Upcycling Polymeric Waste into Interpenetrating Polymer Network Adsorbents for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
Keywords:
Adsorption, Batch reactor, Epoxy resin, Pharmaceutical waste, PolystyreneAbstract
This study reports the sustainable synthesis,
characterization, and application of Interpenetrating
Polymer Networks (IPNs) derived from post-consumer
polystyrene kitchenware and epoxy resin residues as a costeffective adsorbent for amoxicillin removal from
wastewater. The conversion of these polymeric wastes into
functional materials aligns with circular economy strategies.
Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to examine
the effects of key operational parameters, including
adsorbent dosage, contact time, and solution pH. The results
showed a maximum removal efficiency (96%) at an
adsorbent dosage of 0.1 g and pH 5. Kinetic analysis indicated
that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order
model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant
mechanism, with an equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) of
8.13 mg/g. Isotherm modeling demonstrated that the
Langmuir model provided the best fit, confirming monolayer
adsorption on a homogeneous surface, while Temkin
parameters indicated favorable adsorption energetics.
Overall, these findings highlight the potential of wastederived IPNs as eco-friendly and highly effective materials for
removing pharmaceutical contaminants from aqueous
environments, contributing to the advancement of
sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.
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