Sustainable Cellulose Nanofibers for Managing Pharmaceutical Residues in Water

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Beni Suef University have developed novel cellulose nanofibers and cinnamon-modified cellulose nanofibers as efficient adsorbents for removing ibuprofen and paracetamol from aqueous solutions, addressing global water scarcity and pharmaceutical contamination. The study's findings demonstrate the potential of these materials in sustainable water management, with the adsorption capacities of ibuprofen and paracetamol reaching up to 38.714 mg/g and 28.2 mg/g, respectively. The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study developed and evaluated novel cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and cinnamon-modified CNFs (Cin@CNFs) for removing ibuprofen and paracetamol from aqueous solutions.
  • The adsorption capacities of CNFs toward ibuprofen and paracetamol were 38.714 mg/g and 28.2 mg/g, respectively, while Cin@CNFs recorded maximum adsorption capacities of 12.1 and 24.69 mg/g, respectively.
  • The kinetic modeling investigations for adsorption of ibuprofen onto CNFs showed that the obtained experimental data are better fitted with the pseudo-first-order model, pseudo-second-order model, and mixed first and second model.
  • The intraparticle diffusion is the best fit to describe adsorption of paracetamol onto CNFs.
  • Isotherm models were evaluated for modeling, with the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model being the best to describe ibuprofen onto CNFs adsorption system, and the Baudu and Sips models being the best to describe paracetamol onto CNFs adsorption system.
  • For the adsorption of paracetamol onto Cin@CNFs, the Langmuir-Freundlich and Baudu models are the best, while for ibuprofen adsorption onto Cin@CNFs, the Freundlich model can be used to describe this adsorption system.
  • The research concluded that both CNFs and Cin@CNFs can be concluded to be prominent and efficient adsorbents for ibuprofen and paracetamol contributing to sustainable water management.

Statistics:

  • The adsorption capacities of CNFs toward ibuprofen and paracetamol were 38.714 mg/g and 28.2 mg/g, respectively.
  • The maximum adsorption capacities of Cin@CNFs toward ibuprofen and paracetamol were 12.1 and 24.69 mg/g, respectively.
  • The pseudo-first-order model, pseudo-second-order model, and mixed first and second model were used to describe the kinetic modeling investigations for adsorption of ibuprofen onto CNFs.
  • The intraparticle diffusion is the best fit to describe adsorption of paracetamol onto CNFs.
  • The Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model is the best to describe ibuprofen onto CNFs adsorption system.
  • The Baudu and Sips models are the best to describe paracetamol onto CNFs adsorption system.

Sources:

  • Sustainable Cellulose Nanofibers for Management of Pharmaceutical Residues In Water. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Study Data from Beni Suef University Update Knowledge of Sustainability Research (Sustainable Cellulose Nanofibers for Management of Pharmaceutical Residues In Water). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. July 4, 2025; p 677.