Abstract
Ibuprofen (IBP) is a pharmaceutical product that is widely prescribed as an over-the-counter painkiller. It has been classified as a contaminant of emerging concern (CEC) that has received global attention in the search for a better wastewater separation technology. The emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) is one of the potential solutions for IBP removal from wastewater owing to its advantages, such as the ability to remove a highly soluble solute, energy efficient and tuneable formulation. To develop this ELM, a series of parameters such as stirring speed, emulsification time, organic to internal phase volume ratio (O/I), internal phase concentration, carrier concentration and surfactant concentration were studied. The extraction was carried out for 15 min stirring time and the concentration of IBP in the feed phase was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The optimum formulation for the ELM was found at 300 rpm stirring speed, 20 min emulsification time, 3:1 of O/I, 0.1 M ammonia, NH3 (stripping agent), 6 wt% trioctylamine, TOA (carrier) and 2 wt% sorbitan monooleate, Span 80 (non-ionic surfactant). IBP removal of 89% was achieved at the optimum parameters of ELM. The current research demonstrated that a newly formulated ELM has great potential in removing a low concentration IBP from wastewater.
Highlights
Ibuprofen (IBP) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by inhibiting the action of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme to synthesize prostaglandin, which causes inflammation in living organisms
IBP is classified as a contaminant of emerging concern (CEC) that can harm the environment and living organisms in view of its toxic pharmaceutically active compounds found in water bodies [4]
To the best of our knowledge, no experimental work has been conducted to extract low concentrations of IBP by using an emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) formulation that consists of kerosene and NH3 as its membrane and internal phase, respectively
Summary
Ibuprofen (IBP) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by inhibiting the action of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme to synthesize prostaglandin, which causes inflammation in living organisms. Chopra et al reviewed that the presence of this drug and its residual in water systems, even at low concentrations, threatens the quality and safety of drinking water [6] This is because, apart from antibiotics, the presence of IBP in most water treatment plants (WTPs) in many countries is the source for antimicrobial resistance in the population, which has been yet overlooked [7,8,9]. To the best of our knowledge, no experimental work has been conducted to extract low concentrations of IBP by using an ELM formulation that consists of kerosene and NH3 as its membrane and internal phase, respectively. The optimum condition would be investigated such as the ELM formulation which includes the composition variation of the carrier, surfactant and stripping agent under optimal emulsification and stirring speed in obtaining a high removal efficiency of IBP.
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