Polyether Sulfone-Based Organic Nanoparticle Coupled Membrane for Detection and Purification of Amoxicillin Antibiotic from Wastewater

Literature reveals that pharmaceuticals and derived metabolites are released continuously into the environment from point and nonpoint sources. Urban domestic effluents are the largest pathway of environmental pharmaceutical contamination and, thus, require improved treatment techniques to monitor and eliminate such contaminants from water and wastewater. In this regard, the present investigation describes the development of a self-assembled chemosensor using an azodye-based imine linked Co2+ complex (R1.Co2+ ) that exhibits the potential for ratiometric and colorimetric quantification of AMX in buffer/aqueous media with a limit of detection = 0.717 mu M and a limit of quantification = 4.14 mu M. Further, the mechanism of detection of amoxicillin (AMX) has been explored through electrochemical studies, which reveals the oxidation of AMX by R1.Co2+ complex selectively, without any interference from other active analytes. The FE-SEM image reveals that the probe R1.Co2+ undergoes analyte-induced self-assembly, when interacting with AMX. Apparently, the R1.Co2+ complex was immobilized onto polyether sulfone (PES) membrane and evaluated for removal of AMX from environmental wastewater with adsorption capacity = 450.1 mg g(-1) and removal efficiency = 90%. Moreover, the developed hybrid membrane can also be utilized as a solid-state colorimetric sensor of AMX, as revealed by the hue, saturation, and value (HSV) parameter model through a portable mobile-based prototype.

Automated summary

The literature reveals that pharmaceuticals and derived metabolites are continuously released into the environment, mainly through urban domestic effluents. This study describes the development of a self-assembled chemosensor for the quantification of AMX in water and wastewater. The chemosensor exhibited selective detection of AMX through electrochemical studies, and the probe underwent self-assembly when interacting with AMX. Furthermore, a hybrid membrane was developed for efficient removal of AMX from wastewater and could also serve as a solid-state colorimetric sensor.