Combined Removal of Pemetrexed Drug Using Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation from Polluted Water
نویسندگان
1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
3 IRCELYON, UMR 5256, Université Lyon 1. 43, Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
4 Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
5 Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
6 IRCELYON, UMR 5256, Université Lyon 1. 43, Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
7 Department of Material Engineering, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
8 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
doi
10.48309/ajca.2026.531785.1874چکیده
Phenyl-substituted imidazoles, such as pemetrexed (PEME), pose substantial environmental risks due to their capacity for prolonged persistence within aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluates a combined adsorption-photocatalysis approach using TiO2/UV-C for PEME removal, optimizing key parameters including pH (4.0–8.0), adsorbent dosage (0.125-1.0 g TiO2), and initial PEME concentration (25-200 ppm). The findings reveal optimal adsorption efficacy (92.6%) at a pH of 4.0, propelled by electrostatic attraction between protonated TiO₂ (Ti–OH₂⁺) and anionic PEME. Photocatalytic degradation further enhanced removal (98.7% at pH 4.0) through hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation under UV-C irradiation. The equilibrium data demonstrated a strong correlation with the Freundlich isotherm (R² > 0.98), indicating multi-layer adsorption on heterogeneous TiO₂ surfaces. Temperature variations ranging from 15 to 40 °C exhibited an insignificant impact, while elevated doses of TiO2 demonstrated a positive correlation with enhanced degradation. The TiO2/UV-C system has been demonstrated to be a scalable and efficient solution for PEME-contaminated water, particularly under acidic conditions, thereby advancing the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.
