Nanostructured surfaces

Study of the nanostructure of the mixed adsorption layer of heavy metal and diclofenac on the surfaces of synthetic zeolites and their carbon composites
Medykowska M.1, Wiśniewska M.1*, Szewczuk-Karpisz K.2, Panek R.3
1 Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie- Sklodowska University, Maria Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland, 
E-mail: *malgorzata.wisniewska@mail.umcs.pl;
2 Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-290 Lublin, Poland;
3 Department of Building Materials Engineering and Geoengineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka Street 40, 20-618 Lublin, Poland.

Diclofenac is one of the most popular over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Compared to other NSAID analgesics, it is well tolerated, does not accumulate in tissues, and rarely causes serious side effects. It has been estimated that its annual global consumption is about 940 tons. For this reason, it is one of the more common pharmaceuticals in raw sewages [1]. Other common contaminants in wastewater are heavy metals, which enter there due to many ways e.g. from agriculture and textile industry. For this reason, it was decided to investigate the adsorption capacity of zeolites and their composites with carbon towards diclofenac as well as heavy metals (Pb(II) and Zn(II)) in mixed systems of adsorbates, which better reflect the nature of wastewater samples.
Therefore, adsorption, desorption and kinetics measurements were performed. Furthermore, the interaction mechanisms of heavy metal ions and drug molecules with solid surfaces were determined based on the results of electrokinetic studies. The conducted studies showed that the investigated materials are characterized by high application potential and great possibilities of future usage.

1.	Zhang, Y., Geißen, S.-U., Gal, C. Carbamazepine and diclofenac: Removal in wastewater treatment plants and occurrence in water bodies. Chemosphere-2008, 73(8), 1151–1161.

This work was partially ﬁnanced by the National Centre for Research and Development project Lider contract number LIDER/19/0072/L-9/17/NCBR/2018