Physicochemical characterization of Moringa oleífera’s shells as biosorbent for pharmaceuticals biosorption

Abstract

The pharmaceuticals as emerging contaminants have become one of the most controversial environmental issues at global scale. Over the years, the presence of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs inside rivers, lakes, and even inside drinking water streams has increased. The wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) lack the necessary technology to remove concentrations between the range ng/l-mg/l and therefore, the need to develop new methods able to remove contaminants in an effective, low cost and environmental friendly way arises. The present work is focused on studying the potential adsorption capacity of Moringa oleífera (MO) to remove Diclofenac (DCF) and Oxytetracycline (OTC) from wastewater. Through different experiences, it was possible to characterizes the main functional groups of MO and determine the principal responsible of the biosorption process.