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Abstract
The adsorption of Clofibric acid, one of the most frequently prescribed high environmental risk drugs, was studied using H3PO4 activated Schumannianthus dichotomus (ASD). The chemical characteristics of the adsorbent were established by Bohem’s titration, pHPZC, FTIR, SEM, XRD, porosity, and surface area analysis. It was observed that the adsorbent was microporous-mesoporous in nature with BET surface area of 1199.98 m2.g−1. The influence of temperature (303-323 K), pH (2-10), textural properties, adsorbent load, and contact time was studied. The Langmuir equation was found to best represent the equilibrium data for clofibric acid-adsorbent system, yielding monolayer adsorption capacity of 258.39 mg.g−1 at 303 K. The pseudo-second order model best explained (R2 > 0.999) the adsorption kinetics with rate constant 0.037 g.mg−1min−1. The thermodynamics parameters, ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°, evaluated as −8.14 kJmol−1, −34.07 kJmol−1, and −85.5 JK−1mol−1, respectively, revealed that the adsorption process is feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature. In the column mode, the adsorption capacity of ASD (267.93 mg.g−1) was found to be higher than the batch mode of operation (258.39 mg.g−1). The cost incurred per kg of the developed adsorbent was USD 14.36.