Influence of microalgae on organic micropollutants removal from water by powdered activated carbon

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Published: Sep 27, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC241229071K
Keywords:
adsorption algal organic matter drinking water treatment ibuprofen caffeine diclofenac

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Nadiia Khakimova
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0597-1845
Minja Bogunović Koljaja
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2403-6094
Jelica Simeunović
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4049-0724
Lucas Landwehrkamp
3Chair for Mechanical Process Engineering and Water Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2200-9658
Stefan Panglisch
Chair for Mechanical Process Engineering and Water Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany; IWW Water Centre, Moritzstraße 26, 45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany; DGMT German Society for Membrane Technology e.V., Universitäts str. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Universitäts str. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6605-5010
Ivana Ivančev-Tumbas
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7754-5573

Abstract

This study investigates how two morphologically distinct microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis, at different growth phases, affect the adsorption of ibuprofen, caffeine, and diclofenac onto two powdered activated carbons (AC1 and AC2). Experiments were utilizing dechlorinated tap water (DCTW) matrix where microalgae were added. Experiments were performed with/without pre-chlorination and with/without filtration through 0.45 µm filter to assess the influence of total and dissolved algal organic matter. Organic micropollutants (OMPs) were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results indicate that the effect of microalgae morphology on OMPs’ removal efficiency is different for different carbons. Species and growth phase-dependent variations were observed in some cases. A. platensis in the stationary phase in the water reduced diclofenac removal by AC2 (from 99 % to range of 44 %–62 %), while C. vulgaris in the exponential phase reduced it to the range of 16 %–74 % in comparison to effectiveness of AC2 in DCTW without microalgae (99%). Removal of uncharged caffeine remained stable, suggesting minimal influence from algal matrices or AC variability. For negatively charged ibuprofen and diclofenac the observed effects were more variable and not always consistent, likely due to limitations in experimental methodologies.

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[1]
N. Khakimova, M. Bogunović Koljaja, J. Simeunović, L. Landwehrkamp, S. Panglisch, and I. Ivančev-Tumbas, “Influence of microalgae on organic micropollutants removal from water by powdered activated carbon”, J. Serb. Chem. Soc., Sep. 2025.
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Environmental Chemistry
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