The objectives of this study were to measure the sorption capacity of hydrophobic commercial zeolites with respect to dilute solution of drugs in water and to quantify aspects of their adsorption mechanisms for potential use in wastewater and groundwater remediation. The effectiveness of zeolites in removing pharmaceutical compounds from wastewaters was proved by analyzing the outlet of a wastewater plant before and after adsorption on Y zeolite. To investigate sorption properties of zeolites, the behaviour of a probe molecule (floxacin) on different zeolites (i.e. ZSM5, Mordenite and Y) were compared to assess quantitatively the role of micropore structure on adsorption process. The absorption of floxacine inside the zeolite micropores was revealed by unit cell parameter variations and structural modifications obtained by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, carried out on the adsorbate materials. The saturation capacity of zeolite adsorbents was 2-4% w/w, these quantitative results obtained from isotherms determination were found in good agreement with those obtained by thermogravimetric measurements and account for the number of molecule of floxacin per zeolitic cage.
Pharmaceutical Retention Mechanisms of Hydrophobic Zeolites
PASTI, Luisa;MARTUCCI, Annalisa;ALBERTI, Alberto;MARCHETTI, Nicola;CAVAZZINI, Alberto;DONDI, Francesco
2010
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to measure the sorption capacity of hydrophobic commercial zeolites with respect to dilute solution of drugs in water and to quantify aspects of their adsorption mechanisms for potential use in wastewater and groundwater remediation. The effectiveness of zeolites in removing pharmaceutical compounds from wastewaters was proved by analyzing the outlet of a wastewater plant before and after adsorption on Y zeolite. To investigate sorption properties of zeolites, the behaviour of a probe molecule (floxacin) on different zeolites (i.e. ZSM5, Mordenite and Y) were compared to assess quantitatively the role of micropore structure on adsorption process. The absorption of floxacine inside the zeolite micropores was revealed by unit cell parameter variations and structural modifications obtained by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, carried out on the adsorbate materials. The saturation capacity of zeolite adsorbents was 2-4% w/w, these quantitative results obtained from isotherms determination were found in good agreement with those obtained by thermogravimetric measurements and account for the number of molecule of floxacin per zeolitic cage.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
