Raw clay for ibuprofen and chlortetracycline removal from aqueous solution

This study aimed to evaluate the adsorption performances of local raw clay for the removal of ibuprofen (IBP) and chlortetracycline (CTC) well detected in aquatic environments. The CTC and IBP adsorption was carried out in batch system at different conditions. The results revealed the efficiency of this adsorbent without any modification at a concentration of 2 g/L, 293 degrees K, and an initial concentration of pollutant 50 mg/L. The maximum adsorbed quantities of CTC and IBP are 24.515 and 14.005 mg/g at 120 and 90 min respectively. The effect of pH was almost negligible for both drugs. The raw clay samples before and after adsorption were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the two pollutants were differently adsorbed on the tested clay. Kinetic study showed that the pseudo-second-order model fitted well the experimental data for both drugs, and the sorption results were best represented by Langmuir model (0.04 < RL < 0.7 and R2 > 0.97). The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity at 293 degrees K, is 47.65 for IBP and 64.65 mg/g for CTC. The sorption of both pollutants is exothermic. For the CTC spontaneous favorable physisorption was observed. However, Elovich model confirmed the chemisorption of IBP.