Comparison of Ceftriaxone, Ofloxacin, and Metformin Adsorption onto Activated Carbon from Aqueous Solutions

Pharmaceutical compounds have been widely identified as organic pollutants in wastewater with adverse effects on the environment. This paper focuses on three active substances: ceftriaxone, ofloxacin, and metformin. The main reason for the interest is their ability to be excreted 80-90% unmetabolized, contributing to their high concentration in wastewater. One of the most frequently used removal methods is adsorption, while activated carbon is an etalon for adoptive materials. The batch experiments were performed with an initial concentration of 50 mg/L, and the concentrations of ceftriaxone, ofloxacin, and metformin were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Ceftriaxone and ofloxacin exhibited over 90% removal efficiency at neutral pH, while metformin required an acidic environment for the adsorption to take place. This study aims to compare the distinct way in which the substances respond within the adsorption onto activated carbon, including the influence of adsorbent mass, initial concentration and potential mechanism for every situation. The toxic effect generated of pharmaceutical compounds makes it primary to investigate the optimal parameters for their removal.