Self-supported 3D reduced graphene oxide for solid-phase extraction: An efficient and low-cost sorbent for...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Pharmaceuticals like diclofenac contaminate water sources.
• Traditional methods for removing contaminants are often inefficient and costly.
• Developing advanced sorbent materials is crucial for effective water purification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a 3D reduced graphene oxide (3D-rGO) material.
• To employ 3D-rGO in a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge for contaminant removal.
• To optimize and evaluate the performance of the 3D-rGO SPE cartridge for diclofenac removal.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a self-supported 3D-rGO sorbent.
• Fabrication of a 3D-rGO based SPE cartridge.
• Statistical optimization of SPE parameters.
• Characterization using SEM, XRD, XPS, Raman, and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy.
• Removal and elution efficiency testing for diclofenac.

Main Results:

• Achieved 100% removal and 90% elution efficiency for diclofenac.
• Demonstrated a 20-fold reduction in sorbent mass compared to traditional cartridges.
• Eliminated the need for sorbent preconditioning, reducing solvent use and operational time.
• Showcased excellent reproducibility over multiple reuse cycles.
• Cost-benefit analysis indicated a lower production cost.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-rGO SPE cartridge is a highly efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly sorbent.
• The material's performance is attributed to its 3D framework morphology and surface chemistry.
• 3D-rGO shows significant potential for analytical applications in removing environmental contaminants from water samples.