Adsorptive removal of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from wastewater samples using modified activated carbon...

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used pharmaceuticals that play an important role in the health of both humans and animals. However, improper disposal of these drugs, along with pharmaceutical and hospital waste, has led to their presence in water sources, making them emerging pollutants that require remediation. In this study, a green magnetic activated carbon composite was prepared by incorporating Fe₃O₄ onto activated carbon synthesized from potato peels. This sorbent was then used to adsorb NSAIDs (aspirin and ibuprofen) from wastewater treatment plant samples. The morphology and structure of the synthesized material were characterized using various techniques. The magnetic activated carbon exhibited a well-defined surface with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 57.96 m²/g and a pore volume of 0.099 cm³/g. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image showed that incorporating iron oxide into the activated carbon resulted in the formation of small, well-defined pores. The NSAIDs were analyzed and quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a Photodiode Array Detector. The adsorption studies indicated that the data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model and followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The adsorption mechanism involved electrostatic interactions, π-π interactions, and pore filling. cycle. The magnetic activated carbon derived from potato peelings demonstrated strong reusability and regeneration, and its adsorption capacity declined after the sixth cycle. MAC-KOH30%-PPW shows promise as an affordable sorbent for removing aspirin and ibuprofen from wastewater samples.