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Selective adsorption of emerging contaminants from aqueous solution using Cu-based composite by solvothermal

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Abstract

Pharmaceuticals compounds have been designated as emerging contaminants in recent years due to their constant presence and persistence in the aquatic ecosystem, even at low doses. This study aims to synthesize Fe3O4 core–shell magnetic nanoparticles and covered them with Cu-BTC (BTC) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate. Copper-based composite Cu-BTC@Fe3O4 was used to study the adsorption capacity of four pharmaceutical drugs, viz. diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin. The factors that influence the adsorption such as pH, concentration, adsorbent amount, and time were investigated. Results exposed that percent removal of four drugs in an aqueous media increased by up to 81% within 3 h of contact time. The adsorption mechanism was found to fit the pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. The adsorption isotherm data were well expressed by the Langmuir equation. Results indicated that maximum adsorption capacity was found qmax = 13.38 mg.g−1 for ibuprofen, qmax = 12.47 mg.g−1 for diclofenac, qmax = 12.35 mg.g−1 for ciprofloxacin, qmax = 11.14 mg.g−1 for ofloxacin, respectively.

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Availability of data and materials

Materials and Data were found from Centre for Pure and Applied Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro and National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of Prof. Kashif Samo, Centre for Pure and Applied Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro for providing SEM Images of our samples.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. This work is performed in the National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, and Jamshoro, Pakistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

    F. Chang, N. Memon & S. Memon

  2. Dr. M.A. Kazi Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

    A. S. Chang

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  1. F. Chang
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  2. N. Memon
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  3. S. Memon
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  4. A. S. Chang
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All authors contributed equally to this work.

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Correspondence to F. Chang.

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Editorial responsibility: Fatih ŞEN.

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Chang, F., Memon, N., Memon, S. et al. Selective adsorption of emerging contaminants from aqueous solution using Cu-based composite by solvothermal. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 11161–11168 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03882-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03882-2

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