Diclofenac sodium removal from water samples using chitosan nanocomposites modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This study explores the preparation of chitosan blended with MWCNTs as an adsorptive material for DCF sodium from water samples. Synthesised chitosan nanocomposites were characterised using FTIR, XRD, SEM and BET analysis. The optimal conditions to improve DCF sodium removal to 98% were at pH of 3, adsorbent dosage of 2.5 g/L, 30 minutes contact time and 20 mg/L initial concentration. Kinetic studies exhibited that DCF sodium adsorption fitted pseudo second order (R2 = 0.997) and the isotherms best fitted the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.997). The 3% MWCNTs-Chitosan nanocomposite could be reused at least 5 times indicating a significant effectiveness of this adsorbent for DCF sodium pharmaceuticals removal.