Adsorption of antiretroviral (ARVs) and related drugs from environmental wastewaters using nanofibers

In the current work, the nanofibers fabricated from Mondia whitei root extract were used for the adsorption of 13 antiretroviral (ARVs) and related drugs from wastewater (influent and effluent). The nanofibers were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The adsorption capacity of the nanofibers was investigated for each optimised parameter which might affect the adsorption potential (concentration, dosage, contact time, pH and temperature). The experimental data fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, however, equilibrium behaviour was well explained by the latter. The kinetic behaviour was well predicted by pseudo-second-order kinetics. The results from Webber-Morris model confirmed that intraparticle diffusion was involved in the adsorption process; however, diffusion was not the rate limiting step. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for ARVs and related drugs were in the range of 75–320 mg g−1 (75.07 ± 0.9–92.85 ± 0.1.).