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Effective removal of lamotrigine using colloidal activated carbon
Abdullah Basaleh1, Mohammed Benaafi2, Shehzada Muhammad Sajid Jillani3
1Geosciences Department, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.
Chemosphere
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Colloidal activated carbon (CAC) effectively removes lamotrigine from contaminated groundwater in lab settings. This study shows CAC is a promising, cost-effective solution for in-situ groundwater remediation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Adsorption Processes
Background:
- Granular activated carbon (GAC) is effective for pharmaceutical removal in controlled settings but limited for in-situ groundwater remediation.
- Lamotrigine is a pharmaceutical pollutant frequently detected in water bodies.
- Developing efficient in-situ remediation methods for pharmaceutical-contaminated groundwater is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficiency of colloidal activated carbon (CAC) for the in-situ removal of lamotrigine from groundwater.
- To investigate the impact of operational parameters on lamotrigine adsorption by CAC.
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of CAC for groundwater remediation.
Main Methods:
- Fixed-bed column experiments were conducted using sand and CAC to simulate subsurface conditions.
- Adsorption performance was evaluated by analyzing breakthrough curves under varying flow rates, CAC dosages, inlet concentrations, and background ions.
- Physiochemical characterization of CAC was performed, and experimental data were fitted using adsorption models.
Main Results:
- CAC, characterized by a negative charge, microporous structure, high surface area (1160 m²/g), and oxygen functional groups, effectively adsorbed lamotrigine.
- The Dose-Response model best fitted the experimental breakthrough curves.
- Maximum adsorption capacity was 5.76 mg/g at a flow rate of 1 mL/min, with a maximum removal efficiency of 65% at 0.5 mL/min.
- Removal efficiency increased with higher CAC dosage and decreased with higher initial lamotrigine concentrations and flow rates.
Conclusions:
- Colloidal activated carbon (CAC) demonstrates significant potential for the efficient and cost-effective in-situ remediation of pharmaceutical-contaminated groundwater.
- Optimizing operational parameters like flow rate and CAC dosage can enhance lamotrigine removal efficiency.
- The estimated treatment cost of $13.4 per m³ suggests CAC is an economically viable option for environmental cleanup.
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