Easy and Low-Cost Method for Synthesis of Carbon–Silica Composite from Vinasse and Study of Ibuprofen Removal

Vinasse was successfully utilized to synthesize carbon–silica composite with a low-cost silica source available in Thailand (sodium silicate, Na2SiO3) and most commonly used source, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The composites were prepared by simple one-step sol–gel process varying the vinasse (as carbon source) (Na2SiO3 or TEOS) weight ratio. resulting characterized N2 adsorption, moisture ash contents, pH, pHpzc, bulk density, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). had highest surface area of 313 456 m2/g, average mesopore diameters 5.00 2.62 nm when using Na2SiO3 TEOS as sources, respectively. adsorption non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, investigated. contact time reach equilibrium 60 min for both composites. kinetics fitted pseudo-second-order model correlation coefficient R2 > 0.997. isotherms well described Langmuir (R2 0.992), which indicates monolayer adsorption. maximal capacities Na2SiO3- TEOS-based high 406 418 mg/g at pH 2, research results indicate that (Na2SiO3) show great potential adsorbents through method efficiency.