Ivermectin adsorption by commercial charcoal in batch and fixed-bed operations

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Adsorption Science
• Water Treatment Technologies

Background:

• Ivermectin, an emerging contaminant, saw increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Limited studies exist on optimizing ivermectin adsorption parameters.
• High surface area and porosity charcoal were investigated for ivermectin removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal adsorption parameters for ivermectin removal using activated charcoal.
• To evaluate the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of ivermectin.
• To assess the performance of activated charcoal in a continuous flow system.

Main Methods:

• Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to analyze isotherms and kinetics.
• The Koble-Corrigan and Linear Driving Force (LDF) models were applied.
• Column experiments were performed to evaluate breakthrough time and column capacity.

Main Results:

• Adsorption data best fitted the Koble-Corrigan model, with a maximum capacity of 203 μg g⁻¹ at 328 K.
• Thermodynamics indicated spontaneous, endothermic adsorption, reaching equilibrium rapidly.
• The LDF model accurately described kinetics, and column studies showed efficient removal with a capacity of 76 μg g⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• Activated charcoal is highly efficient for ivermectin removal, demonstrating fast kinetics and high affinity.
• Adsorption is favored near neutral pH, indicating sensitivity to environmental conditions.
• The material shows promising performance for continuous ivermectin removal in water treatment.