Zeolite Materials for the Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Aqueous Medium

Colistin (KOL), fluoxetine (FLUO), amoxicillin (AMO), and 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EST) are pharmaceuticals (PhCs) found in water and wastewater at concentrations surpassing regulatory limits. Given the inefficacy of current methods in eliminating these substances from aquatic environments, there is a pressing need to develop more effective removal techniques. This study used previously unexplored fly ash (FA) based zeolite materials as sorbents for KOL, FLUO, AMO, and EST. The study investigated the impact of adsorbent mass, contact time, and initial PhCs concentration on their removal. Remarkably, PhCs were removed within the initial 2 min of reaction, achieving efficiencies exceeding 85%. Optimal sorption occurred at a sorbent dose of 1–2 g/L, with the removal efficiency ranking as follows: EST > AMO > KOL >  FLUO. These findings highlight the effectiveness of zeolite materials in eliminating KOL, FLUO, AMO, and EST, suggesting their potential for further exploration in removing other pharmaceuticals from water and wastewater.