Removal of naproxen using low-cost Dillenia Indica peels as an activated carbon

Abstract

A batch adsorption process of naproxen (NPX) using activated carbon derived from Dillenia Indica peel was performed at the laboratory scale. NPX was selected as an adsorbate due to its toxicity and large occurrence in water. The study was conducted to examine the ability of prepared activated carbon in adsorbing the NPX. The adsorption was conducted at various initial concentrations of NPX, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and pH. Results of batch adsorption showed that the maximum adsorption was reached at lower pH and adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g. 8 h is needed for the adsorption to reached equilibrium. Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Temkin isotherm have been used to analyse the properties of the adsorption process. The data are best suited for the Langmuir and Temkin isotherm and the adsorption follows a pseudo-second order model for kinetic study. The results suggest that the adsorption behave as a monolayer and the process is controlled by chemisorption mechanism. The adsorption capacity of 10.76 mg/g concluded that the activated carbon prepared from Dillenia Indica peel is effective in removing NPX from the water.