Characterization of cyclodextrin containing nanofilters for removal of pharmaceutical residues

• β-Cyclodextrin containing nanofilters were developed.
• Adsorption capacity of nanofilters was determined applying ibuprofen containing model solution.
• Adsorption was followed by total organic carbon (TOC) measurements.
• Inorganic additives increased the adsorption capacity of nanofilters.

Due to the increasing amount of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in general and pharmaceutical residues in particular in municipal wastewater, the efficiency of water treatment technologies should be improved. Following the biological treatment of wastewater nanofiltration offers a possible way for the removal of POPs. In this study β-cyclodextrin containing nanofilters having different chemical composition and thickness (1.5–3.5 mm) were investigated. For their characterization, their adsorption capacity was determined applying ibuprofen containing model solution and total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer.It could be established that the regeneration of nanofilters with ethanol and the application of inorganic additives (NaCl, NaHCO3, NH4HCO3) increased the adsorption capacity of nanofilters. The best results were achieved with chemical composition of 30 m/m% β-cyclodextrin polymer beads and 70 m/m% ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in the presence of 12 mmol ammonium hydrogen carbonate/nanofilter.

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