Mechanistic evaluation of metformin drug confiscation from liquid phase on itaconic acid/kaolin hydrogel nanocomposite.

Abstract

Herein, kaolin (K) was amended by a novel gemini surfactant to attain nano-kaolin (nK), which was subsequently employed as a cross-linker in the preparation of itaconic acid/kaolin hydrogel nanocomposite (IA/nK) via free radical polymerization route employing the sonochemical technique, which has been used for the first time to extract metformin (MF) from water solution. The aspects which affect sorption behavior of IA/nK on metformin (MF) were systematically investigated via batch experiments, in harmony with effect of sorbent dosage, contact time, pH, MF concentration, equilibrium curves, kinetic behavior, and thermodynamic parameters. BET studiesof IA/nK exhibited SBET of 106.42 m2g-1, pore volume 0.281 cm3 g-1, and a pore radius of 16.627 Å. Kinetic and isotherm modelling portrayed that pseudo-second order and Freundlich model appropriated adsorption data with maximum sorption capacity of 278.35 mg g-1. Thermodynamic parameters ΔHO (13.67 kJmol-1) and ΔGO (-7.648 kJmol-1) revealed that sequestration of MF on IA/nK was endothermic, spontaneous, and dominated by physisorption. Molecular docking study along with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy inferred electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding as main mechanism of MF removal. IA/nK demonstrated dose-reliant inhibition of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. IA/nK demonstrated good regeneration properties, up to four cycles without considerable decrease in its efficacy. The admirable sorption capacity coupled with good reusability, and low toxicity substantiates IA/nK as promising adsorbent for MF confiscation.