Adsorption behavior of diclofenac-containing wastewater on three kinds of sewage sludge

Diclofenac (DCF) is one of the most frequently detected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the water environment. One of the main removal routes of DCF in wastewater is sludge adsorption, and the mechanisms need to be investigated. In this study, the effects of adsorption time, temperature, pH value, and ionic strength on the adsorption of DCF on suspended particles (SP), secondary sedimentation tank sludge (SSTS) and concentrated sludge (CS) were investigated. The results showed that most of the adsorption of DCF by the three matrices was conducted in the first 4 h and equilibrium was achieved at 8 h. The adsorption kinetics were well fitted with the pseudo-second-order model and the rate constants were 0.29-0.88 mg·(μg·min)^-1, with chemical adsorption as the dominant one. Adsorption isotherm conformed to Freundlich, Langmuir and Linear adsorption isotherm models. The order of adsorption capacity was: CS > SSTS > SP, which was proportional to the organic matter content and specific surface area of the adsorbents. The decrease of the pH value and the increase of ionic strength promoted the adsorption of DCF. The results can provide data support for the removal of DCF from different treatment unit types in wastewater treatment plants.