Development of Surfactant-Modified Natural Zeolite for Triclosan Adsorption

Authors

  • Ray Vincent Pelayo Laboratory of Materials, Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Taft Avenue Manila 1000, PHILIPPINES. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5234-8461
  • Ethan Angelo Gaw Laboratory of Materials, Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Taft Avenue Manila 1000, PHILIPPINES. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7206-8601
  • Christian Gabriel Seagan Chemistry Department, De La Salle University 2401 Taft Avenue Manila 0922, PHILIPPINES.
  • Aldrin Bonto Chemistry Department, De La Salle University 2401 Taft Avenue Manila 0922, PHILIPPINES. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0008-3267
  • Julius Andrew Nunez Laboratory of Materials, Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Taft Avenue Manila 1000, PHILIPPINES. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0035-0601

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/mjs.vol45no3.9

Keywords:

Triclosan, personal care products, natural zeolite, wastewater, surfactant modification, adsorption

Abstract

Triclosan (TCN) is a common antimicrobial and antifungal agent employed in pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs). The persistent inability to completely remove TCN from wastewater has led to its accumulation across various wastewater matrices. Given the ecological and health consequences of TCN pollution, methods to prevent its entry into the wider aquatic environment      are necessary. Due to its adsorption efficacy and abundance, Philippine natural zeolite (PNZ) is a promising candidate for environmental remediation as an effective adsorbent of charged contaminants. However, these natural zeolites have limited adsorption utility for non-polar species. To overcome this limitation, surfactant modification of natural zeolites was investigated to enable their adsorption of TCN. In this study, modification was achieved using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPyCl) and Arquad® 2HT-75 (ARQ) solutions prepared at 100% of the external cation exchange capacity of the zeolites, which yielded surfactant-modified natural zeolites (SMNZ) with a monolayer surfactant layer. Using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, and Simultaneous Thermal Analysis, surfactant modification was confirmed by the presence of distinct responses characteristic of surfactants in SMNZs that differentiate them from unmodified zeolite (UZ). TCN adsorption was investigated at varying pH (7, 8, and 9) and at varying adsorbent exposure times. Kinetic models (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Weber-Morris interparticle diffusion) were fitted to the adsorption data, which revealed that TCN adsorption was best modeled by the pseudo-second order model. Surfactant modification yielded SMNZs with markedly improved TCN removal of up to 82% from a 50 ppm solution, in contrast to the unmodified zeolites, while reaching equilibration at >30 minutes. Overall, SMNZ showed effective removal of TCN and represents a potentially viable adsorbent for effective real-world wastewater treatment.

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Published

30-09-2026

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Vol. 45 No. 3 (2026)

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