Green Microalgae Scenedesmus Obliquus Utilization for the Adsorptive Removal of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) from Water Samples

Andreia Silva, Ricardo N. Coimbra, Carla Escapa, Sónia A. Figueiredo, Olga M. Freitas and Marta Otero
Additional contact information
Andreia Silva: REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Politécnico Do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Ricardo N. Coimbra: Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Carla Escapa: Department of Applied Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Environment, Natural Resources and Biodiversity (IMARENABIO), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
Sónia A. Figueiredo: REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Politécnico Do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Olga M. Freitas: REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Politécnico Do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Marta Otero: Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-24

Abstract: In view of the valorisation of the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus biomass, it was used for the biosorption of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, namely salicylic acid and ibuprofen, from water. Microalgae biomass was characterized, namely by the determination of the point of zero charge (pH PZC ), by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Kinetic and equilibrium batch experiments were carried out and results were found to fit the pseudo-second order equation and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The Langmuir maximum capacity determined for salicylic acid (63 mg g −1 ) was larger than for ibuprofen (12 mg g −1 ), which was also verified for a commercial activated carbon used as reference (with capacities of 250 and 147 mg g −1 , respectively). For both pharmaceuticals, the determination of thermodynamic parameters allowed us to infer that adsorption onto microalgae biomass was spontaneous, favourable and exothermic. Furthermore, based on the biomass characterization after adsorption and energy associated with the process, it was deduced that the removal of salicylic acid and ibuprofen by Scenedesmus obliquus biomass occurred by physical interaction.

Keywords: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; green microalgae; wastewater treatment; adsorption; biorefinery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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