Optimization of adsorption performance by mesoporous materials developed from local clays and zeolite. Application in the treatment of real pharmaceutical effluents

The treatment of effluents from the pharmaceutical industry currently remains a major challenge due to their impact on the environment and public health along with the cost of treatments. Considering these issues, our work focused on the development of materials with effective adsorption properties to treat industrial effluents based on locally available and inexpensive clays and zeolite. Local Algerian kaolin (Djebel Debbagh), palygorskite (Ghoufi) and zeolite (Tinbdar) were treated thermally and chemically prior to synthesis into mesoporous materials of hexagonal structure using pluronic P123 as surfactant. The raw and synthesized materials were tested in the adsorption of pharmaceutical effluents from industries producing antihistamine and diuretic-type drugs. Analyses of physicochemical parameters (chemical and biological oxygen demand) as well as measurement of the concentrations of PO₄³^-, NO₂^-, NH₄⁺ of effluents were done before and after the adsorption process by the raw and mesoporous clays and zeolite. The results showed a reduction of all parameters with greater efficiency of mesoporous DD3 which indicated that it is a promising mesoporous adsorbent for treating pharmaceutical effluents. Reduced rates of these three physical parameters (PO₄³^-, NO₂^-, NH₄⁺) in the case of NEUROVIT^® by mesoporous DD3 are 61%, 98% and 77%. However, PO₄³^-, NO₂^- elimination percentages DIAPHAG^® onto DD3 are 79% and 87%, respectively.