Fate of Amoxicillin, Ibuprofen, and Caffeine in Soil and Ground Water Using Soil Columns

sjodeh's picture
Type: 
Thesis
Year: 
2012
Students: 
Halimeh Ahmad Sai'd Staiti
AttachmentSize
Fate of Amoxicillin, Ibuprofen, and Caffeine in Soil and Ground Water Using Soil Columns2.62 MB
Abstract: 

The recent public interest regarding the presence of pharmaceutical pollutants in water has raised important concerns due to the unknown environmental impact especially on aquatic life, soil and underground water as emerging aquatic micro pollutants that have possibly been affecting the ecological system and lead research studies in recent years. In this study three pharmaceuticals were selected, ibuprofen, amoxicillin and caffeine as examples of pharmaceuticals that are released into the environment, all are marketed in the Palestinian market (pharmacies), private clinics, hospitals either for human veterinary use. In this research we have investigated the adsorption behavior of three pharmaceuticals on soil, the effect of temperature and pH on the adsorption process, in addition their effect on characteristics of underground water, all were studied using the UV-V is spectrophotometry. The results of experimental sorption data fitted very well the Freundlich isotherm model and first order kinetics model. During the study of soil columns the study revealed that the concentration of caffeine in leachate higher than those of ibuprofen and amoxicillin, because caffeine has higher solubility in water, despite it didn’t reach 1ppm. While ibuprofen and amoxicillin were present in leachate with very small concentrations due to their degradation and decomposition into other substances that may be harmful, and would affect the natural properties of soil, groundwater and human health. Therefore, we recommend further studies of these drugs and find out how dangerous to human health.