Fabrication of manganese ferrite nanoparticles as capable magnetic nano‐sorbent for selective and effective removal of active pharmaceutical ingredients: single and binary adsorptive applications

BACKGROUND The increasing occurrence of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in aquatic environments poses risks to ecosystems and human health, underscoring the necessity for effective removal strategies. This study involved the synthesis of manganese ferrite (MnFe 2 O₄) nanoparticles (MFO‐NPs) through a controlled co‐precipitation method and characterized X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis. The adsorptive performance of MFO‐NPs has been evaluated for the removal of quetiapine and lansoprazole as APIs from an aquatic environment under varying operational parameters, including pH, MFO‐NP dosage, calcination temperature, contact time, and initial API concentration. Kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic modeling studies were also performed to clarify the adsorption behavior. Additionally, binary adsorption trials of lansoprazole and quetiapine, as well as regeneration experiments, have been performed. RESULTS The maximum adsorption performance values, adsorption capacity and adsorption percentage of synthesized MFO‐NPs for lansoprazole and quetiapine were determined to be 34.23 mg g −1 , 89% and 32.32 mg g −1 , 81%, respectively. In the binary adsorption system, the adsorption capacities of both quetiapine and lansoprazole decreased compared with their corresponding single adsorption system. These findings indicate that quetiapine and lansoprazole may compete for available adsorption sites on the MFO‐NP surface, with quetiapine exhibiting a relatively greater affinity under binary conditions. CONCLUSION This work highlights MFO‐NPs as a promising and capable magnetic nano‐sorbent for water purification applications targeting pharmaceutical pollutants in single or multiple adsorption systems.