Authors: Meghmala Waghmode | Avadhut V. Kardile | Momiao Xiong | Pragati S. Abhyankar | S. D. Rout | Dipak Kumar Sahoo | Neha N. Patil
Source: Discover Water (article, 2025-07-22)
Field: Chemistry — Analytical Chemistry

Synthesis and characterization of fungal and luffa sponge biocomposite sorbent for the removal of acetaminophen Pharmacological micropollutants that affect the environment includes acetaminophen (APAP). Elimination of acetaminophen by luffa sponge immobilised Aspergillus niger based biosorbent (LSAN) was investigated in this study. Fungal strain was isolated from pharmaceutical company effluent. Identification of the isolate was done as per morphological and internal transcribed spacer sequencing (ITS) method. A 100% match was found between the internal sequence (ITS 1) of the fungus and A. niger (GenBank accession no. OQ992243.1). The strain was cultivated on the luffa sponge (biomatrix) for five days at room temperature. For the biosorbent preparation (LSAN), fungal biomass loaded luffa 37.32 Qmax sponge was heat inactivated and dried to powder. Precise surface area, total pore volume and zeta potential of the biosorbent (LSAN) was calculated as 15.179 m2/g,0.0225 cm3/g and + 15.5 mV. The biosorbent appears to have carboxyl, amide, and alcohol groups, according to FTIR spectra data. As per scanning electron microscopic images, the biosorbent showed fibrous and porous nature. Investigation of the biosorption was done by using kinetic and isotherm models. To remove 92% of the acetaminophen (0.075 g/L), 0.2 g% (w/v) the biosorbent (LSAN), pH 8 and 313.15 K temperature were required. Langmuir isotherm linear model and pseudo- second order nonlinear model were observed to be best fitted model (R2 of 0.99) with 37.32 Qmax and 42.0145 Qe, for the acetaminophen uptake. Physical adsorption, hydrogen bonding, intraparticle diffusion, and electrostatic attraction might be the possible mechanism involved during acetaminophen biosorption process. The biosorption of acetaminophen using LSAN biosorbent was spontaneous, endothermic, and driven by increase in entropy. LSAN biosorbent can be used effectively for four recycles by using ethanol as eluent. This study proves fungal and agricultural waste based biosorbent as an alternative to the conventional system for the elimination of emerging pharma micropollutant acetaminophen from aqueous solution. Preparation of the LSAN biosorbent, characterization and associated acetaminophen biosorption kinetic studies is illustrated in this research article. Use of biocomposite biosorbent for the elimination of acetaminophen represent an innovative approach that combines natural materials, microbial immobilization, and pyrolysis technology to address pharmaceutical contamination in water. While the specific combination of luffa sponge, fungi, and biochar act as a synergistic system. Biocomposite material was prepared from luffa sponge and fungal biomass as synergistic system. The biosorbent showed fibrous and porous nature. Pseudo second order nonlinear and Langmuir linear isotherm model were found to be best fitted model. The best acetaminophen removal was 92% with 37.3242 mg/g Qmax. Ethanol was effective in the desorption of acetaminophen loaded LSAN biosorbent which can be used for four cycles. Biosorption process was endothermic, entropy driven and spontaneous. Physical adsoption of acetaminophen occurred on the biosorbent surface. Biocomposite ; Sponge ; Sorbent ; Acetaminophen ; Chemistry ; Materials science ; Biology ; Biochemistry ; Organic chemistry ; Composite material ; Botany Analytical chemistry methods development ; Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography ; Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal