Synthesis of immobilized poly(vinyl alcohol)/cyclodextrin eco‐adsorbent and its application for the removal of ibuprofen from pharmaceutical sewage

In this project, immobilized poly(vinyl alcohol)/cyclodextrin eco‐adsorbent was synthesized and its application for the removal of ibuprofen from pharmaceutical sewage was investigated. Our eco‐adsorbent was prepared via solution blending of (2‐hydroxypropyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin (HPBCD) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), followed by glutaraldehyde treatment. The obtained eco‐adsorbent is in the form of transparent film and is very easy to handle. Its FTIR and thermal analysis results show that it is well crosslinked, preventing it from dissolving in sewage. Its adsorption rate is well described by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Its maximum ibuprofen uptake is 2.56 mg/g and is higher than those of mesoporous silica, volcanic soil, and zeolite. More than 90% of adsorbed IB molecules are desorbed after soaking the consumed adsorbent in 5% ethanol‐water solution for an hour. This implies that our eco‐adsorbent can be rapidly regenerated via simple soaking procedure, significantly reducing its operational cost during practical application. As a result, it would be a potential adsorbent for the treatment of pharmaceutical sewage. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44861.