Silane modified nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots as a high-efficiency hybrid sorbent for NSAIDs

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) possess unique adsorption properties.
• Functionalization of nanomaterials enhances their application potential.
• Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is crucial for analyzing trace contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a hybrid sorbent material for enhanced extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• To functionalize nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) with silanes for improved adsorption.
• To evaluate the efficiency and applicability of the functionalized GQDs (f-GQDs) as a solid-phase extraction sorbent.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of functionalized GQDs (f-GQDs) by modifying N-GQDs with GPTMS and APTS.
• Characterization of f-GQDs using TEM, SEM, XPS, FT-IR, TGA, AFM, and zeta potential analysis.
• Optimization of analytical parameters for solid-phase extraction of NSAIDs from aqueous samples.

Main Results:

• The f-GQDs composite exhibited enhanced hydrophobicity and increased adsorption sites.
• The SPE method demonstrated excellent linearity (r ² ≥ 0.99) and low limits of detection (15.72–23.60 μg L ^-1).
• High recovery rates (95–98.7%) and reproducibility (RSDs < 10%) were achieved for NSAID determination.

Conclusions:

• The developed f-GQDs material is an efficient and sustainable sorbent for SPE of NSAIDs.
• The synergistic effect of silanes on N-GQDs significantly improved extraction capabilities.
• This method shows strong potential for environmental monitoring and pharmaceutical analysis due to its high performance and minimal sorbent requirement.