Evaluation modified luffa with silver nanoparticles (LF/AgNPs) for removal of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (IBUPROFEN) from aqueous media

Abstract

This study has investigated luffa as a natural adsorbent modified with silver nanoparticles to sequestrate ibuprofen from aqueous media. Adsorption ibuprofen as an environmental pollutant from aqueous media was studied by various factors such as agitation type, pH, initial drug concentration, contact time, agitation rate, and adsorbent dosage. The optimized experimental parameters were achieved by a one-at-a-time method in 60 min employing vortex in pH = 5, initial concentration of 200 µg/mL, and adsorbent dosage of 25 mg. Isotherms were fitted best to the Freundlich model. Kinetics shows that the adsorption of the drug follows a pseudo-second-order model. According to the obtained results, the adsorption capacity of the prepared adsorbate was 71 mg/g, and 92% of the ibuprofen was removed in the aqueous solutions under optimal conditions. Due to the modification of luffa by silver nanoparticle, the surface charge has been changed and also active sites of adsorbent has been increased. Consequences, π-metal interaction, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and π-π stacking were involved in the advancement the adsorption mechanism. The results confirmed that the modified luffa is a suitable adsorbent for removing ibuprofen from aqueous solutions.