Highly efficient removal of diclofenac sodium with polystyrene supported ionic liquid

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Water Treatment

Background:

• Diclofenac sodium (DS) is a widely used pharmaceutical and an emerging water pollutant.
• Conventional water treatment methods struggle to efficiently remove DS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adsorption performance of a polystyrene-supported ionic liquid material (PS-[Nim][Cl]) for DS removal from water.
• To investigate the efficiency of PS-[Nim][Cl] under varying environmental conditions.

Main Methods:

• Adsorption experiments were conducted using PS-[Nim][Cl] to remove DS from aqueous solutions.
• The study assessed the impact of pH, temperature, and co-existing ions on adsorption efficiency.
• Adsorption kinetics and capacity were determined.

Main Results:

• PS-[Nim][Cl] achieved >99.9% DS removal within 30 minutes, with rapid initial uptake (>90% in 10 minutes).
• The maximum adsorption capacity reached approximately 785.2 mg/g.
• Adsorption efficiency remained high despite significant pH and temperature fluctuations and the presence of various inorganic ions.

Conclusions:

• PS-[Nim][Cl] is a highly efficient adsorbent for diclofenac sodium removal from water.
• The material shows excellent stability and performance in complex water matrices, including environmental samples and groundwater.
• This adsorbent offers a promising solution for pharmaceutical pollution control in water.