Abstract
Adsorption studies on removal of fluroquinolone antibacterial agent levofloxacin by means of alumina-doped coconut coir charcoal, a low-cost adsorbent prepared from coconut coir impregnated with alumina nanoparticles, were studied using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The adsorbent was prepared by combustion technique with in situ impregnation of alumina nanoparticles. The prepared adsorbent was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy studies. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to study the effect of drug concentration, pH and adsorbent dosage. The optimal pharmaceutical molecule concentration, pH, adsorbent dose with removal percentage was found to be 3.6mg/l (64%), 7 (56.6%) and 0.1g (59.83%), respectively. The adsorption studies comprise both equilibrium adsorption isotherms and kinetics. The equilibrium data have been analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The adsorption isotherm data for levofloxacin were best represented by both Langmuir and Temkin isotherm.