Sustainable removal of hydroxychloroquine from water using low-cost bioadsorbent from Cymbopogon citratus leaves
摘要
The removal of hazardous compounds, such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), from aqueous environments is essential for protecting aquatic ecosystems due to their potential harmful effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost bioadsorbent made from residual Cymbopogon citratus leaves for the removal of HCQ from water. The bioadsorbent was prepared under mild conditions and characterized physically and chemically. Batch adsorption experiments indicated that the bioadsorbent exhibited favorable characteristics, such as a specific area of 19.10 m2 g⁻1, and the adsorption process was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Sips isotherm. The process was endothermic and non-spontaneous, favoring adsorption at neutral pH. Notably, the bioadsorbent could be regenerated with water for up to eight consecutive cycles, demonstrating its practical applicability. The maximum adsorption capacity of HCQ on the bioadsorbent ranged from 15.182 to 17.812 mg g⁻1, highlighting the potential of Cymbopogon citratus as an economical solution for contaminated water remediation.