Removal of Pharmaceuticals From Aqueous Medium Using Entrapped Activated Carbon in Alginate

• Published in: Air, soil and water research Vol. 12; no. 1
• Main Authors: Abdel–Gawad, Soha A, Abd El–Aziz, Hossam M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sage UK: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2019; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Acids; Activated carbon; Adsorbents; Adsorption; adsorption study; Alginates; Alginic acid; Aqueous solutions; Ascorbic acid; Carbon; Chemical oxygen demand; Dosage; entrapped AG–AC; Industrial wastes; Industrial wastewater; Lactose; Medical wastes; Organic compounds; Original Research; pH effects; pharmaceutical wastewater; Pharmaceuticals; Polymers; removal of COD; Stirring; Vitamin C; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; removal of COD; pharmaceutical wastewater; adsorption study; entrapped AG–AC
• ISSN: 1178-6221; 1178-6221
• DOI: 10.1177/1178622119848761

The adsorption of entrapped activated carbon in alginate polymer (AG–AC) was investigated by measuring the removal of organic compounds. The general concept is that the entrapped activated carbon in alginate polymer could be used as a low–cost adsorbent for ascorbic acid and lactose removal from industrial wastewater. Ascorbic acid and lactose are the most pharmaceutical wastes that can introduce throughout the industrial process and lead to an increase in the amount of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater. Different ascorbic acid and lactose concentrations were prepared in the laboratory. The efficient removal is affected by external variables (eg, pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, concentrations, and stirring rate). Percent removal for ascorbic acid and lactose at pH 3 using dose 30 g for 60 minutes with a fixed stirring rate at 100 rpm was about 70% and 50%, respectively. Ascorbic acid and lactose adsorption onto entrapped activated carbon in alginate polymer obey well with Freundlich adsorption isotherm.