Abstract
Background: Metoprolol (MTP) with its low biodegradability is one of the most dominant micropollutant in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones. Methods: The pine cones were activated using thermal activation method. Characteristics of the adsorbent were determined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this study, the influent of different parameters such as pH, contact time, initial concentrations of metoprolol, adsorbent dose, temperature, adsorption isotherms, and kinetics were investigated. Results: The maximum removal efficiency of MTP (89.2%) was obtained at pH=8.5, adsorbent dose=1.5 g, contact time=60 min, and initial concentration=50 mg/L. By increasing the adsorbent dose, the removal efficiency also increased, but the adsorption capacity decreased, however, by increasing the initial concentration, the removal efficiency decreased, but the adsorption capacity increased. The isotherm experimental data for metoprolol was best fitted using the Langmuir model, and kinetic data were better described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorption of MTP by the adsorbent was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. Conclusion: MTP removal by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones showed that this natural adsorbent is appropriate for removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions regarding cost, efficiency, and production method.
Highlights
The growth of the world population has created many problems including environmental pollution, especially pollution of water resources by wastewater that threaten human and environmental health [1,2]
In this study, the pine cones as natural raw materials were prepared for removal of MTP from the aqueous solutions
The characteristics of the adsorbent were investigated by various techniques and the effects of several parameters on the adsorption of MTP on the pine cones biochar were investigated
Summary
The growth of the world population has created many problems including environmental pollution, especially pollution of water resources by wastewater that threaten human and environmental health [1,2]. Studies have shown that pharmaceutical materials produced in drug manufacturing companies, the expired pharmaceuticals and medicines taken by humans and animals enter the environment [11,12,13] Because of their high water solubility, pharmaceuticals usually present in water resources and these compounds are not removed by the conventional water treatment systems [14,15]. The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones. Conclusion: MTP removal by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones showed that this natural adsorbent is appropriate for removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions regarding cost, efficiency, and production method.
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