Carbonization of Invasive Plant Species—Novel Route for Removal of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients via Adsorption

The development of efficient adsorbents for sustainable adsorption processes is required in environmental studies. Here, we propose using carbonized Ailanthus altissima leaves as a novel adsorbent, derived from invasive species that threaten biodiversity. Biochar was prepared by pyrolysis at 500 °C, activated with ZnCl2 and tested for the target adsorbates—active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). A range of characterization techniques were employed—FTIR, SEM, XPS and Raman spectroscopy—and the adsorption of representative APIs was analyzed. The adsorption kinetics revealed that the adsorbent reached equilibrium within a 3 h period. The adsorption capacities for the selected model substances ranged from 59 mg g−1 for atenolol to 112 mg g−1 for paracetamol, while the highest values were recorded for ketorolac and tetracycline at over 130 mg g−1. The excellent retention is ascribed to the developed surface area, the availability of oxygen surface functional groups and the aromatization of the biochar. The proposed biochar, which is obtained in a sustainable process, proves to be a highly efficient adsorbent for selected pharmaceuticals.