SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF ALUM AND POWDERED ACTIVATED CARBON ON THE REMOVAL OF NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS BY COAGULATION–FLOCCULATION

This study aimed to enhance the removal of non -steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs duringcoagulation-flocculation in the presence of aluminum sulfate alone and then in combinationwith powdered activated carbon. The Jar-Test was performed in the laboratory on aromaticorganic compound (diclofenac) dissolved in distilled water. The purpose of the tests was toevaluate the removal efficiencies of diclofenac for variable doses of reagents and pH. Theinteractions of organic compound in the presence of the coagulant combined with the powderedactivated carbon would be surface mechanisms (physical adsorption, ligand exchange orcomplexation on the surface of flocs of aluminum hydroxide or powdered activated carbon).Findings demonstrated that the addition of powdered activated carbon notably improveddiclofenac removal, particularly under near-neutral pH conditions