Chemistry

Biography

Biography: Imeda Rubashvili

Abstract

Pollution of aquatic ecosystems is a threat not only to the aquatic environment, but also to the vital activity of humans and all living organisms. A special place in this series is occupied by pharmaceuticals. Dehydrated zeolite is a microcrystalline “sponge” in which the pore volume is up to 50% of the volume of the zeolite framework. Such a structure, having an entrance window diameter of 0.3 to 1.0 nm (depending on the type of zeolite), is a highly active adsorbent. In the present work, the adsorption properties of the natural and modified forms of the clinoptilolite zeolite from the Georgian Handaky deposit with respect to some fluoroquinolones, as well as cephalosporins were investigated. The study of the adsorption process was carried out in dynamic conditions. Basic information about the operation of the zeolite sorbent layer was obtained by constructing output curves in the coordinates C/Co - τ, where C is the concentration of the components of pollutants, τ is time. The experiments were carried out before the complete development of the zeolite layer. From the graphic data were calculated: dynamic (ad) and equilibrium (aeq.) activity; the time of the protective action of the sorbent layer (τ); the length of the mass transfer zone (Lo) and the degree of use of the sorbent layer (η). Each control antibiotic was determined quantitatively in test solutions using the HPLC method validated with respect to system suitability test, specificity, linearity-range, accuracy limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ). Hence, this study demonstrated and proved that natural zeolite could be an effective adsorbent for removal of the selected antibiotics from wastewaters.