Enhanced Flotation for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Contaminants from Water Systems Using Graphene Oxide–CTAB Nanocomposites

This study investigates the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants ibuprofen and diclofenac from aqueous solutions using graphene oxide (GO) coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a nanocomposite in a fully pressurized dissolved air flotation process. This novel approach leverages the surface-active properties of GO–CTAB to efficiently eliminate pharmaceuticals under optimized conditions. Characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ζ-potential, particle size analysis, surface tension measurements, contact angle assessment, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), validated the successful synthesis and efficacy of the GO–CTAB nanocomposite in pollutant removal. The process parameters were optimized, with the highest removal efficiencies achieved at a pH of 5 for ibuprofen and pH 4 for diclofenac, a surfactant dosage of 0.4 g, a pressure of 15 psig, and a rate of flow of 0.5 L/min. Under these conditions, removal efficiencies of 99.29% for ibuprofen and 95.31% for diclofenac were obtained, demonstrating the high performance of the GO–CTAB nanocomposite in treating low-concentration pharmaceutical contaminants. This study underscores the potential of the GO–CTAB flotation process as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and highly effective solution for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment, offering sustainability while minimizing chemical usage and environmental impact.