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Efficiency of advanced wastewater treatment plant system and laboratory-scale micelle-clay filtration for the removal of ibuprofen residues

  • Samer Khalaf
  • , Fuad Al-Rimawi
  • , Mustafa Khamis
  • , Dikla Zimmerman
  • , Uri Shuali
  • , Shlomo Nir
  • , Laura Scrano
  • , Sabino A. Bufo
  • , Rafik Karaman*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

The efficiency of Al-Quds Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), which includes sequential elements as activated sludge, ultrafiltration, activated carbon column and reverse osmosis, to remove spiked ibuprofen, a non steroid anti inflammatory drug (NSAID), was investigated. Kinetic studies in pure water and in the activated sludge indicated that the drug was stable during one month of observation. Besides, the overall performance of the integrated plant showed complete removal of ibuprofen from wastewater. Activated carbon column, which was the last element in the sequence before the reverse osmosis system, yielded 95.7% removal of ibuprofen. Batch adsorptions of the drug by using either activated charcoal or composite micelle-clay system were determined at 25°C and well described by Langmuir isotherms. Octadecyltrimethylammonium (ODTMA) bromide and montmorillonite were used to prepare the micelle-clay adsorbent, for which the adsorption kinetics are much faster than activated charcoal. Results suggest that integrating clay-micelle complex filters within the existing WWTP may be promising in improving removal efficiency of the NSAID.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)814-821
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Environmental Science and Health - Part B Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes
Volume48
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Keywords

  • Ibuprofen
  • activated carbon
  • adsorption isotherms
  • adsorption kinetics
  • micelle-clay composite
  • wastewater

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