Iopamidol Abatement from Waters: A Novel Approach to Determine Physico-Chemical Parameters Needed to Scale-Up from Batch to Continuous Operation

Abstract

The abatement of iopamidol, an X-ray iodinated contrast agent, in aqueous solution using powdered activated carbon (PAC) as sorbent was investigated in the present work. The material was characterized by various analytical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements. Experiments were conducted in a batch apparatus and the effect of the initial concentration of iopamidol, the temperature and the adsorbent bulk density on the adsorption kinetics were investigated. The adsorption isotherms were well interpreted using the Langmuir model. The adsorption kinetic data were described using a dynamic intraparticle model for fluid-solid adsorption kinetics (ADIM). Comparing the experimental results and the model predictions a good model fit was obtained.

Keywords: Adsorption, iopamidol, emerging contaminant, Activated carbon, ADIM