Application of effective cross-linked chitosan-based aerogel adsorbent for removal of ibuprofen from water

In this work, a chitosan aerogel was synthesized, characterized, and applied as an adsorbent to remove ibuprofen from water. The aerogel was characterized by pHzpc, SEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET, and DSC. The influence of pH on adsorption was investigated, and kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies were performed to understand the adsorption process thoroughly. In kinetic assays, the pseudo-first-order model was adequate to represent the rate of adsorption of ibuprofen onto chitosan porous aerogel. The adsorbent presented a specific surface area of 1020 m² g⁻¹ and pore sizes from 45 to 150 µm. The Langmuir model was the most adequate to represent the equilibrium, and the highest adsorption capacity was 596 mg g⁻¹ and occurred at 25 °C. The thermodynamic parameters confirmed that the adsorption process was spontaneous, favorable, and exothermic. Moreover, the aerogel demonstrated excellent reusability through multiple adsorption–desorption cycles, maintaining its structural integrity and absorption capacity, making it a promising solution for sustainable water treatment. The results suggest that this bio-based aerogel can be a promissory alternative for removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater.