Magnetically Functionalized Moringa oleifera Biosorbent for Paracetamol Removal: Adsorptive Performance and Toxicological Safety in Water Treatment

Pharmaceutical residues in aquatic environments have emerged as an important environmental concern, highlighting the need for effective, sustainable, and economically viable water treatment technologies. This study investigates a magnetic biosorbent produced from agro-industrial Moringa oleifera seed husk residues and functionalized with iron oxide nanoparticles (MO-FeNP) for paracetamol removal and assessment of the ecotoxicological safety of the treated effluent. The biosorbent was obtained through chemical modification and magnetic coprecipitation, followed by structural and morphological characterization using SEM, TEM, FTIR, and BET analyses. Batch adsorption experiments conducted at initial paracetamol concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg L−1 (pH 6.4, 25 °C, 180 rpm) demonstrated outstanding performance, achieving over 97% pollutant removal across all tested conditions. The biological safety of the treated effluent was further investigated through cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity assays in human lymphocytes, using MTT, Trypan Blue, Comet, and CBMN assays. Exposure to untreated paracetamol solutions resulted in significant concentration-dependent cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, whereas treatment with MO-FeNP restored cell viability and prevented detectable genetic damage. Overall, Moringa oleifera agro-industrial residues functionalized with iron oxide nanoparticles represent an efficient biomass-derived and biologically safe alternative for pharmaceutical contaminant removal, supporting their potential application in sustainable water treatment and waste valorization strategies.