COCOS NUCIFERA SP. BIOSORPTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN WASTEWATERS: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

Louie Ian  B. Mariano,; Rizza Danielle  S. Acosta,; Joanne  V. Barnuevo,; Jan Joseph Mascot  G. Famanila,; Ericka Samantha  J. Gomez,; Maricel  A. Navarez,; Joana Patricia  E. Niog,; Ciara Janica  T. Zalameda,

COCOS NUCIFERA SP. BIOSORPTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN WASTEWATERS: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT

Abstract:

This study aimed to establish the adsorption characteristics of coconut husks, in the form of activated carbon in the removal of pharmaceutical products. Equilibrium test was conducted at varying initial concentrations to determine the effect as needed for optimum adsorption. The artificially contaminated wastewater was prepared by spiking pharmaceutical

products – Ibuprofen and Paracetamol – in distilled water. Coconut husks were chemically activated by soaking in a 0.01M potassium hydroxide solution (KOH), as dehydrating agent at impregnation ratio of 1:1. Then was oven dried for 3-5 hours at 110 ?C, cooled to room temperature and ground using mortar and pestle. Wasterwaster samples with initial concentration ranging from 200-500 ppm were exposed for 24 hours with the activated cocos nucifera biosorbent. Samples

were analyzed via Perkin Elmer Lambda 40 UV Visible Spectrophotometer with the maximum wavelength of 273nm and 248nm, respectively. The results of the analysis showed that coconut husk is not effective biosorbent for pharmaceutical products, particularly Ibuprofen with the adsorption percentage ranging from -14.5% to 14% and relatively low effectiveness in Paracetamol with percentage ranging only from 8% to 38.5%. The equilibrium loading was found to increase as the initial concentration decreases. Although the results displayed a successful process of biosorption of the pharmaceutical residues, that have been tested, especially for Paracetamol, the percentages of adsorption were relatively low as compared to the findings of previous studies. Thus, it cannot be clearly accounted that activated coconut husk is the most appropriate material for the removal of such organic compounds. Moreover, the differences among the concentrations of the samples in the study were limited. This may have impacted the efficiency of the biosorbent to the adsorbate.