Hybrid System Mechanism using BPAC/ZnO Composite Integrated with Java Moss (Taxiphyllum Barbieri) Phytoremediation for Synergistic Adsorptive Ibuprofen Degradation

A novel hybrid system for the removal of Ibuprofen from aqueous solutions was successfully developed by integrating a biocomposite of Banana Peel Activated Carbon (BPAC) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) with the phytoremediator Java Moss. The kinetic analysis and isotherm models show the Ibuprofen removal process were described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model (R2: 0.97) with Temkin and Freundlich isotherm models (R2: 0.98 and 0.96), respectively. Our findings indicate a dominant physisorption mechanism and multilayer adsorption process on heterogeneous surfaces, as evidenced by increased degradation. It was found that the hybrid system combining Java Moss with the BPAC/ZnO composite, the synergy between the material's adsorption and photocatalytic degradation properties, along with the phytouptake ability of Java Moss, resulted in a remarkable Ibuprofen removal efficiency of up to 98%. Further cost analysis confirms the economic viability of these synthetic materials, highlighting this integrated system as a highly effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient solution.