BACKGROUND Drugs and pesticides are emerging contaminants, and their presence in surface and groundwater have been increasing. Therefore, this work aims to study the modification of natural zeolite to remove these contaminants from water. RESULTS Among the modifications carried out, hydrothermal treatment in the presence of surfactant (CTAB) was highlighted. The hydrothermal treatment with surfactant provided a structural rearrangement. As a result, the zeolite became more hydrophobic, with a smaller specific area and a more significant amount of mesopores and macropores. Changes in textural and chemical characteristics resulted in a significant increase in the removal of the evaluated pesticides and drugs. In order to evaluate the potential of zeolites to remove emerging contaminants under conditions closer to reality, the modified samples were evaluated in the adsorption process of simulated contaminated water. The maximum adsorption capacities obtained were 28.24, 3.07, and 20.06 mg g−1 for 2,4‐D, diuron, and diclofenac, respectively, using HT‐H2O_CTAB under conditions closer to real water treatment (30 °C and natural pH of the solution). CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that hydrothermal modification with CTAB is a promising ‘chimie douce’ technique to use natural zeolites to remove emerging contaminants. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

The present research sought to carry out the treatment of an effluent from the plastic washing processes, present in a recycling industry. For this purpose, the performance of the natural tannin coagulant in relation to the inorganic coagulants of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and ferric chloride was analyzed. The parameters studied were related to the removal of apparent color, turbidity and COD. The bench scale treatment consisted of the physical-chemical processes of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation, and the determination of the amount of tests required and the processing of the results obtained were carried out using the Statistica software. The test variables were the coagulant dosages and the coagulation pH, and after the discovery of the ideal treatment, the performance of the tannin coagulant in relation to the removal of phosphorus, nitrogen, suspended solids and total solids, as well as changes in conductivity and alkalinity were also verified. All coagulants reached results of removing turbidity, apparent color and COD above 97%, with emphasis on tannin, which in addition to exceeding 99%, facilitates the disposal of sludge, as it is a biodegradable coagulant.

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