The antihypertensive losartan potassium is an emerging pharmaceutical contaminant that has been traced in aquatic media; hence, up-to-date water treatment methods are urged. This paper is the first of its kind to examine losartan uptake by adsorption using an organophilic clay, Spectrogel. In...

The antihypertensive losartan potassium is an emerging pharmaceutical contaminant that has been traced in aquatic media; hence, up-to-date water treatment methods are urged. This paper is the first of its kind to examine losartan uptake by adsorption using an organophilic clay, Spectrogel. In comparison, a micro-grain activated carbon (μGAC) was employed. Adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics were examined and characterizations were performed. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, external diffusion, surface diffusion and pore diffusion models were adjusted to kinetic data, and Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were correlated to isotherms. Adsorption mechanisms were elucidated for surface features and surface chemistry. The latter was unraveled to have a crucial role on losartan removal by Spectrogel. The best adsorbent dosage was stablished as 6 g/L and initial solution pH (2.5-10) had no significant impact on the process. Spectrogel exhibited faster kinetics and superior maximum adsorption capacity (~2200 min, 0.0820 mmol/g) than μGAC (~2600 min, 0.0441 mmol/g). Compared to water or ethanol eluents, methanol showed the highest efficiency as desorption agent (65%). The results indicate that Spectrogel organoclay is a potential non-traditional adsorbent for losartan remediation

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ

406193/2018-5

COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES

88882.329686/2018-01

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP

2016/05007-1

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