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Sains Malaysiana 55(3)(2026): 573-587
http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5503-17
Efficient Removal of Metronidazole from
Water using Pyrolyzed ZnO-Polyethylene Waste
Nanocomposites as an Adsorbent
(Penyingkiran Cekap Metronidazol daripada Air menggunakan Sisa Nanokomposit ZnO-Polietilena yang Dipirolisis sebagai Penyerap)
JA’AFAR YUSUF1,2,
SITI NURUL AIN MD. JAMIL1,3,*, SHAHRUL AINLIAH ALANG AHMAD1, IAHMAD IADLIE ISHAMSURI4 & MOHAMMAD ABDULLAH5
1Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Science Faculty, Kaduna State University, i2339 Kaduna, Nigeria
3Centre for Foundation Studies in Science of Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
4Institute of Tropical Forestry and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
5Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor, Kampus
Pasir Gudang, Jalan Purnama, Bandar Seri Alam, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Received: 1 October 2025/Accepted: 4 March 2026
Abstract
Metronidazole
(MNZ) is a widely used antibiotic that frequently contaminates aquatic
environments, posing risks of antibiotic resistance and toxicity to ecosystems
and human health. In this study, zinc oxide–modified polyethylene waste
nanocomposites (ZnO-MPEW-NCs) were synthesized using
polyethylene waste (PEW) as a matrix and modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) and concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).
The composites were thermally treated at 300, 400, and 500 °C to produce P300-,
P400-, and P500-ZnO-MPEW-NCs. Comprehensive characterization using
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning
electron microscopy (FESEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller
(BET) surface area analysis confirmed successful structural modification,
chemical stability, and compositional integrity. Pyrolysis at 500 °C
significantly enhanced the textural properties, increasing the specific surface
area from 10 to 106 m²/g. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated rapid MNZ
removal, with equilibrium achieved within 30 min. The P500-ZnO-MPEW-NCs
exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (133.75 mg/g) and removal efficiency
(99.4%). Kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption process followed the
pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.99941, qcal = 9.88 mg/g), while intraparticle diffusion analysis indicated contributions
from both surface adsorption and pore diffusion. Equilibrium data were best
described by the Freundlich isotherm (R² = 0.99958), suggesting multilayer
adsorption on a heterogeneous surface dominated by physisorption. Thermodynamic
analysis confirmed that adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic, with Gibbs
free energy changes (ΔG° = −2.90 to −10.44 kJ/mol), enthalpy
changes (ΔH° = −10.50 to −42.88 kJ/mol), and entropy changes
(ΔS° = −25.5 to −102 J/(mol.K)).
These results demonstrate the strong potential of P500-ZnO-MPEW-NCs as
sustainable adsorbents for pharmaceutical removal from water.
Keywords: Adsorption; adsorption isotherms; kinetic model; metronidazole; polyethylene waste; zinc oxide composite
Abstract
Metronidazol (MNZ) ialah antibiotik yang digunakan secara meluas yang kerap mencemari persekitaran akuatik, menimbulkan risiko rintangan antibiotik dan ketoksikan kepada ekosistem dan kesihatan manusia. Dalam kajian ini, nanokomposit sisa polietilena yang diubah suai oleh zink oksida (ZnO-MPEW-NC) telah disintesis menggunakan sisa polietilena (PEW) sebagai matriks dan diubah suai dengan zink oksida (ZnO) dan asid sulfurik pekat (H₂SO₄). Komposit tersebut dirawat secara terma pada suhu 300, 400 dan 500
°C untuk menghasilkan P300-, P400- dan P500-ZnO-MPEW-NC. Pencirian komprehensif menggunakan spektroskopi inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR), mikroskopi elektron pengimbasan pancaran medan (FESEM) dan analisis luas permukaan Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) mengesahkan pengubahsuaian struktur, kestabilan kimia dan integriti komposisi yang berjaya. Pirolisis pada suhu 500 °C meningkatkan sifat tekstur dengan ketara, meningkatkan luas permukaan khusus dari 10 hingga 106 m²/g. Uji kaji penjerapan kelompok menunjukkan penyingkiran MNZ yang cepat dengan keseimbangan dicapai dalam masa 30 minit.
P500-ZnO-MPEW-NC menunjukkan kapasiti penjerapan tertinggi (133.75 mg/g) dan kecekapan penyingkiran (99.4%). Analisis kinetik menunjukkan bahawa proses penjerapan mengikuti model
pseudo-tertib kedua (R² =
0.99941, qcal = 9.88 mg/g), manakala analisis resapan intrazarah menunjukkan sumbangan daripada kedua-dua penjerapan permukaan dan resapan liang. Data keseimbangan paling baik diterangkan oleh isoterma Freundlich (R² = 0.99958), menunjukkan penjerapan berbilang lapisan pada permukaan heterogen yang didominasi oleh fisisorpsi. Analisis termodinamik mengesahkan bahawa penjerapan adalah spontan dan eksotermik, dengan perubahan tenaga bebas Gibbs (ΔG° = −2.90 hingga −10.44 kJ/mol), perubahan entalpi (ΔH° = −10.50 hingga −42.88 kJ/mol)
dan perubahan entropi (ΔS° = −25.5 hingga −102 J/(mol.K)). Keputusan ini menunjukkan potensi kuat P500-ZnO-MPEW-NC sebagai penjerap lestari untuk penyingkiran farmaseutikal daripada air.
Kata kunci: Isoterma penjerapan; komposit zink oksida; metronidazol;
model kinetik; penjerapan; sisa polietilena
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*Corresponding author; email: ctnurulain@upm.edu.my
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