The potential of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) in the removal of paracetamol from water

Abstract

While pharmaceuticals are typically found in trace amounts, their continuous discharge into the environment could eventually lead to significant, lasting concentrations, potentially harming humans, animals, and ecosystems. Studies have identified various pharmaceutical compounds, including paracetamol, in sewage treatment plants and water sources like groundwater and drinking water. Recent research has explored the effectiveness of advanced wastewater treatment methods, mainly focusing on adsorption, to remove pharmaceuticals. This report highlights the challenge of substantial oil palm waste, specifically the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB), posing disposal issues. OPEFB, as an absorbent for pollutants in wastewater, appears to be a viable solution. This study evaluates OPEFB’s capacity to adsorb paracetamol contaminants from water matrixes. It shows that 2.5 grams of OPEFB achieved a removal rate of 99.32% for paracetamol at an initial concentration of 100 ppm after 24 hours while using 5.0 grams of OPEFB resulted in a 99.28% removal rate for paracetamol at the same concentration and duration. This shows that OPEFB have the potential to eliminate pollutants from wastewater through the adsorption process effectively.