Bimetallic NiCu-BTC Framework Removes Two Antidepressants from Water

A bimetallic NiCu-BTC metal–organic framework has been synthesized and evaluated as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of two widely prescribed antidepressants, fluoxetine and venlafaxine, from aqueous solutions. The study, published in Discover Chemical Engineering, reports that the material achieved rapid uptake of both drugs in binary pharmaceutical solutions, with adsorption equilibrium reached within 90 minutes for fluoxetine and 120 minutes for venlafaxine.

The synthesized framework was characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and BET analyses to establish its structural and surface properties. Batch adsorption experiments then examined how several factors influenced performance, including solution pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial concentration, and the presence of coexisting ions. Under optimized conditions, the extended Langmuir model described the equilibrium data, yielding maximum adsorption capacities of 82.5 mg g⁻¹ for fluoxetine and 73.4 mg g⁻¹ for venlafaxine under binary adsorption conditions.

Kinetic analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order model provided the best fit to the experimental data, while intraparticle diffusion was not identified as the sole rate-limiting step. This suggests that more than one process governs how quickly the two antidepressants move from solution onto the adsorbent surface.

The material was also tested beyond laboratory-prepared solutions. Satisfactory removal efficiencies were achieved in real wastewater samples despite the presence of competing constituents, indicating that the framework can retain performance in more complex water matrices. The authors further describe NiCu-BTC as a reusable adsorbent for the treatment of pharmaceutical-contaminated water.

A single adsorbent capable of capturing both drugs simultaneously from mixed solutions, and from real wastewater, offers a practical route for water treatment applications.

Subject of Research: Simultaneous adsorption of the antidepressants fluoxetine and venlafaxine from water using a bimetallic NiCu-BTC metal–organic framework

Article Title: Efficient simultaneous removal of fluoxetine and venlafaxine from aqueous media using a bimetallic NiCu-BTC metal–organic framework

Article References: Rezaei Kahkha, M. R., & Ghaljahi, M. (2026). Efficient simultaneous removal of fluoxetine and venlafaxine from aqueous media using a bimetallic NiCu-BTC metal–organic framework. Discover Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43938-026-00150-y

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43938-026-00150-y

Keywords: NiCu-BTC, metal–organic framework, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, adsorption, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, wastewater, extended Langmuir model, pseudo-second-order kinetics, Efficient, simultaneous