Ibuprofen removal from water using the IB-COF covalent organic framework

Abstract

The rising presence of ibuprofen (IBP) in natural water bodies, restricting from its widespread pharmaceutical usage, necessitates effective remediation strategies. This study introduces IB-COF, a novel covalent organic framework synthesized via a solvothermal method, specifically engineered for IBP extraction from aqueous solutions. IB-COF showcases remarkable adsorption performance, achieving equilibrium within 60 min with a capacity of 512 mg/g, outperforming conventional adsorbents. Its adsorption kinetics align with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, indicating efficient monolayer adsorption. Significantly, IB-COF exhibits robust recyclability over five cycles. Among the prevalence of IBP contamination, IB-COF demonstrates promise in selectively extracting IBP even in the presence of competing pharmaceuticals. Overall, our findings underscore the potential of IB-COF as an advanced adsorbent for mitigating IBP pollution in water sources, contributing significantly to environmental purification efforts and water pollution mitigation strategies.