Handling Editor: Derek Muir Keywords: Maltodextrin/reduced graphene/copper oxide nanoparticles (II) nanocomposite Removal of pharmaceutical Diclofenac and amoxicillin

Due to the scarcity of water and the growing industrialization, pharmaceutical wastewater treatment is of particular importance. For this reason, it is necessary to achieve an efficient method to eliminate all types of pharmaceutical pollutants. Herein, synthetic nano-composite is proposed to take a step towards improving the operation of removing pharmaceutical contaminants from the environment and aquatic and industrial effluents. Binary (maltodextrin/reconstituted graphene nanocomposite) and ternary (maltodextrin/reconstituted graphene nanocomposite/copper oxide) nanocomposites were prepared and characterized using, FT-IR, FESEM-EDS, TEM, DLS, and XRD. The nanocomposites were used to eliminate diclofenac and amoxicillin as Pharmaceuticals. The removal of amoxicillin at a concentration of 30 mg/L with an adsorbent dose of 0.05 g and a pH of 7.4 and an optimal temperature of 20 C in 10 min has the highest removal rate of 86%. In addition, diclofenac with nano adsorbents prepared under optimal conditions, including an initial concentration of 20 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 0.05 g, adsorption time of 7 min, a temperature of 20 C and a pH of 7, has the highest removal efficiency of 94%. The results indicated that the prepared nanocomposites are alternative adsorbents to remove Pharmaceuticals from water.

Automated summary

Due to water scarcity and industrialization, pharmaceutical wastewater treatment has become particularly important. In this study, a synthetic nano-composite was proposed as an efficient method to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from the environment. Binary and ternary nanocomposites were prepared and characterized, and their effectiveness in removing diclofenac and amoxicillin as pharmaceuticals was tested. The results showed that the prepared nanocomposites are alternative adsorbents for removing pharmaceuticals from water.