Sorption of paracetamol from aqueous solution using groundnut shell as a low cost sorbent

In this study, the sorption of paracetamol on groundnut shell as low cost sorbent was investigated using the batch equilibrium method. Physicochemical parameters, X-ray Fluorescence and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy were used for groundnut shell characterization. Equilibrium studies were carried out for the sorption of paracetamol from aqueous solution onto groundnut shell. The experimental data were fitted to the two-parameter isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin) and three-parameter isotherms (Sips, Redlich – Peterson and Toth). The Sum of the Squares of the Errors (SSE) and the correlation coefficients R^2 between the calculated data and the experimental data by nonlinear method were used. Among two-parameter models, the Langmuir better described the isotherm data. The retention of paracetamol on the groundnut shell showed a relatively significant sorption with a maximal quantity of 3.02 mg.g^-1. From three-parameter isotherms, Sips model was found to be the best representative for paracetamol sorption on the groundnut shell. The present study showed that the powdered groundnut shell is a promising and alternative sorbent for the removal of paracetamol from aqueous solution.