Sorption of diclofenac and naproxen onto MWCNT in model wastewater treated by H2O2 and/or UV

• UV and/or H2O2 changed the physicochemical properties of CNTs.
• Freundlich or Langmuir model described sorption of diclofenac and naproxen.
• Pseudo-second order kinetics indicated chemisorption limiting step.
• Physical or chemical sorption mechanism was observed.
• Changed structure, dispersion and aggregation of CNT will affect biotransformation.

The application of oxidation processes such as UV and/or H2O2 will change the physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT). It may affect the sorption affinity of CNT to different contaminants and then affect their fate in the environment. In the present study the adsorption of two very common used pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and naproxen) onto CNT treated by UV, H2O2 or UV/H2O2 was investigated. Four different adsorption models (Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich) were tested. The best fitting of experimental data was observed for Freundlich or Langmuir model. The significant relationships between Q calculated from Langmuir model with O% and dispersity were observed. Kinetics of diclofenac and naproxen followed mainly pseudo-second order indicating for chemisorption limiting step of adsorption. The data showed that the mechanism of sorption was physical or chemical depending on the type of CNT modification.

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