# Ibuprofen Removal by Aluminum-Modified Activated Carbon (AC@Al) Derived from Coconut Shells
## 1 Introduction  
Pharmaceuticals are continuously introduced into the influents of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from pollutants arising in both hospital and domestic wastewater. The World Health Organization (WHO) [1] emphasizes the importance of implementing an appropriate process for the elimination of pharmaceuticals from water solutions because of their widespread use by humans and their persistent presence, since the biological treatment methods used in WWTPs cannot effectively deconstruct them. Analgesics and anti-inflammatories are among the most commonly used pharmaceuticals, and they are frequently found in wastewater and water samples. Ibuprofen (IBU) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is the third most popular, prescribed and available pharmaceutical in the world. It is a colorless, crystalline solid with a characteristic odor, a derivative of propionic acid. It is considered an acid drug, and its chemical formula is 2-[4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid [2]. The toxicity and concentration of Ibuprofen in wastewater treatment plants is constantly increasing. NSAID use is primarily in the treatment of inflammation or musculoskeletal pain, and they can be released into water systems in a variety of ways, such as from hospitals or health centers or medicinal plants [3]. The concentrations at which they can be detected are low, ranging from ng/L to a few ug/L [4]. Despite the fact that these are low concentrationsand are difficult to detect, they have adverse impacts on human and environmental health. Due to the widespread use of these drugs in clinical practice and agriculture, they are very common in the aquatic environment due to their stability and hydrophilicity [5]. More specifically, Ibuprofen contains carboxyl and benzene groups, which are functional groups that contribute to its increased mobility while being easily soluble in organic solvents but poorly soluble in water [6; 7]. A typical example is antibiotics, which are widely used for the treatment of various diseases and infections, as well as for aquaculture, food preservation, and some other industries. Global antibiotic consumption has been estimated at 1 ton to 2225 tons per year [8]. The structure of most antibiotics is complex and offers a higher resistance to biodegradation and increased accumulative occurrence in the environment [7]. The possibility of carcinogenesis, mutations, the toxicity of water recipients, and the growth of resistant bacteria, among other ecological effects, due to the presence of medically reactive compounds in aquatic systems is a serious issue. Therefore, the removal of pharmaceutical residues from drinking water and wastewater is particularly critical [8]. Numerous methods have been examined for the removal of pharmaceuticals from water and wastewater. These include ion exchange [9], several filtration methods [10; 11], reverse osmosis [12], and the Fenton method [13]. The main disadvantages of these technologies is their cost and the need for the additional use of hazardous chemical reagents that are not environmentally friendly [5]. Of the available technologies for pharmaceutical removal, adsorption is preferred due to its ease of application, its simplicity, and the fact that it is one of the most economical technologies. A wide range of adsorbent materials are available and being considered for their application to pharmaceutical compounds. According to the literature, carbon-based adsorbents are among the best adsorbents for the uptake of IBU, exhibiting a high adsorption capacity [6]. In this research work, a new substantial composite (AC@Al) resulting from the modification of activated carbon (AC) with aluminum was formed and applied for the removal of IBU. Coconut shells were used to produce raw activated carbon, which was then modified with AlCl\({}_{3}\).