Granulated graphene oxide-activated carbon for adsorptive removal of diclofenac sodium and ibuprofen in a continuous fixed-bed column

The granular graphene oxide-activated carbon (GGA) composite was synthesized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and malonic acid (MA) as chemical crosslinker at different conditions. GGA synthesis was performed at different parameters including binder-to-powder ratio in the range of 0.5–1.2, synthesis time in the range of 2–24 h, and drying temperature in the range of 60–110 °C. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the synthesis parameters of the adsorbent synthesis. The optimum parameters for synthesis were achieved at a binder-to-powder ratio of 0.875, a synthesis time of 23.992 h, and a drying temperature of 60.071 °C. XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, BET and TGA analyses were used to discuss the characteristics of the adsorbent structures. The surface area and mechanical stability were found to be 156.59 m2/g and 95.417 %, respectively. The adsorption behavior of mono-components (diclofenac sodium (DCF)/ibuprofen (IBP)) and bi-components (DCF + IBP) on the GGA was evaluated in a fixed-bed column. The effects of column operating parameters, including bed mass (m: 0.25–0.75 g), flow rate (Q: 5–9 mL/min), and adsorbate concentration for DCF (C: 20–100 mg/L) and IBP (C: 5–15 mg/L) on the breakthrough curves were investigated. The experimental data of fixed-bed column were correlated with breakthrough models such as Thomas, Bohart-Adams, Yoon-Nelson, Yan, Gompertz, and Log-Gompertz via both linear (under different column operating conditions) and nonlinear (for DCF (Co of 60 mg/L; m of 0.5 g and Q of 7 mL/min) and IBP (Co of 10 mg/L; m of 0.5 g and Q of 7 mL/min)) regression analysis. The maximum adsorption capacities calculated by the Thomas model were 110.068 and 34.912 mg/g for DCF and IBP, respectively. In bi-component systems, antagonistic behavior was observed in the adsorption of DCF and IBP. The results showed that the GGA can successfully remove DCF and IBP through a fixed-bed adsorption column. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of granular graphene oxide-activated carbon (GGA) as efficient adsorbent.•Synthesis method was modeled and optimized by Box-Behnken response surface method.•Adsorption of bicomponent of DCF and IBP drugs in fixed-bed column on GGA granules.•Effects of column operating parameters on the breakthrough curves were investigated.•Maximum adsorption capacities on GGA: 127.566 for DCF and 26.782 mg/g for IBP.