Removal of Trimethoprim from Water using Carbonized Wood Waste as Adsorbents

Abstract

Daniellia—oliveri sawdust-based adsorbents were employed to remove trimethoprim (TMP) from water. The sawdust was thermally carbonized and activated in-stu with ZnCl2 and H3PO4 separately. The adsorbents surface features were profiled using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and pH point of zero charge (pHpzc ) analyses. The prospects of the adsorbents for the removal of trimethoprim from water were verified. The adsorption processes were performed under different experimental conditions. The adsorption isotherm, the kinetics, and the thermodynamics were studied; and the data fitting output revealed that both chemisorptions and physisorption occurred. Surface and pore diffusion played active role in the adsorption of TMP by the adsorbents. The optimum conditions for adsorption of TMP by the adsorbents were pH at slightly acidic to neutral medium and temperature at room temperature. The fitting isotherm models were: Langmuir (R2 = 0.993) for the zinc-chloride-activated-carbon, Temkin (R2 = 0.962) for the phosphoric-acid-activated-carbon, and the kinetics: pseudo-second order (R2 = 0.997) for both. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities of the adsorbents for TMP was 4.115 and 6.495 mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters determined suggested feasibility, spontaneity, and endothermicity of the adsorption processes. The results reveal that the adsorbents were goodprospects for the removal of TMP from water.

A review of indigenous knowledge and ethnopharmacological significance of African Copaiba Balsam Tree, Daniellia oliveri (Fabaceae)

“…The application of D. oliveri has been found in water management using its sawdust as an adsorbent base for the removal of trimethoprim (in water) constituting (perhaps) health and ecological problems (particularly to the aquatic habitats) if exposed to them involuntarily [ 105 ]. Additionally, a great diversity of microorganisms (bacteria) from the genera, Bacillus ( B. cereus , B. subtilus , B. megaterium ) and Micrococcus isolated and or identified from the plant in a study [ 106 ] resulted in the production of some enzymes (such as amylase, cellulase, esterase, lipase, and protease) that aids the rapid decomposition of leaf litter appropriate for organic fertilizer production [ 106 ].…”