Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Insight into adsorbate–adsorbent interactions between aromatic pharmaceutical compounds and activated carbon: equilibrium isotherms and thermodynamic analysis

  • Published:
Adsorption Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The adsorption of phenol, salicylic acid and methylparaben on activated carbon is carried out using solvents with different pH, the adsorption and calorimetric data are analyzed in order to determine the effect of the substituent on the adsorption capacity. The adsorption isotherms were adjusted to the Langmuir model, which allows to assume the formation of specific adsorbate–adsorbent interactions between groups present in the adsorbate molecules, the substituents of the aromatic ring, and chemical groups on the activated carbon. According to the Lagmuir model the formation of specific interactions generates the monolayer adsorption so it is possible to correlate the adsorption capacity with changes in the interactions present in the system. It was determined that the adsorption process is disadvantaged at extremes pH values. From the Langmuir model it was calculated that the maximum adsorbed capacity of phenol and methylparaben in activated carbon granular activated carbon using water as solvent was 3.11 and 1.58 mmol g−1 respectively. The adsorption process of salicylic acid does not adjust to the Langmuir model due to the presence of different interactions that includes repulsion forces. From thermodynamic calculations and calorimetric data, it was determined that the immersion enthalpies vary between − 8.33 and − 59.3 J g−1, while the change in the enthalpy associated with interactions substituents-activated carbon is between − 15.1 and 6.40 J g−1 for the carboxylic acid and between − 0.50 and 20.0 J g−1 for the ester group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afrin, S., Simol, H.A., Sultana, G.N.N., Islam, M.S., Haque, P., Khan, M.N., Rahman, M.M.: Determination of serum methylparaben concentrations of Bangladeshí breast cancer patients by RP-HPLC. Anal. Chem. Lett. 7, 589–595 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal, V., Erto, A., Giraldo, L., Moreno-Piraján, J.C.: Effect of pH solution on the adsorption of paracetamol on chemically modified activated carbons. Molecules 22, 1032 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal, V., Giraldo, L., Moreno-Piraján, J.C.: Thermodynamic study of the interactions of salicylic acid and granular activated carbon in solution at different pHs. Adsorpt. Sci. Technol. 36, 833–850 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bläker, C., pasel, C., Luckas, M., dreisbach, F., Bathen, D.: Investigation of load-dependent heat of adsorption of alkanes and alkenes on zeolite and activated carbon. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 241, 1–10 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boehm, H.P.: surface oxides on coal and their analysis: a critical assessment. Coal 40, 145–149 (2002)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carvajal-Bernal, A.M., Gomez-Granados, F., Giraldo, L., Moreno-Piraján, J.C.: Calorimetric evaluation of activated carbons modified for phenol and 2, 4-dinitrophenol adsorption. Adsorption 22, 13–21 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H.W., Chiou, C.S., Chang, S.H.: Comparison of methylparaben and propylparaben, ethylparaben adsorption onto magnetic nanoparticles with phenyl group. Powder Technol. 311, 426–431 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daud, W.M.A.W., Ali, W.S.W.: Comparison on pore development of activated carbon produced from palm shell and coconut shell. Bioresour. Technol. 93, 63–69 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado, N., Navarro, A., Marino, D., Peñuela, G.A., Ronco, A.: Surgical removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from domestic wastewater using rotating biological contactors. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 1–10 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foo, K.Y., Hameed, B.H.: Insights into the modeling of adsorption isotherm systems. Chem. Eng. J. 156(1), 2–10 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giulivo, M., Alda, M.L., Capri, E., Barceló, D.: Human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds: their role in reproductive systems, metabolic syndrome and breast cancer: a review. Environ. Res. 151, 251–264 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gokce, Y., Aktas, Z.: Nitric acid modification of activated carbon produced from waste: tea and adsorption of methylene blue and phenol. Appl. Surf. Sci. 313, 352–359 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayakannan, M., Bose, J., Babourina, O., Rengel, Z., Shabala, S.: Salicylic acid in plant salinity stress signalling and tolerance. Plant Growth Regul. 76, 25–40 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kårelid, V., Larsson, G., Björlenius, B.: Pilot-scale removal of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater: comparison of granular and powdered activated carbon treatment at three wastewater treatment plants. J. Environ. Manag. 193, 491–502 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, M.I.R., Fatma, M., Peru, T.S., Anjum, N.A., Khan, N.A.: Salicylic acid-induced abiotic stress tolerance and underlying mechanisms in plants. Front. Plant Sci. 6, 462 (2015)

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y.: Is the free energy change of adsorption correctly calculated? J. Chem. Eng. Released 54, 1981–1985 (2009)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nayak, A., Bhushan, B., Gupta, V., Sharma, P.: chemically activated carbon from lignocellulosic wastes for heavy metal wastewater remediation: effect of activation conditions. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 493, 228–240 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, L., Bandosz, T.J.: Analysis of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim adsorption on sewage sludge and fish waste derived adsorbents. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 220, 58–72 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noh, J.S., Schwarz, J.A.: Estimation of the point of zero charge of simple oxides by mass titration. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 130, 157–164 (1989)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pugajeva, I., Rusko, J., perkons, I., Lundanes, E., Bartkevics, V.: Determination of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 133, 64–74 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quadra, G.R., De Souza, H.O., dos Santos Costa, R., dos Santos Fernández, M.: OJ pharmaceuticals reach and affect the aquatic ecosystems in Brazil? a critical review of current studies in a developing country. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 24, 1200–1218 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savun-HekimoĞlu, B., Ince, N.H.: Reprint of: decomposition of PPCPs by ultrasound-assisted advanced Fenton reaction: a case study with salicylic acid. Ultrason. Sonochem. 40, 46–52 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tran, H.N., Wang, Y.F., You, S.J., Chao, H.P.: Insights into the mechanism of cationic dye adsorption on activated charcoal: the importance of π-π interactions. Process. Saf. Environ. 107, 168–180 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Windsor, F.M., Ormerod, S.J., Tyler, C.R.: Endocrine disruption in aquatic systems: up-scaling research to address ecological consequences. Biol. Rev. 93, 626–641 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, S., ngadi, N., inuwa, I.M., Hassan, O.: Recent advances in applications of activated carbon from biowaste for wastewater treatment: a short review. J. Clean. Prod. 175, 361–375 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan, B., Niu, C.H.: Adsorption behavior of norfloxacin and site energy distribution based on the Dubinin-Astakhov isotherm. Sci. Total Environ. 631, 1525–1533 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, P., Wurster, D.E.: Thermodynamic estimate of the number of solvent molecules displaced by a solute molecule for Enthalpy-Driven adsorption: phenobarbital and activated carbons as the model system. J. Pharm. Sci. 107, 1055–1062 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, D., Huo, P., Liu, W.: Behavior of phenol adsorption on thermal modified activated carbon. Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 24, 446–452 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou, W., Cao, Y., Sun, C.: Adsorption of anionic polyacrylamide onto coal and kaolinite: changes of surface free energy components. Part. Sci. Technol. 35, 233–238 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Framework Agreement between the Universidad de Los Andes and the National University of Colombia and the act of agreement established between the Chemistry Departments of the two universities. The authors also appreciate the grant for the funding of research programs for Associate Professors, Full Professors, and Emeritus Professors announced by the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Andes, 20-12-2019-2020, 2019, according to the project “Enthalpy, free energy and adsorption energy of the activated carbon interaction and solutions of emerging organic compounds”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, DC, Colombia

    Valentina Bernal & Liliana Giraldo

  2. Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1ª No. 18ª-10, Bogotá, DC, Colombia

    Juan Carlos Moreno-Piraján

Authors
  1. Valentina Bernal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liliana Giraldo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Juan Carlos Moreno-Piraján
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Carlos Moreno-Piraján.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bernal, V., Giraldo, L. & Moreno-Piraján, J.C. Insight into adsorbate–adsorbent interactions between aromatic pharmaceutical compounds and activated carbon: equilibrium isotherms and thermodynamic analysis. Adsorption 26, 153–163 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-019-00057-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-019-00057-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation