetracycline at pH 3, 180 min contact time, 10 g/L of adsorbent dose and 200 mg/L of initial antibiotic concentration. In optimum condition, up to 49% of tetracycline was removed.

Conclusion: Overall, the results of the present work well demonstrated that natural LECA as an inexpensive adsorbent could remove effectively the antibiotics namely Tetracycline from aqueous solution.