(225af) Removal of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) from Wastewater Using Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Screening of Effective Adsorbent

The increasing presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in wastewater has raised environmental and health concerns. This study investigates the potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), such as MIL-53, MIL-101(Cr), MIL-100(Fe), UiO-66, and ZIFs, for efficient removal of PPCPs like bisphenol A (BPA), diclofenac sodium, and ibuprofen. These MOFs have been evaluated for adsorption and release of PPCPs, and the impact of different functionalization techniques was assessed.

The physico-chemical properties of MOFs were characterized using XRD, and their adsorption kinetics and isotherms were analyzed. The results aligned well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. Various water chemistry factors, including solution temperature and pH, were examined to understand the adsorption mechanisms.

Initial results suggest that the interaction of PPCPs with MOFs can lead to the development of structural defects under natural conditions, and performance is further improved by optimizing the pH value of the solution. Kinetic adsorption results indicate that MOFs, such as MIL-53 and UiO-66, effectively remove PPCPs from wastewater at room temperature. The effect of temperature was investigated to optimize performance, with initial results suggesting that the temperature effect is controlled by the nature of the adsorption reaction (endothermic or exothermic).

This study highlights the promising use of MOFs in wastewater treatment applications for efficient PPCP removal. The insights on specific water chemistry factors and adsorption mechanisms will prove valuable to future researchers focusing on the treatment of PPCP-containing wastewater.