A novel approach in the removal of ciprofloxacin antibiotic in an aquatic system using polymer inclusion membrane

Abstract

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in the aquatic environment has been widely studied due to its ability to be persistent in the environment. Residues of this contaminant are ubiquitous in different environmental media due to the inability of conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to remove them completely. Various advanced wastewater treatments have been used to attenuate this contaminant; however, it remained refractory in the environment. In this study, we investigated the removal of ciprofloxacin using poly(vinyl)chloride (PVC) and cellulose triacetate (CTA) based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). Different parameters were investigated, such as the effect of the types of carriers (Bis-2-(ethylhexyl) phosphate (B2EHP) and tricapryl-methylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336), pH, initial concentration of feed solution, and concentration of the stripping solution. The produced PIM was chemically and mechanically stable. At optimum conditions, the removal efficiency of 99.2%, transport efficiency of 70%, and a permeability coefficient of 20.1 μ m/s were recorded using PVC/B2EHP membrane, whilst a removal efficiency of 95% was recorded using CTA/B2EHP membrane. However, using Aliquat 336 as the carrier, the highest removal efficiency of 60% was recorded. Finally, the PIM was used to remediate CIP in real environmental samples (river water and wastewater). From an initial concentration of 200 ng/L, it was reduced to 1.8 ng/L in river water and 2.2 ng/L in wastewater which is 99.1% and 98.9 % removal, respectively. Thus, PIM could be considered a suitable alternative for the removal of CIP in the aquatic environment. • Removal of CIP using polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) was demonstrated. • Effects of different carriers, pH, feed and stripping solutions were investigated. • The removal efficiencies of the prepared PIMs are within 60%–99%. • The PIMs were used to remediate CIP in real samples, 98%–99% removals were achieved. • It may be used for the removal other recalcitrant antibiotics such as levofloxacin.