Modeling and optimization of efficient removal of diclofenac and naproxen based on chemometric approaches

This work investigated the efficiency of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles in removing diclofenac and naproxen drugs from aqueous solutions. At first, the Taguchi method was performed to choose the most important factors among the investigated factors affecting the removal efficacy of these drugs. Afterward, the optimal conditions of the effective factors were investigated and modeled by the central composite design-based response surface method. The results revealed that the maximum drug removal was obtained at pH = 7, temperature of 25 °C, adsorbent dosage of 215 mg, sonication time of 21 min, and diclofenac and naproxen concentrations of 15 mg L−1. The removal efficacy of diclofenac and naproxen under these optimal conditions was 99.42 % and 95.11 %, respectively. Based on the results, it is concluded that CoFe2O4 nanoparticles can be applied as an easy-available and effective adsorbent for removing diclofenac and naproxen from water samples.