Abstract
The aim of presented research concerned synthesis of a novel lignosulfonate-based sorbent and its application in batch adsorption tests related to removal of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (ibuprofen). Obtained hybrid material was thoroughly characterized with respect to morphology, porosity (BET method and BJH algorithm), electrokinetic stability, and characteristic functional groups. As a result of the proposed synthesis route, an active MgO–SiO2/lignosulfonate hybrid was obtained as confirmed by significant amount of functional groups present in its structure and relative good parameters of the porous structure (ABET = 71 m2/g, Vp = 0.2 mL/g and Sp = 11.8 nm). Next stage concerned typical batch adsorption tests with respect to active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)—ibuprofen. It was proved that efficiency of removal of ibuprofen was mostly determined by its structure as well as variable process parameters. Affinity of sorption material towards model organic impurity was established based on equilibrium and kinetics study of adsorption process performed. A key element of the investigations was an interaction and mechanism study resulted from interpretation how the parameters of the adsorption affect the nature of the adsorbent/adsorbate interactions. Experimental data collected, supplemented with regeneration tests, proved significant affinity of ibuprofen to the hybrid sorbent and enabled determination of nature of the adsorbent/adsorbate interactions. Moreover, suggested mechanism of ibuprofen sorption was proposed.
Highlights
Due to the dynamic development of the pharmaceutical industry, the amount of consumed drugs is increasing and the problem of their removal from the natural environment is growing
The morphology of the precursors and synthesized MgO–SiO2/lignosulfonate hybrid adsorbent was made based on the SEM images (Fig. 2)
The SEM image of the synthesized MgO–SiO2/lignosulfonate hybrid adsorbent indicates that the particles of this material are polydisperse and exhibits varied size, ranging from less than 1 μm up to even few micrometers (Fig. 2c)
Summary
Due to the dynamic development of the pharmaceutical industry, the amount of consumed drugs is increasing and the problem of their removal from the natural environment is growing. The efficiency of removal of micro-pollutants from aqueous solutions using adsorption process is affected by the method of adsorbent synthesis, its physicochemical attributes, as well as the parameters of the adsorption process, such as contact time, stirring intensity, solution pH, adsorbent dosage (Nam et al 2014; Reza et al 2014; Behera et al 2012; Wang et al 2015; Bui and Choi 2009). The primary aspect of the adsorption process is to evaluate the equilibrium contact time of the adsorbent with the adsorbate Another important factor that determines the effectiveness of adsorption of micro-pollutants from aqueous solutions is the pH, appropriately selected for the ionic nature of the adsorbent surface (type of functional groups present on the surface) and the charge of the active part of the sorbed micro-pollutant. The adsorptive abilities of a given material are determined by the method of its synthesis, as it affect the properties of the obtained adsorbent, in particular the degree of development of its surface area, which can be controlled by appropriate modification of the starting material (Grabicka and Jaroniec 2010; Michot and Villiéras 2006; Morais et al 2013)
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