Efficient Removal of Ibuprofen and Diclofenac Sodium Using Modified Bentonites: Adsorption Studies and Performance in Real Water
Source abstract
Abstract
This study investigates the adsorption of ibuprofen (IBU) and diclofenac sodium (DS) using bentonite modified with varying amounts (50, 75, and 100% of cation exchange capacity—CEC) of two surfactants: octadecyl(dimethylbenzyl)ammonium (ODMBA) chloride and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide. The resulting organobentonites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TG), and zeta potential analysis. The results indicated that higher surfactant concentrations in organobentonites improved adsorption efficiencies for both drugs, while ODMBA-modified organobentonites exhibited notably larger adsorption capacities than HDTMA-modified samples. The adsorption isotherms fitted well to both the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with a better fit observed for the Freundlich model. The highest adsorption capacities were 102 mg/g for IBU and 160 mg/g for DS on sample OB-100 (organobentonite with 100% of ODMBA). Characterization of samples after drug adsorption, using FTIR, zeta potential and DSC/TG analysis, confirmed drug presence in organobentonites. Adsorption tests of DS in real river water (Danube and Sava rivers) showed that OB-100 demonstrated high removal capacity for DS. The findings suggest that organobentonites are low-cost adsorbents with potential for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from real aquatic environments.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal · Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts · Analytical chemistry methods development
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, Franše d’ Eperea 86, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
“Vinča” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovića Alasa 12–14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 12–16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Funding
Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia
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