Adsorption of Mefenamic Acid From Water by Bentonite Poly urea formaldehyde Composite Adsorbent

Abstract

Poly urea formaldehyde –Bentonite (PUF-Bentonite) composite was tested as new adsorbent
for removal of mefenamic acid (MA) from simulated wastewater in batch adsorption
procedure. Developed a method for preparing poly urea formaldehyde gel in basic media by
using condensation polymerization. Adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of
water pH, temperature, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial MA concentration .Effect of
sharing surface with other analgesic pharmaceuticals at different pH also studied. The
adsorption of MA was found to be strongly dependent to pH. The Freundlich isotherm model
showed a good fit to the equilibrium adsorption data. From Dubinin–Radushkevich model the
mean free energy (E) was calculated and the value of 5 KJ/mole indicated that the main
mechanism governing the adsorption of MA on PUF-Bentonite composite was physical in
nature. The kinetics of adsorption tested for first order, pseudo second order models and
Elovich’s equation, results showed the adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model.