Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Scientific Journal

Feasibility of the Purification of Pharmaceuticals from Aqueous Solutions using Carbon Nanotubes in the Presence of Oxidizers

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

Faezeh Mohammadi 1
Negin Moradpour 1
Neda Azimi 2
Ebrahim Ebrahimi 3

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 CFD Research Division, Advanced Chemical Engineering Research Center, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijche.2024.443106.1523
Abstract
In this research, the methods of oxidation, oxidation along with carbon nanotubes and surface absorption of carbon nanotubes were investigated to remove the drug substance of cefixime from aqueous solutions. In these methods, the removal percentage of cefixime was 78%, 96% and 70% respectively. Therefore, the results showed that oxidation with carbon nanotubes had a positive effect on the removal of cefixime. For this reason, oxidation along with carbon nanotubes was used to remove the cefixime. Next, different operating parameters such as the concentration of drug pollutants (20,30,40 and 55ppm), reaction time (5,10,15,20,25 and 30 min), concentration of hydrogen peroxide (1, 3 and 5ml) and amount of carbon nanotubes (0.05, 0.01 and 0.2 g/l) were studied in the removal process of cefixime using the method of  oxidation along with carbon nanotubes. It should be noted that in all experiments, certain amounts of carbon nanotubes and the oxidizing agent of hydrogen peroxide were used. In addition, a mixer, with a given round, was used to mix the materials. The maximum removal efficiency of cefixime from aqueous solutions is about 96% , which is related to the process of the removal of cefixime at the constant concentration of 55 mg/L by 0.1 g/L of carbon nanotubes and 5ml of hydrogen peroxide at the  t = 30 min.

Keywords

oxidation
carbon nanotube
pharmaceutical wastewater
cefixime

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Volume 21, Issue 2
Spring 2024
Pages 43-55

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