Harnessing sporopollenin-based polymer membranes: an exploratory study on ciprofloxacin removal

Farah Izzati Rabu; Syed Fariq Fathullah Syed Yaacob; Ismaila Olalekan Saheed; Megat Ahmad Kamal Megat Hanafiah; Ahmad Faiz Abdul Latip; Faiz Bukhari Mohd Suah

doi:10.1515/pac-2024-0393

Article

Harnessing sporopollenin-based polymer membranes: an exploratory study on ciprofloxacin removal

Farah Izzati Rabu , Syed Fariq Fathullah Syed Yaacob , Ismaila Olalekan Saheed , Megat Ahmad Kamal Megat Hanafiah , Ahmad Faiz Abdul Latip and Faiz Bukhari Mohd Suah

Published/Copyright: July 28, 2025

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From the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry Volume 97 Issue 8

Abstract

This study investigates the removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic from an aqueous environment using sporopollenin-based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). Traditional wastewater treatments are often ineffective against CIP due to its persistence and environmental impact. To address this, PIMs were developed using poly(vinyl)chloride (PVC) as the base polymer, dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as the plasticizer, and sporopollenin known for its chemical stability and functional versatility as the carrier. The membranes were characterized through FTIR, SEM and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which confirmed the successful integration of membrane components and highlighted the structural stability of the PIMs. The optimal membrane, comprising a 70:30 PVC to DOP ratio with 5 mL of 5 mg mL⁻¹ sporopollenin, achieved 80.93 % removal of CIP after 25 h in batch studies. Further investigation shows that the initial concentration of CIP influenced removal efficiency, with higher concentrations leading to reduced performance due to active site saturation. These results demonstrate the potential of sporopollenin-based PIMs as a sustainable and selective solution for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. This study provides foundational insights into the use of natural carriers like sporopollenin in membrane technology and sets the stage for future work towards enhancing membrane capacity, improving extraction rates, and scaling up for industrial applications.

Keywords: Antibiotic; ICYC 2024; pollutant; poly(vinyl)chloride; polymer inclusion membrane; sporopollenin

Corresponding author: Faiz Bukhari Mohd Suah, Green Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, e-mail: fsuah@usm.my

Article note: A collection of invited papers based on presentations at the 9th International Conference for Young Chemists (ICYC 2024) held on 9–11 October 2024 in Penang, Malaysia.

Funding source: Kurita Water and Environment Foundation

Award Identifier / Grant number: R504-LR-GAL008-0000000032-K120

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission. Farah Izzati Rabu: Validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, writing- original draft. Syed Fariq Fathullah Syed Yaacob: Investigation, resources, writing- original draft. Ismaila Olalekan Saheed: formal analysis, investigation, writing- original draft. Megat Ahmad Kamal Megat Hanafiah: Formal analysis, resources. Ahmad Faiz Abdul Latip: Investigation, resources. Faiz Bukhari Mohd Suah: Concept, resources, writing-review and editing, supervision.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: Tin Industry (Research and Development) Board, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Malaysia.
Data availability: Data available on request from the authors.

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Received: 2024-12-21

Accepted: 2025-07-08

Published Online: 2025-07-28

Published in Print: 2025-08-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0393

Keywords for this article

Antibiotic; ICYC 2024; pollutant; poly(vinyl)chloride; polymer inclusion membrane; sporopollenin