Continuous adsorption studies of pharmaceuticals in multicomponent mixtures by agroforestry biochar

In this study, the adsorption of a multicomponent mixture of active pharmaceutical compounds, such as Venlafaxine (VLX), Trazodone (TRZ) and Fluoxetine (FLX), was studied in a biochar fixed-bed column. The selection of appropriate biochar (eucalyptus, grapevine cane and holm tree biochar) as an adsorbent was carried out through batch assays. An insight into the adsorption mechanism and its correlation with the chosen biochars was performed, showing that electron donor/acceptor interaction is the main mechanism involved. Equilibrium and kinetic batch adsorption experiments were performed and the results demonstrated that eucalyptus biochar was the most viable option for the removal of the pollutants, individually and combined. Column adsorption experiments were performed and Thomas, Yoon-Nelson and Yan models were adjusted to the breakthrough curves. This multicomponent system exhibited a synergetic behavior for TRZ and an antagonist for VLX and FLX, when compared to the single and multicomponent systems previously evaluated in batch assays. The treatment of real wastewaters, spiked with pollutants, has demonstrated the removal efficiency of multicomponent mixtures. Finally, the adsorbent regeneration by elution in different solutions was also investigated and methanol proved to be the most effective eluent for the column regeneration. [Display omitted] •Efficient individual removal of pharmaceuticals by Eucalyptus biochar was proved.•An extensive adsorption mechanism analysis was performed.•Feasible continuous treatment system for removal of a mixture of pharmaceuticals.•Successful removal of pharmaceutical mixture both in synthetic and real wastewater.