Contaminated wastewater
released from hospital, domestic, and industrial
sources is a major challenge to aquatic animals and human health.
In this study, we addressed removal of erythromycin (ERN) from contaminated
water employing water/ethanol/Transcutol/Labrafil M 1944 CS (LabM)
green nanoemulsions as a nanocarrier system. ERN is a major antibiotic
contaminant harming aquatic and human lives. Green nanoemulsions were
prepared and evaluated for size, size distribution (measuring polydispersity
index), stability, zeta potential, refractive index, and viscosity.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to visualize morphological
behavior. The treated-water was analyzed for ERN by the spectroscopy,
scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray analysis
mode (SEM–EDX), and inductively coupled plasma–optical
emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES) techniques. We studied factors
(composition, size, viscosity, and time of exposure) affecting removal
efficiency (%RE). The obtained green nanoemulsions (ENE1–ENE5)
were stable and clear (<180 nm). ENE5 had the smallest size (58
nm), a low polydispersity index value (0.19), optimal viscosity (∼121.7
cP), and a high negative zeta potential value (−25.4 mV). A
high %RE value (98.8%) was achieved with a reduced size, a high water
amount, a low Capryol 90 content, and optimal viscosity as evidenced
by the obtained results. Moreover, contact time had insignificant
effect on %RE. UV–vis spectroscopy, SEM–EDX, and ICP–OES
confirmed the absence of ERN from the treated water. Conclusively,
ERN can easily be removed from polluted water employing green nanoemulsions
prepared from the optimized excipients, and evaluated characteristics.