Removal of ethinylestradiol by adsorption process from aqueous solutions using entrapped activated carbon in alginate biopolymer: isotherm and statistical studies

The aim of this study is to decrease ethinylestradiol contaminants using entrapped activated carbon in alginate biopolymer (AG-AC) by adsorption. Different ethinylestradiol concentrations were prepared in the laboratory. The effect of the operating parameter was studied by using different operating parameters (e.g., contact time, pH, concentrations, adsorbent dose and stirring rate). The results were analyzed according to the Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherms. The adsorption data are more appropriate by the Freundlich isotherm. Removal efficiency percentages for ethinylestradiol at pH 3 using dose 10 g/L of the adsorbent for 30 min with a fixed stirring rate at 100 rpm were ~ 84%. The effect of different operating parameters was investigated using linear regression analysis, and they were found to account for more than 99% of the variables affecting the removal process.