Pharmaceutical Emerging Pollutant Removal by Thin Activated Carbon Coating: Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies

Abstract

In Malaysia, issues of pharmaceutical pollutant have been highlighted recently. Acetaminophen (analgesic) also known as paracetamol that usually used to reduce moderate pain such as headaches, menstrual periods, cold/flu aches and fever. There are a large amount of acetaminophen has been detected in sewage treatment plants in Malaysia. Unfortunately, sewage treatment plants are not effective enough to overcome this kind of pollutant. Therefore, in this research study, a new approach applying adsorption concept is introduced. Thin activated carbon coating (TACC) for adsorption of acetaminophen (ACT) was investigated. The TACC is formulated using Epoxidized Neutral Rubber (ENR-50) and poly(vinyl) chloride (PVC) as binders with activated carbon as an adsorbent, then was coated on white cotton fabric via brushing technique. Characterization analysis using SEM-EDX and BET analysis were performed. The pore volume and surface area of the TACC are 0.07 cm3/g and 64.3 m2/g, respectively. The TACC was evaluated through varies parameters including different initial concentrations and temperatures. The amount of ACT as adsorbate, 50 mg/L, able to be adsorbed up to 33.3 mg/g into TACC within 5 h. The result of equilibrium and kinetic studies indicated that Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order, respectively, are best fitted the adsorption of ACT onto TACC. It was decisive that the adsorption process of ACT on TACC is spontenoous (Δ G° <0) and exothermic (Δ H° <0) through thermodynamic studies.